Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-09
Our Contest.

If any doubt existed as TO the ma
tional character Of the Virginia contest
and the grave responsibility that rests
upon the Virginia Democrats in the
present crisis, that doubt would be dis
sipated by the tone Of the Democratic
and Independent press of the country.
Evidence is piling up every day to show
that the Virginia canvass is the centre
of public interest, and that most i'm
portsnt results to the nation are
dependent upon q Democratic victory
here in November. From all quarters
come words of cheer for the Virginia
Democrats, coupled with warnings that
q failure to administer a crushing defeat
| to Mahoneism will be disastrous to the
national Democratic party and to the
country. Recently the Barnwell Is.
C.) Sentinel contained an article setting
forth in earnest terms the interest the
southern States have in our contest and
the necessity for overthrowing MALONE
and his followers. "The Old Domin-
ion," it declared, sis of vast import
ance to the Democratic party" The
Baltimore Sun regards the Sentiners
remarks as timely, and follows that
comment with some facts which con-
stitute a strong appeal of its own to
the Virginia Democrats to make des-
perate fight to secure the Legislature.
While expressing the belief that FITz
LEE cannot be beaten even if the north
ern Republicans were disposed to help
MALONE largely, the Sun says:
"There is no doubt that a victory
won by Malone in Virginia at this time
would strengthen the Republican party
amazingly. while his loss of the State
would give his seat in the Senate to a
Democrat. Mahone's time expiring
but little more than a year hence. the
next Legislature of Virginia will have
the duty Of electing his successor. 1t
is this fact, apart from the deep inter-
est taken in the success Of the guber-
material canvass of General Lee, that
makes the present campaign in Yir-
ginia Of more than ordinary i'm
portance. By the fall elections the
Republicans gained two Democrat
ic seats in the Senate previously
occupied by Farley, of California, and
Slater, of Oregon. These two seats,
added to the majority Of four they had
in the Forty-eighth Congress, will in
crease their majority to eight at the
next session. But if the Democrats.
carry Virginia and Ohio this fall, by
electing successors to Malone and
Sherman they will reduce the Republ-
can majority at the succeeding session
to four, and thus recover what they
lost in the spring. Including Malone
and Sherman, there are sixteen Repub-
lican senator's and eight Democrats
whose terms of Office expire on the 4th
Of March, 1887. The places OF all
these are to be filled at the next ses-
sion Of their respective State Legisla-
lures"
The Sun then gives the senator's
whose terms expire in 1887 in detail
and adds:
"If the Democrats can carry four Of
these seats Republican seats), losing
more of their own, there will be a tie in
the Senate after the 4th of March,
1887, with Vice-President Hendricks
giving the casting vote. How many
Republican seats is it possible for the
Democrats to get? If they carry the
Legislature of New York, New Jersey,
Virginia, and Ohio, which by hard fight
ing they may do, they will be able to
sweep entirely away the present Repub-
lican majority in the Senate, while in
addition TO these States they have a
chance of replacing Republican with
Democratic senator's in Connecticut,
Wisconsin. and innesota--States that
are now classed as doubtful. Indiana
is confidently expected to return
Democrat in the place Of Harrison.
That the Republicans will make des-
perate fight to retain their hold on the
Senate is to be expected. But with the
Democrats in control of the Govern
ment, and with the innumerable offices
in the gift Of the Government outside
Of the fifteen thousand covered by the
civil-service law, it ought not to be
difficult for the Democrats to gain
enough seats in the Senate to give Presi-
dent Cleveland clear working majority
in both houses Of Congress for the last
half Of his term"
Could anything demonstrate more
clearly than the above facts and CON-
ments that the Virginia Democrats are
fighting the battle Of the national
Democratic party? Could anything
emphasize more strongly the warning
we haze frequently given our people to
look TO the close counties? Upon the
result in Virginia in November
may depend in great measure whe.
Their CLBvELAND's hands shall be
so strengthened aud the national Demo-
cratic party SO encouraged $50 render
Democratic success in 1888 a certainty.
That, at least, is the reasonable infer
ence from the comments Of many of the
leading journals Of the country.