Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-12
II, 1885,
This District

Three weeks from this day will occur th
elections for members Of the national Hous
OF Representatives only>in Virginia
but IN all the States. The fact that in vir
sinia no other regular elections VIII occur
on that day accounts for whatever appear
apce OF apathy charseterizes the campaign
In this district there are three candidates
in the feld-Democratic, regular Republi'
can, and potential Republican. GEORGE
ID, WISE is the Democratic nominee,
Judge wADpIIL the regular nominee oil
the Republicans, and Mr.. WILLIAM Ii.
MULLEN the potential nominee OF the Re-
pUblicans. Mr.. MULLEN stays upon the
track In the hope that Judge WADDiLL can
be induced 10 withdraw in his favor, and
Judge WADDnL stays upon the track in
the hope that Mr. MULLEN can be In
duced TO withdraw in his favor. This
mere statement OF the facts OF the case
shows that we have done Mr.. MULLEN no
Injustice IN characterizing him as potential
Nv the Republican candidate for Congress
in this district.
Considering that the Republican vote in
this district was over fourteen thousand in
the last congressional election, the demand
for Judge WADDILL's declination might be
set down ms one 10 which the Judge need
not pay any attention. But the natter as
sumes a different aspect when we are
brought face 10 face with the fact that
nearly all the Republican voters in this dis
trict are negroes, and that the Aulenites
claim that half Of them are Knights OF
Labor. That is TO say, they claim, we I'M
dtrstmd, that there are nine thousand
negro Knights of Labor in this district,
counting men, women, and minors.
The opponents OF GEORGE ID. WISE,
whether they call themselves Republic ms
or seek TO secure the votes OF the People
under some other party name, are mostly
the same persons whom the Democrats
have been fighting under one name and
another for years past. In 1878 they were
Greenbackers and Republicans, and asked
the support OF the people on the fiat
money question. In 1879, having been
ingloriously defeated in 1873, they
appeared as the champions Of Read
iustment. In 1880 they were divided,
as now, into two factions, but were
then known as regular Republicans aud Re-
adjusters. In 1881 the two factions com.
bined and elected CAMERON to be Governor.
In 1883, 1884, and 1885 they, though united,
were three several times beaten down In
1856 they have up to this time come before
the people Of this district as two factions;
but as both factions are, as in 1878 and in
1880, enemies Of the Democratic party, it
becomes every true Democrat TO stand
by the nominee OF his own party,
and work for success; and this every true
Democrat should do whether he Is Knight
OF Labor or not. Neither Mr.. MULLEN nor
Judge WADDnL can do half as much in
Congress for the wOrkingman as GEORGE
WISE can. There will not be a dozen men,
bers Of the House Of Representatives who
will not be elected either as Republicans or
as Democrats, and Of course no man elect
ed over Democratic nominee could have
the influence that q Democratic congress
man would exercise in Democratic House
OF Representatives.
There are and there can be but two
great parties in this country. II you
march over TO the MULLEN camp this year,
you will be halfway to the Republican
camp. and will find yourself within this
latter camp before the next election
Even MALONE thought he could leave the
regular Democratic party and continue to
be- Democrat. 10 1881, more than year
after his election to the United States Sen
ate, he claimed 10 be "a better Democrat
than Ben. HILL" He and his Democratic
followers were 10y short steps led into the
Republican fold. Few, IL any, OF thes'
set out from the Democratic camp in 1875
with the expectation Of ever being fount
fighting under the Republican standard.
Therefore, on this day three weeks, you
win decide whether you will start over tC
the Republican camp or not. Ponder th'
matter well, see where Duty points, follow
her directions, renew your allegiance TO tn
Democratic party, go TO work for GEORGE
WISE, aud help us on the "a day Of Noyembe
10 rejoice over one more grand and glOri
Gus victory In the Old Dominion.