Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-06
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 6. 1888.



1t Ia not too soon for the Democrats Of
Virginia to be considering the platform that
Is 10 be adopted lc their next State Con-
yentiOn and the Issues upon which thcy aTe
10 20 into the next campaign. Governor
is 10 be elected 10 serve a term OF four
yesrs. and a Senate, one half OF whose
members are 10 serve for four years. and a
House OF Delegates, which Is to serve Tor
two years. II the results of this years
elections are n be accepted as settling the
political status IN the several counties and
districts both branches Of the noXt Legis@
lature viii be divided almost exactly equally
between the Two parties, and Democratic
Governor will be elected 10y about fifteen
hundred majority. The senators who hold
over are divided ~ uesrly equally rs pos
fibie between the two parties.
We are not SURPRISED 70 hear that Demo
Gratis al over tho state are already express
log their views upon the subject Of next
year, nominees and platform. Hon. CnAeLEs
4. O'FEnRaLL, Of Rockingham. whose name
has often botn mentioned 10 connection with
the next nomination Tor the office q Gov
ornor. has declared what be intends TO advise
Dis party friends TO do. The wellknowu
Wsshineton correspondent Of the AeXan-
drs Gazette says.
"Reprosentatiye O'Ferrall. ~ Virginia,
saws the Democrats hoye taken tholr position
for low tariff and must maintain 1t, aud that
my giving way now, or any attempted com
promise by which an inch Of that position
would Dee reluquished, Instead " dong any
good would have the most disastrous effect,
and IN addition bring rldicule upon the par
~"
There Is no possible way IN which The
Democrats can revise the tariff according to
tbelr notions before the year 1892. a Re
publican President fully committed to the
doctrine o. protection, will occupy the Ex-
ecupye chair until then. A Republican
Senate and O Republican House Of Repre-
sontalives Ina full sympathy with him on thot
question Will pass no bill Objectionable to
him. II the people Of Virginia were unsni-
mously to demand next year 3 revision Of
the tariG the Republicans would
laugh them to scorn. Yet we are
asked to fight the battle Of 1889, and OF
consequence those Of 1890, 1891, and 1872
upon an ISSUE that will in effect be "A dead
one for the next four years. i hat practi-
cal poiiicsf Another President OF the
United States IS 10 be elected before the
tarld can be touched and yet We are TO con-
tinue firing away all along the line in Nirs
ginia. We are To waste our ammunition
upon an enemy tina, il entreuched and per
icctly bomb.p proof and allow MALONE to take
possession OF the Commonwealth.
our neighbor OF the state seems 20 us TO
foreshadow much better policY than the
one we have had under consideration. IL
saws;
1.-THE paramount question with Us is our
local seize OveFdment tue rule Of ibo INTEL
ugence snd thrift Of Virginia. 20 maintain
TINT control OF our affairs we NUT agree 70 a
fair and reasonable compromise OF our diler.
euces on Federal questions, and none will
more cheertully support such compromise
than the State. The record OF Mahontlsm
when I'm power furnishes us with material
enough Tor the campaign next year, IN which
Federal ISSUES must play subordinate
part The attempt 70 turn all the rail-
roads IN the state into vast pollli-
cal machine; the intention OF taking
away from the cities their right
OF home rule; the scheme for creating In
every city and county mOnopolst of land
sales. otiices TO be dlcd by the pets OF the
boss; the unlawful fees That were grabbed
by leaders Of that party; the broken con-
tracts and the broken bank, all make 40 a
history that j. sufficient IN itself 10 bring
Malone and Mahoueism once more into ire
trlesable condemnation aud crush II under
overwhelming victory. When that tghl
comes the State Will be found as II has
always been found IN every struggle w
gtach Vrx inia's best Interests were at stake,
cheering encouraging, urging on a united
Democracy"
The best cOmpromlse on the tariff ques'
ton might be TO drop that question. There
Is no better reason why the Virginia Demo
Gratis should make an utierance on that sub
jecl than there Is for declaring in favor
q bimetallism, or ciVilSeryice reform, OIL
river-and. harbOr appropriations, or re
serving the public lands for actual settlers
or any other measure that IL contained In the
creed OF tue National Democratic party
This Is our view nj present Like the state,
however. we are ready to agree TO a compro
mise on all or any Of those Federal questions
II one shall by our party friends be deemed
necessary en- the best interests Of the rea
people OF Vifgnia.i