Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-26
wEDNEsDAY....AUGUST &c, 1885,
AGGRESSIVE Work.

charged that the D'SPotC" ia" '"'N
ened aggressive" and wrathiui
work" in the campaign in Virginia
Our New York contemporary then got
into frenzy, waved the ensanguined
shirt, raked up the Danville incident
and revelled in prospective sea oil
blood and saturnalia Of violence. We
did not notice the charge at the time. 1t
was not calculated to hurt the
Dispatch. and 1t seemed to do the 7r'-
June a power of good. Having watched
the Tribune very closely through seve-
raj Of its attacks of rabies, and know
inc from its own confession that the
dog star had well-defined influence
upon it, we concluded that it would be
best TO let it rave itselfout. An attempt
to check its howlings might have made
its lunacy hopeless. But in the last few
days severalreputable and well-balanced
Republican journals, among them the
Baltimore American, have given cur
rency to the Trib,mes charge. 1t
therefore behooves US to say that there
is not word of truth in the statement
that the DispGteh threatened wrathful
work in the Virginia campaign. Nor is
there is any truth in the state
ment that the Dispatch threaten
ed aggressive work " in the sense
that the Tribune and the other
organs Of the northern allies Of the
Virginia Republicans would imply. In
fact, we do not recall having used that
expression at all. Yet, we have not
the slightest objection to being recorded
as in favor Of an aggressive campaign
in the sense that we are in favor Of a
vigorous campaign, and of driving the
enemies Of Virginia at every point.
The future Of Virginia demands that the
Democrats should be content with no.
thing short of complete victory, and
to accomplish that we must pursue the
enemy unrelentingly from now until
the sun goes down on the evening of
the Sd Of November and smite him hip
and thigh wherever found. We must
not be satisfied with holding our own
strongholds and with guarding and by
organization reinforcing the weak points
in our own lines, but must attack Ma
honeism in its strongholds, andifpossible
rout it in its own camp. Wemust fight
no less vigorously in the counties in the
black belt than in the counties that are
known to be solidly Democratic. Every
vote secured will count for the State
ticket. Every advantage gained in the
black belt must add to the moral effect
of the victory. We must look to the
far-reaching results of Democratic
triumph. We must remember that
not only Virginia, but the nation,
is vitality interested in the issues
Of the canvass. The defeat Of Ma
honeism will not only rid Virginia Of
Radicalism; will not only secure the
people Of Virginia against obnoxious
and tyrannical and partisan legislation,
aud guarantee to them upright circuit
judges, but will mark great advance
in bringing the United States Senate
into harmony with the Administration.
A Republican WaterloO--and that is
what the Democrats should aim
to make the election-would not
only bury the commissioners
sales bill forever, but would be the be-
ginning of the end of its twin iniquity
the internal-Ievenuc system, the aboli
ton Of which the Democrats of severa
States haye declared in favor Of. 4
sweeping Democratic victory would no
only be q telling blow to the Nationa
Republican party, but would rails
Virginia to the position of stand
ard-bearer in the struggle 70
the rights Of all the State
within the Constitution. Sooner o
later it must be recognized by all tn
other States that 4" the Federal Constitr
ton is being gradually changed by
slow process Of eapping and mil
ing which is being carried on
the national tribunal of last r
Sort" and that the usurpation
STANLEY MATTHEWS was not on
one Of the most radical steps in tn
process, but one which, if not rebuke
will be liable to affect them.
Virginia can go before the n
ton and show that she not on
was the first to raise the alarm
respect to this matter, but the fir
to throw herself into the breach to d
fend the Constitution, she must aga
take highest place in the sisterhoOd
States. Let the declaration that Il
question Of the State debt has cease
TO be one Of dollars and cents ~
has become one Of State sovereign,
be endorsed at the polls in Noveu
Der by an overwhelming Democrat
majority, ard she will have proved h'
right to the gratitude Of the true men {
every State irrespective Of party. Yei
we say, the campaign must be a
gressiye. Both the State and tn
national interests involved in Demo
cratic victory demand that il should be
The duty Virginia owes to herself an,
to all the other States will not be dom
until Mshoneism is driven 10 the wal
and crushed. And IL this de-
clsration be tresson---if this kind o.