Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-15
THURSDAY.........M MARCH -, 1888
The Issue IN Virginia.

The Issue IN Virginia.
1t is hardly too much to say OF the
Alexandria Gazette that it is never IN ac-
cord with the Democratic party OF Nir-
ginia. But we had hardly penned the
above sentence before we recollected that
the Gazette has occasionally expressed
decided dissent from the policy of the
present Democratic Administration ut
Washington. 1t is a chronic grumbler.
It candidly admits in the following
article that it is not Democratic Jour
nal at all il the Roanoke platform is the
one upon which the Democratic party of
Virginia stands. We quote our Alex
andria contemporary in full-as follows;
"Tho Richmond Dispatch objects to the Ga
yefie's recently-eXprcssed hope that the Demo-
Gratis In all the towns aud counties OF virginia
may take care that the delegates they elect 70
their state convention shall be men VINO VIII
represent them correctly on al questions that
will come before the national convention. and
advises tho GdyeffS not 70 lose sight OF the TACT
that the Virginia Senate only week aeo passed
a resoutlon-only one member voting IN inc
negarve-in favor Of the Blair bill, ana OF the
abolition Of the tax on tobacco and apple
brandy, aud Of the retention Of the duty on
foreign ores. The Disp0Nh might have gone a
little further back 20 tho Virginia Democratic
Convention n Ro2uoko. which declared Tor
the protective tariff and for the removal
OF tho tax on whskey and oleomar-
carine. IL was the action Of the Virginia senate
referred 70, and that Of the Roanoke convention,
that induced the GGzStte 70 express the hope 10
which the UispGfch objects. because the Cdfttff
cannot believe that a majority Of the Democrats
Of the State Of the farmers Of tho State. who con-
stitute a large majority Of the virginia Demo
cracy, endorse the action either a the state sen
ate or the Roanoke convention. and because II
does believe that II they turn out at their Ward
and district meetings to elect their delegates 10
the State convention. and demand an expression
OF views from the men who want 10 oe deiogaies,
they will SOLICIT those who oppose the I'M
democratic action Oi both the state Senate ahI
the Roanoke convention, and who Will represent
them correctly on all subjects mat nlaS come
before the national convention. On tho three
measures % which reference r. made IN the reso-
luton OF the Virginia senate the Gd2efn believes
majority ~ the intelligent Democratic voters
Of Virginia agree with President Cleveland, VINO
opposes them earnestly and ernphaticnlly, and
who Is supported in his opposition 10y the Demo
cratic orsa ,aious ~ al. TIC other states OF tho
Union except those Of Virginia and North caro-
Ina and by all other men who call themselves
democrats -avo Mr.. Randall aud tan or a dozen
OF his followers in Congress
That article is as practical as tho
Gdzcttc's articles usually are. 1t pro-
poses to refuse to send TO ST. Louis any
Virginia Democrat who stands upon the
platform Of all the Virginia Democrats
1t omits to mention that tobacco is one
Of the articles from which the Demo
Gratis of Virginia declare in favor OF re-
moving the tax. 1t does not tell us how
these Protochonist Democrats are to be
treated next November when cleo
tons for congressman and President
are 10 take place. 1t does not seem to
consider that it proposes in effect to turn
over all the Protectionist Democrats to
the Republican party. 1t does not APP
pear to recognize the fact that if the
policy of protection is to be the dividing
line between the two parties next fall
the Democratic candidates will be in a
bad way in this State. 1t assumes
either that the Protectionist Democrats
are willing to support party which de-
clares them unfit to hold Office, or else
that they may be safely Identified to the
Republican party, although the Demo
cratic majority on the popular vote IN
Virginia last year was next to nothing.
and although Mr. CLEVELAND carried the
State in 1884 10y only 6, l41 majority.
Why does the Gazette vote always
with the Democrats OF Virginia, seeing
that it opposes their policy on the debt
question, denounces the utterances they
make in their platforms, and day after
day ridicules them as inconsistent
Either the Gazette is chargeable with
hypocrisy or else it supports the Demo
cratic party because it agrees with the
party on questions and policies far more
important than any question of tariffs
could possibly be. 1t confesses by
Its own course that in this State
ct least a man may consistently
"stand to and abide by" the Demo
cratic party, who doesnot oppose protec-
tion. Surely if it is consistent for our
Alexandria contemporary to do so it Is
right and proper and consistent for
Protectionist Democrats and anti-Pro-
tectionist Democrats 70 stand together
not only at the ballot-box, but in ward
meetings, and county meetings, and
congressional conventions, and State
conventions. Surely, too, they may
elect delegates to st. Louis who
will represent the party as it ex-
cato hare ~ houoa that - Drotacfionfat
delegates or anti-Protectionist delegates.
The party is composed of these two
classes OF men. Why should not the
delegation to ST. Louis be composed OF
them also? Why should it not be
representative delegation? If these
Protectionist Democrats are not quail
fed 10 sit in the Democratic National
Convention, then it will be the duty OF
the ants in that convention to move to
refuse to seat them. This is the logical
outcome of the Ga-ette's teachings.
But we do not for one moment believe
shat the Democrats of Virginia are so
unwise as to follow the Gazette'S advice.
They will select their delegates to the
st. Louis convention unfortunately
from both wings OF the Democratic
party; or rather they will by their action
deny that there are two such wings
Their duty to their section and to the
whole country demands OF them that
they shall be true TO the policy which
placed GROVER CLEVELAND in the presi-
dental chair and lifted the hand Of OPP
preston from the sunny South.