Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. B. 1885
State Equality.

Ono OF our Virgins AsoP""
changes the Valley Virgisian) profess
as to believe that in fighting the battles
of MALONE it is fighting for q" State
equality" These are its own words
II assumes that the southern States are
in the wrong, and takes its position
side by side with SHERMAN, HAL
Stead, and FORAKER in threatening
them. We call the attention Of those
Ohio malignants, however, to the fact
that this Virginia ally Of theirs does
not name Virginia Is one Of the States
in which the wrongs complained
of are perpetrated upon the I'M
offending people Of the North, but
contents herself with charging the
same upon "some of the southern
States" He threatens the South, how
ever, in q style that would do credit to
HoAR, DAWES, CHANDLER, SHER-
MAN, or any other enemy Of the south
ern people. He pronounces the sub
ject discussed an important question
relating to representation in Congress
and the electoral college, based upon
the census enumeration, and predicts
that it is soon to be the overshadowing
issue of the country.
Well, let us suppose that such is to
be the case, though we have no fear
that that issue will ever again figure in
q national election, and let US then ask
Mr.. YosT if he is in favor Of reducing
the representation Of Virginia or any
other southern State in Congress9 Will
he prove o traitor to his section, his
State, and his race? If so, does he
speak for the MALONE party? Are
they ready to join in crusade
against their southern brethren, and aid
the northern malignants in shearing the
South Of her strength in Congress and
in the electoral college? Is Mr.. WISE
one of the men who are conspiring with
the enemies Of the South and encour-
aging them in their unholy work ?
Would he be q party to the reduction
of the number Of members his own Sec
ton is entitled to in the House Of Rep
resentatives These are important
questions. They are intended to test
whether the Republicans Of Virginia
are for or against their own section and
its dearest rights and interests.
1t is true Congress has no more power
than the Virginia Legislature to reduce
the representation Of the southern
States. Yet this is what SHEER
MAN and YosT threaten. Mr.. HOAr
would not stultify himselfby advocating
such a proposition. But Mr.. Yos1
says distinctly;
at involves the fundamental ques
ton Of State equality, and will have t.
be practically met by either the Ob
servance of the right of the citizen
whether living in the South or tn
North, whether colored or white, t.
cast his vote as he may please, withou
coercion, intimidation, or restriction
except as the law may direct, and hav
it counted as cast, or reduction Q
representation in Congress and tn
electoral college in the ratio that th
popular vote is suppressed"
Above he tells what the penalty il
and below he declares that some of tn
southern States have already INQUIRE
that penalty. He says:
"The House of Representatives
dominated by the Democratic part
through these agencies. The PresideI
holds his office because Of this deni
Of equal representation at the ballo
box-the suppression of the vote upC
which State representation in Congre
and the electoral college is pred
Gated"
In other words, Mr.. CLEvELAN
was elected by fraud and force, and Il
present House Of Representatives W
made Democratic by fraud and force.
There Is the charge in unmistakat
language, and the threat in langua
equally unmistakable.
Will the Valley Virginian tell
where it finds any constitutional vi
rant for assuming that Congress c
deprive Virginia Of three, or two,
one Of her representatives for the r.
sons givens Has Virginia the power
"deny the right of the negro to vo
in the sense in which the word "den,
is employed in the fourteenth amer
ment? II she has, Congress can ,
der the Same amendment reduce
representation. The fifteenth amsl
ment has given the negro the right
vote, and it is no longer possible
any State to deny it. But Mr.. 70
claims that she still has the power
deny the right Of suffrage to negro
The Hrginian's editor threatens
friends and neighbors with an !
speaksble outrage. How ditfersn
talks the editor Of the Providel
Journal, whom our readers know
we'll 6 an unadulterated Republics
He says:
"Hs fHoarl may possibly be right
his distrust, although we do not }
lievs that he is; but even IL he is, =
should gain more by expressing
hearty approval and reciprocation
the national sentiment than by man
Testing doubt and distrust Of ii.
The signs are exaggerated aid unrea
We should have the chance Of maxim
them sctual and real by encouragin
them and meeting them With cords
and friendly trust, while tho contrar
course would simply chill and reps
then. Il = The greatest victory tia