Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-08
THURsDAY..........."JULY S, 1856.
The Next House.

The Republicans are counting con"'
IDENTIFY upon majority in the next
House Of Representatiyes-that is, II
we may credit them with having made
honestly the predictions which have sp-
pesred in number Of the leading pa
pers Of that party.
The Republican Legislature OF Ohio
at lis last session redistricted that State
so as 10 render il next to certain that
the Democrats will next fall lose seve-
raj congressman in that State. In the
State OF Michigan the Democrats will
probably lose one or more Of their con-
gressmen. So also in Wisconsin,.
But after all reasonable allowances
are mtde for these and other known
conditions likely to prevent a Demo-
cratic majority in the next House Of
Representatives and give the control of
that body to the Republicans, it must
still be conceded that the probabilities
are on the side Of continued Democratic
ascendency therein. There are in the
Union seventeen congressional districts
in which the Democratic majority was
very small two years ago bat on the
other hand there are fifteen congress
sional districts in which the Republic
can majority was very small two years
ago. There is not much comfort for
the Republicans in these figures.
One Of the close districts Of 1884
was the First Virginia. We think it
Just ss probable that the Democratic
majority in that district will be In
creased as that it will be reduced. One
Of the facts upon which the Republi-
cans base their hopes of success this
year in the First Virginia district is the
discomfort which has resulted from the
local. option elections of last spring.
We know not how great is this dissatis-
fiction, nor why it should be confined to
the Democratic party, seeing that both
parties in their platforms Of last year
pledged themselves to allow to the peo-
pie local option in the matter of grant
ing licenses to sell intoxicating liquors.
But we do know that the efforts Of the
Prohibition party are more likely to in-
jure tie Republican than the Demo
cratic party, when these efforts all over
the Union are taken into the account.
Certainly there was nothing IN the
results Of the recent elections in Oregon
calculate to discourage the Democrats,
though the prohibition question entered
largely nto those elections. In Ohio
New Jersey, New York, and Other
States, indeed wherever the Prohlbi
ton party has become strong and az
gressive, the Republican party is NOR
likely than the Democratic to lose as
consequence of the existence and labor
Of the Probibitionists.
We would by no means encourag
the Democrats Of Virginia to be idle o
slothful. They are peculiarly clrcum
stanced, being opposed by large elias
of voters who vote against them withou
regard to any side issues or local issue
that can be raised. But this fact ough
TO cause all good Democrats to buckl
on their armor and 60 into the congress
sional campaign with the determinatio
to gain q victory.
The people of every southern Stat
owe it to President CLEVELAND
elect Democratic delegation pledge
to uphold his Administration and q
him in the work Of putting an end
sectionalism. BY him was the ban r
moved from southern men. LANAI
GARLAND, and BAYARD in the Cat
net, and GooDE, JOE JoHNso'
CURRY, wITHEIs, and other vi
rinians in Federal Office, are facts whiC
tell Us that the reign of sectiOnalism
at least suspended. Shall virginia.
be instrumental in restoring the ssotio
alists 70 power? Surely not. We ca
- not believe it possible.