National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-28
THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.

THE VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.
The Democracy of Virginia will hold
their convention in Richmond tomorrow
and, although there is much bad feeling
in the party throughout the state, II is
altogether probable tn at an open rupture
will be avoided, and that they will go
into the canvass with at least fair simula.
tion of unanimity.
The leaders understand that they have
no margin for speculative purposes, not
an ounce of strength that they can afford
to throw away. They know that the
fight is going to be pushed all along the
lines, and that victory, improbable under
any circumstances, will be put beyond
possibility of achievement il there is q
quarrel set up with the ticket and plat
form. Giving them credit for average
prudence and sngacity, we are compelled
to believe that no effort will be spared to
allay strife and unite the discordant ele.
ments.
The prominent candidates for the
gubernatorial nomination, as named in n
Richmond letter presumably written by
q well.informed Democrat, are Fitz Lee,
Phil Mckinney, George Cabell, Walter
Staples, Robert Beverley, Charles o'Fer-
rail-, and one or two others who might be
persuaded to exchange the hopes Of the
first place on the ticket for one Of the
other two honors-lieutenant governor
or attorney general.
This is formidable list. 1t shows
that the chief mAgistracy of the Old
Dominion is place Of 80 much honor
that even chance of winning II is
deemed worth the efforts of the strong
est men in the Democratic party Of the
state.
The impression generally prevalent is
that Gen. Fitzhugh Lee-the gentleman
who, when he rode in the Cleveland in
augural procession, was cheered more
Justify than either the President or Vice
President-will carry off the prize by
reason of his great personal popularity
with the working elements of his party,
the men who are expected to furnish
vim and enthusiasm for the campaign.
1t is undeniable that the two parties
in Virginia are so nearly equal in voting
strength that the result of the contest
must be considered doubtful. But "vot-
ing strength" does not imply voter to
every ballot cast. 1t is notorious that
the Old Dominion Democrats have not
been too honest to swell their count by
those peculiar methods which have
given Democratic solidity to the south
That their two victories-those Of 'S3
and '84-were not based entirely on hon.
est voting is proposition which should
not be seriously controyerted.
By such abuse of power as has no
parallel in the legislation of any other
state or party the Democrats in the Vir-
ginia legislature passed law which gives
them the exclusive control of the election
machinery. That they mean to utilize
such control in their own way and for
their own purposes is self-evident. But
there is one condition of the political
situation in Virginia which may exert n
restraining influence. The Republican
party in that state includes fair proper
ton of the intelligence, wealth, and
social influence of the community. The
Republican leaders are not the kind of
men who can be easily cheated. They
will know just how many votes each
party casts at each polling place, and if
the Democrats undertake to carry the
election by fraud they must make up
their minds to bear all the odium that
attaches to such outrages upon human
rights.
Changes of federal offices in Virginia
have been more sweeping than in any
other state. Will this strengthen the
Democracy Will the fact that twenty
or thirty men have been disappointed
and disguised for every man that has
been grati6ed increase the enthusiasm,
promote the harmony, or augment in
any way the fighting capacity of the
Democrats? We doubt it.
On the other hand, the Republicans
have unquestionably been made stronger
by prescription. The selection of their
state as the only one for IAN unceremoni-
GUS clean sweep" has aroused deep feel
ing-has united and enthused the Re-
publicans
The Republican ticket is all that the
occasion calls for. 1t is ticket that
will wear we'll, will take care of itself in
any contingency, and will give good
report to the country in November.