Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20
A National Campaign.

A National Campaign.
The organs Of the northern malig-
nants are making piteous appeals to
their party to aid the Virginia Repub-
licans, and are showing conclusively
that they consider that Republican
victory here would be the first step to-
wards Shermanizing the South. The
Philadelphia Press, which has been
sneezing ever since JOHN SHERMAN
took campaign snuff at Mount Gilead,
says that the Republicans of the North
should be prompt to recognize the full
Importance of the situation in Virginia,
and after digging around for while in
the political catacombs, plants itself
upon an accumulation Of dry bones, and
adds
"The Republicans in Virginia are
making a heroic fight, and prove, by
the sturdy blows they are dealing, that
they are worthy Of the aid and comfort
of the organization at large. The Re-
publican party has taken up the issue
of honest elections, and Senator Sher-
man has announced his intention of ap-
pealng to the intelligence Of the South
on this question. Virginia is good
place to make beginning, and it is to
be hoped, therefore, that the report that
Senator Sherman has promised to assist
in the campaign in that State is true.
lie should be aided by some of the
ablest Republican speakers in the North.
1t has been urged heretofore that the
Republican party made no effort to
build up an organization in the South.
This omission should continue no long
er."
The National Republican, in an ar
ticle headed " A National ISSUE" be-
rates the fair-minded Republican jour-
nails for not dancing to SHERMAN's
discordant music, and declares:
"If the Republican party in vir-
ginia is crushed the South will hold on
to its Democratic solidity. The great
cause of free ballot is on trial in this
campaign. The Democrats Of oil the
southern States are making this fight
their own-sre giving substantial aid
to the Virginia Bourbons.
1.-The thing that ought to be done,
and done well, is for the Republicans
of the North to help their brethren in
the Old Dominion. Money and speak
ers are needed. Shall they be fur
nished or withheld? Shall the South
be abandoned to Bourbonism? That is
the question at ISSUE"
Could there be greater incentive to
the Democrats Of Virginia to do their
whole duty than is contained in the
paragraphs above quoted? Nothing
could show more clearly the response
bility that rests upon the party. Lam
guage could not concede more plainly
than does the language of our contempt
raries that the integrity Of the national
Democratic party may depend upon
Democratic victory in Virginia. Does
not the National Republican in saying
the question at issue is, "Shall the
South be abandoned to Bourbonism ?"
suggest forcibly another question, and
the vital question for Democrats to con-
slider. Whether or not the South shall
be abandoned to Shermanism? As to
"honest elections land free ballot"
who does not know that they are
about the last things that the
Republican party in the South
wants? Who does not know that
that party has relaxed its grip upon the
several southern States just in proper
ton as the Democrats have gained the
ascendancy in those States and been
enabled to secure to the people "honest
elections" and 81 free ballot" Who
does not know that the cry Of "honest
elections" and " free ballot" is a
miserable subterfuge with which it is
attempted to conceal the moral
treason of the South-haters and
carry the northern people back to
the issues Of twenty years ago? Which
one Of the malignant leaders will dare
to write to Governor CAMERON, whose
Republicanism cannot be questioned,
and ask him whether there are hon
est elections " and 4" free ballot" in
Virginia and publish his Governor
CAMERoN's) reply' However, we
would like for JOHN SHERMAN to
come to Virginia and take part in the
canvass. The questions at issue are
serious, but we can imagine nothing
funnier than would be a tilt between
JOHN and the average Virginia Demo-
cratic stumper.