Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-04
SIINpAy....OCTOBER 4. 1885,
rha NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

Legislature LOT thc PuiPooo va
ING General MALONE TO the United
States Senate. they will have control OF
II for all purposes. They know as well
AZ the Democrats that they cannot get
control Of il as avowed MahOneites.
Therefore they try TO induce in every
county an independent Democrat to
undertake to defeat the regular nominee
Of the Democratic party. In this indi-
rect way they hope to accomplish what
they cannot accomplish by running can
didates avowedly Republican.
The United States senatorship is not
by any means the only place to be filled
by the next Legislature. There are
numerous offices and trusts Of one sort
and another which can be held out as
brides to weak Democrats. No doubt
these brides have figured in attempts,
fru;tless we trust, to persuade men pre-
fcrring TO be Democrats to run as inde-
pendent candidates for the Legislature.
We know of no Democrat who has
welded to the persuasive power Of a
bride Of this sort. We believe that
men so weak, Democrats so unreliable.
citizens so unpatriotic, will be few and
far between.
The tempter may assume different
forms. In one county be will come with
q judgeship in one hand and Prohibi-
ton nomination in the other hand. In
the next county he will come with an
Office in one hand and Independent can
didacy in the other. The poor aspi-
rant to office and power who has suf-
fered himself to hesitate is well-nigh
lost. As 1.-the woman who hesitates
is lost" so the Democrat who hesitates
when asked to run against the nominee
Of his own party is lost. To hesitate
is to consent. FARLEY the Porter was
lost when he first consented to parley
with the enemy. He had already be-
trayed his trust.
"yice Ia a monster OF such frightful mien
As TO be hated needs but 10 be seen:
Hut seen too Oft, familiar with her face
We first endure, then pity. Their embrace"
The Independent first becomes IA
miliar with the face of bribery, and
then embraces it. The temptation is
more than be can stand. lie persuades
himself that bribery Of that sort is not
bribery at all.
But some men, consumed by an igno-
BILE ambition, consent to oppose the
candidates Of their own party for the
sole sake Of membership in the Legis-
lature. Even this poor honor contents
them. and appears to them to be q
prize worthy Of being fought for
What appeal can reach such men
How can they be approached WIZ
can argue with a man who sell
his birthright for such price a
that? Who can reason with an ambi
ton as all-devouring as that? VIII
could find it in his heart to attempt t
argue with such man? He is clad i
impenetrable mail. lie is pachyder
matous. He "laughs q siege t
scorn." He would run though all hi
friends and neighbors counselled hir
not to do 80. Waste no time on sue
men. Let them wAllow in the mirt
Go to work to defeat them. Pile u
the msjorities against them so high q
that, II possible, their miserable amb
ton may be crushed out Of them.
Is there . slower dspth?" Ye
there is. There Is class Of men who's
ambition has gained such control ov'
them that they consider it an honor
be beaten for the Legislature or al
Office. They crave notoriety even il
il the notoriety Of the pillory. Tit
hug the delusion that their consequent
u msgnihed even by an unsuccessf
candidacy. The gods themselves fig
against such IN ambition with IS lit,
success ~ against stupidity. We wou
ask no good Democrat to labor wi
men Of this last class. Their conditi
Il hopeless.
Ths Staunton Vindicator comes
the help Of all those who are seek
70 keep the Legislature out Of the p
session Of General MAHoNE in the
lowing thought-producing article:
1--WE wonder il the Democrats
Virginia really comprehend the impo
ance Of carrying majority Of
Legislatures Perhaps IL We explain
them how the Legislature may Col
the whole State government with
they will see the vital necessity
electing Democratic senators and d.
Gates. The State Canyassing Boa
which is Democratic, and on which
Democrats Of the State rely SO col
IDENTIFY for . fair count,
nothing to do with counting
vote for Governor and Lieut.
ant-G Governor. II counts the vote
members OF the Legislature and Att
ney- General, but does not touch Il
Tor Lea and Massey or Wise and wot
The Constitution Of Virginia provit
that the returns Of the vote for Gs
esnos and Lisutensnt-G Governor sh'
- kept separate; that their seals Sd
not b. broken; that they shall DO q
posited With the Secretary Of the Co
monwealth; that on the meeting .
organization Of the IAgislsturs the 81
ss(ary Of the Commonwealth shl
hid them, with TIE seals unbroks
y ~ srsakss elected BY the Hous
md thst within ten days aft
~ ssesiea commsnces The 6psaks
oo(bre : joiat sesaies Of Tie Sc
~ I'D House, shsll open q