National Republican., 1885-08-05
TILE N1RGlNIA sIruATGoN.


It is unlikely that extreme heat or
intense activity will characterize the
campaign in Virginia for some weeks
to come, but there is already manifested
an interest sufficiently deep to show that
a great popular upheaval is billed for the
latter part Of September and the whole
Of October.
In the tickets, platforms, and antece.
dents Of the opposing parties there are
the conditions of really great cam.
paign-a campaign Of sense and reason,
Of appeals to the sober judgment Of men
rather than to their passions and preiu.
dices. Personal abuse need not consti.
tute feature Of this canvass. for each
party has chosen as its leader citizen
Of good reputc.
On the other hand the tickets, plat.
forms. and antecedents Of the two par.
ties present conditions which may result
Ia a campaign that will be great only in
intensity Of excitement. Each party has
among iis leading spirits gentlemen who
have, In the past, been prominently
identified with the other party. The old
Democratic party, so to speak, having
been split in twain is now distributed be
tween the Democratic and Republican
organizations. 10 n much less extent
the Old Republican party is similarly
I divided. few of It's members having
gone over to the CONSERVATIVES" The
/ Democratic candidate for lieutenant
governor was, not long ngo, coadjutor
with many Of the gentlemen who are
nov in the van Of the Republican pha.
lanX. All these peculiar circumstances
are liable 10 present irritating complies
tions, and discussion Of great issues may
degenerate into offensive personalities.
Il happens, unfortunately, that fair
presentation of facts on the Republican
side will bc terrible indictment Of the
opposition. We call this unfortunate,
because Il is misfortune to any state to
have a party capable OF making such n
record as has been made by the Demo.
Gratis Of Virginia in the last two years.
But for their appeal to the race issue
in lss3 they would have been voted
down. Say what they will, gloss il over
as best they can, the Danyile riot was
horrible massacre. Il was probably
made TO order. Il was certainly used
just as i, would have been If it had been
deliberately planned. Truth compols
the uilerauce OF these things, but bour-
bon intolersuc, resents such utterances.
We say 10 all candor, aud in strict
fidelity TO the iucis Of history, that the
| Democratic legislature elected under the
influence Of the Danville riot aud its
general utilization was revolutionary
body. Free government aud such bodies
cannot live 90 the same state. That
legislature would have been impoient for
evil if il had not trampled on law and
decrucy in order to override the consti.
tulonal power OF the governor. Hav-
ing put out elected members and put in
its own tools, It proceeded to the enact.
ment of law by which the Democracy
of Virginia intend to hold on to power
in spite of an adverse majority of votes.
All this will have to be stated on tue
stump and in the press; and, il there is t.
decided dsinclnation on the part of the
bourbons to have their record exposed
and their acts freely commented on, the
campaign may work up to white heat.
The Democratic tactics Of Mississippi,
Louisiana, South Carolina, and several
other states cannot be successfully EN-.
ployed in the Old Dominion, for the Vir.
ginia Republicans are not the kind oi
men TO take bulldozing in good part.
They mean to have perfect freedom OF
speech, They desire fair campaign,
an honest election, and peaceful acqui'
escencc in the result If this desire i:
not violently opposed there will be NJ
trouble. But thcre.will be any amount
of trouble ii there is anyaltempt to make
the Mississippi plan permanent feature
Of Virginia politics.