New-York tribune., 1885-09-17
r,porvrpS noTE IND HER INDUSTRIES

The Virginia Republicans have been workrhs
splendidly, though against great odds' ioo
little is known at the North of the reason why
the odds against them are so great. III Is DuV
LITTLE known that the election laws were
changed by the last Legislature, on purpose 10
Give n larger power to Bourbon managers than
before. The question is whether it is still
nossble to secure in the State of Virginia n
vote sufficiently free, and count sullcientiS
honest, to give effect to the will of the people,
Perhaps the Republicans of that State haruy
know how great the interest really Is WHICH is
felt in this election at the North. In the south
ern States it is different; the Republicans 'here
know well what prevents fair election III
virginia. and how hard it Is in that State to
breal, the Bourbon line. There, if the news
should come of n Republican triumph IN VIZ
ginia, it would be hailed with exceeding JOY as
an evidence that resolute effort and an earnest
oppeal TO the people might also break in other
States the iron despotism of the minority.
But Mt the North, though the Republicans OF
Virginia may not be aware of it, there Is n
growing appreciation of the difficulties against
which they contend. At the North, people
pepin TO understand that good gov crnment FOR
the Nation cannot Dt StCultu, uulfrN NV S''
ernment, in the trucst and best sense can DE
restored in the Southern States. 1t Is well
understood by many since the last Presidential
election that the defeat of free government ut
the South, by the conspiracy of bourbon Dem
ocrats TO defy the Constitution and disregard
the laws of the United States, goes far deeper
than the election of a single President, and
concerns all future elections and decisions of
the people upon all National questions Hence
the struggle of Virginia Republicans Is now
watched with far greater interest than it would
have been before the late Presidential election.
All the interests for which the North cares
dccply depend directly on this contest For
behind all other questions, the question OF
tariff the question of currency, the question of
silver coinage, the question of foreign policy,
there is the larger and controlling question
whether any appeal to the people in the South
ern States can be of use, whether the people oi
that section can be heard any longer through
the ballot-box Their interests arc identical
with our own. In irginia, especially, TINS Is
true. for the vast development OF nanuiactur-
inc industry in that State has secured better
wages for labor, ~ it has in Pennsylvania aud
New York, better prices for land and better
demand for farm products. These are the
results already of the protection OF home
industry in n Southern State. If The policy of
protection is to be oyerthrown, by the dishonest
counting of votes in Southern States. cr the
unlawful suppression oi votcf' the Northern
States wonld lose much, but Virginia and other
Southern States in which manufactures have
begun to thrive would lose still more Ii it be
proved. therefore. that no appeal TO tho people
of Southern States can Dc heard or that their
voice can find no expression through tine ballot
box. il will De necessary for the people OF
Northern States to put aside all other questions.
until they can bring about n free expression oi
the popular VIII, and to unite is they have
never united before 70 rcsst the Bourbon con-
spiracy against free government. The future
of parties largely depends upon the result OF
the election in Virginia. and the industrial
future, alike of thr North and Of those South
ern States in which tae development of manu-
features has recently been promising. clearly
depends upon the same decision.