Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-09
OCTOBER g. 1885,
Friends and Enemies.

v;yeipi. to elect to the high Office Of
Governor an ally Of HoAR, REID
SHERMAN, DAWES, and the rest oil
the tribe of calumnistors Of the South,
and defeat q friend Of the noble THUR
MAN, the gallant HoADLY, and the tens
of thousands Of other northern Demo
Gratis who stand up day after day be-
fore northern audiences and defend us
from the charges brought against us
by the malignants aforesaid.
Scarcely day passes over our heads
that we do not see evidence Of the fact
that the best friends Virginia has in the
North are in the Democratic party.
The speech of the president Of the
Democratic State Convention Of Mssss-
cbusetts, . sketch Of which We gave
Yesterday, was a manly one. 1t was
well calculated to warm the hearts OF
all true patriots, North and South. 1t
u
was intended to stir up the loyal DEM
ocrscy Of the old Bay State. At the
same time it was Of such character
that it might we'll be repeated in every
State in the Union.
The platform Of the Massachusetts,
Democracy is one that might serve as
the platform Of the national Democratic
party. In reading it We were psrticu-
larly reminded of that plank of the
Virginia Democratic platform which de-
clares against convict labor. 1t proves
that the Democratic party is the party
of the workingmen. II deals with the
question in n short, sharp, decisive way.
1t says:
1--WE are opposed to the competition
of convict with the labor Of honest
people, and demand such legislation as
will prevent it,"
That's the whole story in . nutshell.
They demand such legislation "a will
prevent the competition Of convict labor
with the labor of honest people.
But that is not all. Here is another
demand that will please the working
men everywhere. We quote:
eve believe that the frequent pay
ment Of wages enables the employed to
live more economically and secures to
them greater independence. We deem
it unjust to retain wages earned to en-
large capital or swell the profits Of
the employer. We, therefore, are in
faver Of the passage Of law requiring
corporations to make weekly payments
to their employees"
The ground upon which that demand
for q new law is based is solid. Every
body knows that it is better for work
ingmen to receive their pay every week
than to receive it only once month
II is better for many reasons, but espe
cially because it does away with thu
necessity for borrowing money at higl
rates of interest, as we'll as with tn,
practice Of compelling the employee t
buy from his employer, at high prices
the very necessaries Of life.
The Massachusetts, Democrats thu
send . double greeting to Virginia
They defend us from the ISLANDERS ant
libels of our enemies, and bestow upol
us the kindest of words, and at tn
same time lay down q platform whic
is well calculated to unite in one part
the working classes Of oil the Union.
People Of the Old Dominion, prov
yourselves worthy Of the sympathy G
the Democracy Of the old Bay State
Do not allow it to be said that you hav
endorsed libels and ISLANDERS which you
friends In the North had discreditsd
their State conventions and upon ever
stump. What would Governor HoADL
say? What would Senator THURMA
think Of the people Of his native State
Would he not put his hands upon h
mouth and his mouth in the dust an
humble himself in view Of such r.
suit? What would the Bay Sta
Democrats, the New York Democrat
the Democrats Of any State, have to ST
in the event that the people Of tn
mother Of States should acknowled
next month that she was also q
mother Of organized regulators, b
lot-box suffers, and assassinsg
Vote for LEE, and your conduct vi
be understood IS contradiction Of 4
charges which your enemies ha
brought against this noble old Col
monwealth. Can you refuse to pc
form this pious dutyy