Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-16
THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRACY
MUST AROUSE

That cavalcades and bugles and such
like have their uses in political campaigns.
we admit. But if one of those uses be to
narcotize the Democracy of Virginia into
dreamy idleness, then their Inauguration
has been the most disastrous invention of
our times. They have never appealed to
our judgment, nor met our taste. but as
ment with no particular damage to any
body, we have thought itsuperfuous to air
our opinions But it must be very clear,
by this time, to those who fare managing
the Democratic campaign in Virginia,
that they not only have failed to dismay
the enemy but have lulled our own
people into sense of security which,
if undisturbed, will cost US both the legis-
lature and the State ticket. We have OBJ
served the effect on the county of Au-
gusta both among the political managers
and the people. After grand reception
to FitZ Lee in Staunton, the county Dem
Ocracy seems to have put aside work and
laid itself on It's back to pass the time in
delusive dreams of professions aud bugles
and victory. In the neighDoEing county of
Rockbridge We had an opportunity of ex-
aiming it in detail. A cavalcade of en-"
thuslastlc horsemen, with our candidate at
their head, had demonstration at viii
lage, far exceedjngIn numbers and enthus-
iasn anything that had ever bsen seen
there. Ten days afterwards, the rival po-
litical parties had meetings and, though in
Democratic neighbor hood. the Republi-
cans outnumbered the Democrats two to
one. The cavalcade business is evanes-
cent. 1t would be effective if the election
took place next day; if the minute the
cork flew out you could drink the cham
payne, but for an election to be held many
days after, 1T is soothingly deceptive and
fatally delusive. The Democracy of Wythe
read of grand ovation to Lea 10 Au.
gusta, are satisfied that thu traditional
'thirty thousand maJority'' is coming,
and sit down to wait. The Democrats Of
Augusta read that lone thousand men on
horseback" rode behind Fitz Lee in
Wythe. are satisfied that the Democratic
majority in the State is to be "overwhelm-
ing," and sit down to wait. Neither
county in the meantime doing a days
work-no documents distributed, no cam
paign papers circulated, no precinct COM
mittees prodded into activity. This is not
confined to the limited section of Demo-
this writer; it seems to US to exist. more
or less. all over the State. The Demo
cratic press. with some exceptions, seems
60 be revealing in unrefecting anticpa-
tions of great victory which shall come
without work or anxiety. We entreat the
press and the people of Democratic Vir-
ginia to awake from their lethargy and
apply themselves to work.
This appeal for action is not written
without reason. We knooo what we say
and the reasons for saying it, Virginia is
Democratic both in State and Presi-
dental elections if her uote is brought out.
But it was not brought out last November,
nor is it being brought out for this Nov
ember. In 1884, Cleveland received 49,
497 votes, only sic hundred and t,velve votes
Blaine received 1879 1855 votes. being over
ttoelUe thousand Uotes more than the Repub-
lican vote of 1888. Last November the
majority of Cleveland in Virginia was
only GAL. So much for the narrow mar
gin on the general vote and the party show.
ing gains. Now for the dangers that
environ the election of members of the
General Assembly. In the legislative
election of 1883 there were twenty nine
counties and towns which we're carried
by either party by majorities of less than
one hundred making wide debatable
field of twenty-nine counties and towns
for the legislative election of 1885.
The counties which went Democratic in
the Presidential election, If they GO so
again next month, would give US
bare majority of ten in the House of Dele
gates. and by losing few delegates, (some-
thing not hard to do in twenty nine close
counties) we would be put in minority.
We have no right in practical politics to
assume good fortune in doubtful counties
or in general field. The fact that a
majority of the legislature is in reach of
Malone ought to break up the dreaming of
the Democracy and We hope that know
edge of the fact will have the effect of
arousing the Democratic people of Vir-
ginia to more active participation in the
passing canvass. You all know what is
in store for you if by almost criminal neg
ligence you fail to organize and bring out