Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-30
A PLAIN Talk.


We said in our last issue that the
bot competition for the Democratic
nomination for the Office Of Governor
of Virginia was good sign, in that il
presaged Democratic victory next
fall. Who would desire to be nomi-
mated II the prospect Of election we're
not goodY Who would wish to canvass
the Commonwealth at q heavy cost to
himself in time, money, and mental
and physical work Of the most exhaust
ing kind, If he did not feel modestly
confident that his efforts would be
crowned with success
But that is not the whole story.
There are ambitious men in the Demo-
cratic party who fancy that they have
claims upon the party. For our part
we repudiate all such claims. We do
not concede that any man, whatever
may have been his services to the Dem
cratic party, has any such claim upon
that party as would justify him in de-
handing at their hands nomination
for high office. If such men rendered
whatever services they have render
ted to the party because they hon
testify believed that they were doing
their duty, and periodically endeavor-
ing to promote the welfare and pros.
perity Of the Commonwealth, they
surely cannot have the face to demand
to be rewarded for anything they have
done. On the other hand, if such
men have heretofore acted with the
Democratic party and labored for its
success only because they hoped to be
rewarded for SO doing, then nobody
will pretend to say that they ought to
be put up for any Office whatever.
Cast your eyes all over the State, and
look at the thousands and thousands of
Democrats, good men and true, who
have for years labored faithfully in sea-
son and out Of season in endeavoring
to cause Victory to perch upon the De-
mocratic standards Are they to be |
overslaughed that persistent selEseek-
ers may be rewarded with honors?
You expect negative answer; but
we must give an affirmative one; for
these true men are accustomed to
that sort Of treatment. They do
not expect any other kind, and
would be surprised if they received
any other kind. For example, take this
city, which in the last ten or twelve
years has never failed at any election to
roll up good Democratic majority,
and last fall gave CLEVELAND nearly one
third of ali his majority in the State
does anybody anywhere in Virginia
expect Richmond man to be elected
Governor, or Lieutenant-G Governor, or
Attorney General, or United States
Senator. No indeed. And yet there
are no better or ADLER men in the State
han are to be found in Richmond, nor
men more entitled TO the honors Of the
Democratic party.
We do not mention the good Demo-
rats of this city because there are any
ones amongst them, nor
because even one man amongst them
'xpects to be candidate for any one
u the high offices we have mentioned.
IN the contrary, we hear of no such
losire on the part Of any Of our fellow
'itizens Of the capital. II is for this
'eason--it is because such true, trusty,
ried, able, capable, and faithful Demo-
rats do not pretend to have any claims
o office--that we refer to their case
y proving positively and fully that
{ any aspirants shall press their
= claims" upon the public, and
'ehearse their services to the Demo-
ratio party, and bemoan the unde-
'erved neglect which has been their
'ortion. then those aspirants are mere (
'laee-seekers and time-servers. In {
very section Of the Commonwealth {
here are numbers Of just such men as s
We have described as living here in $
Richmond, and those men have for .
years and years given their time and ,
'alents to the Democratic party without I
sspsctation Of any other reward than !
such Is would naturally follow to all
rood citizens from the triumph Of Dem I
'cratie principles. The fact is that the
men who have heretofore received
lonors are more apt to consider them j
elves sighted than the men who have c
ever received any. As we have said, =
here are thousands Of such good men
nd true in every part Of Virginia, and b
their example we point oil grum- L
lers and prospective boltess and sore
sads and ambitious nobodies.
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