Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-03
Selecting Nelecates.

We mentioned not long ago the pro-
position of the Alexandria Gazette TO
elect to the st. Louis Convention land
we think 10 the State Conyention) only
such Democrats as are known to be
Tariff Reiormers, TO use common
designation. Having afterwards seen
no renewal of the proposition We had
come to the conclusion that the scheme
OF prescribing one third or more of the
Democrats in Virginia had been 0ban-
doned. We were surprised, therefore,
when we saw this exceedingly objection
able scheme again advocated in the Ga
ectc of last Saturday. We quote.
"The Norfolk convention, if it would
svoid the charge of cowardice Its enc
mics would otherwise be sure TO bring
against it, must take a decided stand
upon the main and absorbing question
of the next national campaign; and If
the delegates composing it be Democrats
from principle, and would be in accord
with the Democrats of all the other
States in the Union, North as well as
South, they will not 'back down, but
will repudiate the action of the Roanoke
Convention and OF the last Legislature,
and declare for the retention of the tax
on whiskev and the abolition Of the tax
on the necesSaries OF life, in accordance
with the advice of the msn for whom
their delegates to the st. Louis Conven-
ton will probably vote. "
Repudiate the action Of the Roanoke
Convention Who constituted the
Roanoke Convention? Many of the
men who will constitute the Norfolk
Convention. But al such men must be
prescribed. john 5. BARBOUR himself
will have TO be prescribed if the action
of the Roanoke Convention is to be re-
pudiated. In a word, the G0eettc advo-
Gates policy which could have no other |
outcome than the defeat of the Demo
cratic party in this State next fall.
No doubt our Alexandria contemporary |
VIII say as Mr.. WArrEBsoS has said, that
he would advocate tariff reform il he felt |
confident that the result would be the
defeat of the Democratic party. MIR.
WATTERsoS's own words are these:
ave urge tariff reform primarily, be-
cause We think it is right and necessary, |
end not because we believe it is the best 4
method Of giving any political party the |
control Of few Offices, although, as for |
that We believe the latter Of these prop0- /
sltions as firmly as We believe the first"
Kentucky was never in the condition !
in which Virginia and other southern
States we're and are. 1t makes a vast |
diHert nee TO the people of Virginia whe-
ther their friends or their enemies econ
troll " the hundreds OF Federal offices in
this State. 1t is therefore a wrong not |
only to the "few ollice-holders, but to /
the white people of Virginia, for any
Democratic journal to undertake TO drive /
out OF the Democratic party the old |
Wing element, or to prescribe Protec-
ZIONIST Democrats, or TO assume that |
they may be treated as pariahs and yet |
be confidently relied upon to vote with |
their prOscribers. We must let the party /
remain just what it was when twas organ
lied namely, the Democratic Conserva-
tive party, or Conservative Democratic
party.
And what a job the Gazette has cut |
out for its edherents. 1t proposes to re-
pudiate not only the Roanoke Conven
ton, but the last Legislature. which lat
ter body passed certain resolutions which
our Alexandra contemporary regards as
too strongly Protectionist. Who will be
left in the Democratic party OF Virginia
when the Democrats who stand by the
platform of the Roanoke Convention and
those who stand by the action OF the last
Legislature are read out and told to make
tracks to the Republican camp?