Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-28
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER %. 1883
The Sectional Party.

4
We are glad TO see that some at least
Of the Democrats Of the North are ar
raigning the Republican as sectional
party. and taking the high ground that
member of that party ought not to be
called upon TO be President OF the whole
country. No man who has been IN the
habi. Of waving the bloody shirt oueht
10 be elected President Of n Union whose
citizens, no matter what States they re-
side in. are al entitled to the same rights
under the Constitution. No man whose
"vhose heart is not right" towards mil
lions Of his countrymrn should be trust
cd 90 rule over these millions OF loyal
citizens.
We have given heretofore two extracts
from a speech recently made in New
York CITY by Democratic congressman
from Massachusetts Hon. PATRICK A..
CorINs Those extracts were crowded
with cool thoughts fehcitously ex-
pressed. This morning we press into
the service another Massachusetts Dem
ocrat Gon. WILLIAM r. RUSSELL. the
Democratic nominee for Governor. In
Dis letter Of acceptance he writes as a Nlr-
giniAn might wnte concerning the I'M
ouities Of Republican rule. We quote
an eloquent passage
"As ever. We. more than ever, our
party tins year Is fighting for measures.
not mrn. Il stands as the broad, M
GoYal party, seeking not sectional inter
ests. u1r q stir up sectional preIudlces,
but thc general welfare Of sixty millions
Of LOYAL people. it stands as the party
Of progress, demanding that issues long
since settled, whose results have been
accepted ana maintained by all parties
and the whole people, shall not be re-
yiyed. hut that Government shall take
up great economic and Administrative re
forms too long neglected ii stands for
tire fundamental principles of Demo
cratic Government the equality OF all
men before tie Jaw the freedom OF
tue individual from unnecessary burdens
and restrictions flc night Of all men by
manhood cad not by taxation to have a
voice iu determining tine power that shall
rnlo them thl exercise Of that power
equally Justly 60 a.i, uuawed and unln-
auencpd by the threats or demands OF
selfish or class Interests IT defends the
individual against oppressive power 1t
serves the interests of the silent peo-
p'e.' Confidently 1t appeals,
lot 10 prejudice, ignorance, nor false
alarm. butte the COINCIDENCE, intelligence,
ans patriotism of the american people.
our party rs the people patty, our ialth
ie the peoples faith. ami our ngbt Is Tor
them and for their interests.
Can such a party be defeated? Per
baps somebody Will reply that the north
ern people have cp.atediy defeated IT.
But that reply would not be conclusive.
The Republican party defeated the
Democratic party Sd long as the mai
passions of war were stronger than pa
iIiotism in the breasts of the voters OF
that section, bat never when the Issue
was. a. Mr.. RUs,IlL phrases 1t. " mea-
sures not men," These war passions,
aroused in 1851 and famed into
furious flames 10y four years of
war. dominated the northern people
until the year 1874. Then the Demo
cratic party resumed its ascendency
in the national House of Representa-
tivos. Two years later o great battle
was fought and won by the Democrats
bat the desperate Republican leaders
suatched the fruits Of that victory from
the hands of the Democrats and pos
sessed themselves of them. Mr. Til
DIN was not allowed to take the Office
of President of the United States.
Nothing could more forcibly illustrate
the condition of the public mind than
the facts, first. that the northern people ac-
quiesced in that crime because they were
still apprehensive that great evils might
result from Democratic rule, and, second,
that the southern people acquiesced
in itbecause they knew they were sus-
pected OF being willing to sec the north
EN- section of the Union in trouble. No
such condition of the public mind exists
ut present, nor can ever exist hereafter
The Administration OF GROVER CLEyE-
LAND bas convinced the northern people
that all the interests Of the country arc
safe in the hands Of the Democratic
party. There is no good reason now, if
there ever was, why they should distrust
the weaker section. In word, there is
no good reason why CLEVELAND should
not be continued in the Office which he
has filled with so much credit to himself
and TO the satisfaction of the nation.
Mr. RUssELL's letter furnishes con
elusive evidence that sectionalism has
lost much, il not almost all. its strength
even IN Massachusetts,. II is o most
favorable indication of Democratic sue
cess, and consequent peace and pros
perity, to find q candidate for O high
State Office speaking as he does Of the
so'fionaiists who 9aye so long borne the
rule in that old Commonwealth.
We need not add that il would be a
crying shame for any southern State to
desert the Democratic party just as it has
accomplished its mission Of eifecting a
real Union between tho North and tho
South. Virginia will not thus prove her
felf guilty Of that basest Of crimes
iugratitude.