Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-09
WEDNESDAY.........MAf9 3. 1859



Next week the state conventions OF both
The great political parties IN Virginia VIII
assemble. Both conventions will manGuyre
for position, and either may by imprudence
damage the cause winch il was called To-
eethcr 10 promote.
The first question to be decided by each
convention is whether the man now chair'
man Of the state Executive Committee snail
be continued in that important POSITION
We take II for granted that General MALONE
will not decline under fire. and therefore
that nc will be- 7, elected chairman. 10 other
words he will order his own rejection. lie
has no Influence whatever with the Blame
tics either in Virginia or in the country 81
larce: and IL BLAINE shall be the nominee,
rs IL now seems likely he will be, General
MALONE will be totally unfit to be at the head
of the Republican party in this State. We
doubt that he would exert himself very siren
uonslv 10 aid IN BLAINE's election. He must
know that in case BfAINEis elected The Fede-
raj pafronare IN this state will be distributed
nv fine BLAINE men Of to-Ay-noi by man
who uses secret circulars to kill of BLAINE
II BLAINE il nominated II will be easy Tor
the Democrats to carry Virginia for CLEVE-
LAND II MALONE sulks and refuses to do all
that lies in his power to aid the Plumed
Knight. on the other hand. il SHERMAN Is
nominated he will be defeated before he be-
gins the race.
The Republicans must accept MALONE as
their leader because they cannot help doing
90. The Dcmocrats, on the other hand
must continue Mr. BARBOUR as their leader
because be is the choice Of the whole party,
and Is better qualified than any other nan
10 lead us to victory this year a' he has led
us heretofore again and again. lie last year
asked 10 be excused from the chairmanship
Of the two State committees, but bus request
was not granted. lie has now been crowned
with the highest honor in the gift Of bis adj
niripg fellow Democrats. lie cannot now
be charged with any selfish motive II he shall
consent 10 lead the Democratic hosts once
more.
II we undertake to select new chairman,
troublesome questions may arise Mr.. BAR
porR was for years elected to the House OF
Representatives from a district strongly
anti.Protectonist; and IT is to be presumed
that ne Is a Tariff Reiormer. This fact
does not disqualiiy him for reelection to
the position he has so worthily filed. But
II he should decline, imprudent members
OF the state Convention might object to
some other man either because he was or
because he was not ProtectOnist.
Nor would that be the only difficulty.
Where IS the man who can take Mr.. BAR
BOURs place as an executive parly-onicerf
Where is the man who can draw his bowl
.sIt is no time to swap horses when YOU are
in the middle of the stream" said Mr.. LIN
coin. The election OF Mr.. CLEVELAND may
depend upon Virginia. Shall We Try at such
a juncture an unknown, inexperienced
leader7
Should II become necessary to call upon
our northern friends for pecunary assist
ance, Mr.. BARBOUR is the man 20 get 1t. A.
the longtime president OF the Virginia
Midland Railroad Company, as member OF
Congress, and otherwise, he Is known to the
moneyed men in the Democratic party Of
the North. Virginia is claimed 10y the
Republicans, both Blatueites and Sher-
NANTES, as doubtful state. II the
Democrats OF Virginia should them
selves come to that conclusion before
next November, they will feel it to be their
bounden duty to try TO collect in the North
small fund TO meet that large fund which
sHERNAN's friends are reported to be ready
TO expend in this State during the campaign.
II Is almost impossible now to cauy on a
successful campaign without using money.
Almost every Humpspeaker expects
a part or all Of his expenses to be
paid by tie State Committee; and
some speakers actually expect nay for their
services. II is bad sign for the country;
but il IS certainly true that it takes now ten
times as much money to carry on success
full aggressive campaign as it required in the
best days OF the republic.
We have never heard Mr.. BARBOUR say
word on the subject OF this article. We
write, not 10 his interest, but In that Of the
Democracy OF Virginia and Of the UnIon.