Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-16
The Cause Of Dem O cratic Defeat In
Virginia.

The Cause Of DEM ocratic Defeat I'm
Virginia.
TO the editor Of the Alexandria Gazette:
Since the election, which resulted 90 dis
astrously to the democratic party in Vir-
giuia very many reasons for it have been
assigned by various papers and writer's.
But your correspondent begs leave to assign
his reasons for it, as they differ materially
from al! which have been given.
1st. There are great many persons who
work energetlcally i'll political contest with
the hope ADD expectation of being rewarded
for 1t, by an election or appointment to a
political office. They are, apparently, yery
earnest and devout democrats, and patriots,
But when the time to fill offices arrives, as
there are ten applicants for one Office, nine
of them are disappointed, and they and their
friends become offended and at the next
election are apathelic, and often by their
supineness' do more harm to their party
IMAM denonsttative enemies can do.
"a. Those who are elected make great
promises Of earnest efforts to secure }eeislo.
ton. either in the Legislature or Congress.
TO promote the prosperity Of the country
Instead of fulfilling these promises, thew are
either too indolent, too ignorant or too much
engaged in gratifying their own pleasures to
attempt nything for the public good. They
pass the session in ingloiious ease, crowd q
little nall digested work into the closing
hours, end return home without accomplish.
ing anything. lfthey are renomiuated only
tnelr personal friends come to vote Tor them,
and if they are not, they and their friends
refuse to work for anybody else.
.. Patriotism, alas, among our people, is
measured too accurately by the personal
benefit each one is expected to derive from
his work in canvass. And when he
sees the public does not appreciate him as
highly as he appreciates himself, "he throws
up the sponge, returns to his corner" and
sullenly refuses to respond to the time-call.
t. There nre some who refuse to vote for
a candidate because they fear it will place
him ano bis family in more enviable 80
clal position than themselves, and hence
they neither work nor vote for him.
8. The democrats have no distinctive
principles by which they can be character
lied always and everywhere. Some are in
favor Of protective tariff" others ONLY of
q "tarlil for revenue with incidental protec-
tlon to American products" whether of the
tield or town; some are for the Riddleberger
bill, SOME for the bondholders' proposition
for the settlement of the State debt; some
for LEGAL option, some for license; some for
free schools, the Blair bill, and some against
both; some for the knights of labor, boycotts,
and eight hours day; some for eyery man
for himself, without hinderance or moles.
tation, and work for all he can
get as long as can hold out
Some are opposed to the cursed wretches,
who call themselves republicans, because
they trampled upon, derided, insulted
DISTINGUISHED, degraded, imprisoned, hung,
robbed and plundered q fallen, but noble
and heroic people. Some secretly support
them, and even openly affiliate with and
support them, if thereby they can secure
Office. Some are annually deluded with
the hope that the negro vote may be seclr.
ed to the gentlemen of the country, by CIV
ing them good teachers, costly schoolhouses
and showing them distinguished considera-
ton and respect. Some know that the
more the negro is sent to school the bigger
fool and more worthless he is and the more
respect and attention you show him the
more arrogant and independent he is. Some
think that President Cleveland should
turn the rascals out" and nut democrats
in some that Mr.. Barbour could have or
ganzcd and secured victory and Gov. Lee
thinks that no one "bew the democratic
bugle," which was the cause of our defeat :
while others know, that so long as our
people apprehend no danger, and think that
everybody, like themselves, take no inter.
est in the election, they cannot be aroused
to action. But let them see the cloud of
black repubiicanisn hanging, as 1t does to-
day, like funeral pail along cur political
horizon. Mr.. Cleveland may fill every Of
tee with nugwumps and republicans, Mr..
Barbour may go to India, and Gov. Lee may
lock bis buee in his camp chest; so soon as
the cry ITO thy tentsn goes forth, from
mountain and valley, from Piedmont and
Ilde.water the democrats of Virginia will
roll forth in great tida! wave which will
demonstrate TO the world that Virginians
Will rule Virginia-an illustration of which
you will see in 1857. VER1TAs,