Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-07
Mr.. Barbour.

We are not surprised that Mr. BAR
poUR has deemed it due to himself to
notice the Alexandria Gazcttcs report OF
the interview OF last Saturday between
him and the Washington correspondent
of that paper. We gave that report in
our issue of yesterday. Mr.. BARBOUR
writes concerning it as follows:
ALEXANDRIA, March :. 1888.
To the Editor Of the A!erohdffa Ga
zefte:
My Dear Sir,-I have been out OF
town SINCE the interview with y0ur
Washington correspondent Saturday
morning, and did not see the Gazette OF
that evening until o-day, and would IKE
to correct the statement made as regards
my position towards the Administration.
I did not mean to be understood as re-
presenting that the "powers that be "
lat Washington were by no means well
disposed towards me, as your correspon-
dent states, because | do not know tins
TO be true, and have not any per-
sonaI favors to ask to give 1t sig
nificance What l did mean to say was
that had differed with the Adminlstra-
ton on its Mugwump lines and non.
partisan policies, and that q chairman OF
the State committee more in harmony
with the Administration aud of closer
personal relations to the President ought
to be selected for the next campaign IN
Virginia. / am, however, very clear, as
at present advised, that il is the true
course Of the Democratic party OF the
United States to renOminate Mr.. CleVe'
land, and | expect to give him my cor
dial support for reelection under the
circumstances. Please make the correc-
ton and oblige, Yours truly,
john S. BARBOUR.
Mr.. BARBOUR is model party-lesder-
one of the most successful of his day.
He is O candid man-in committee, IN
private conversation, and elsewhere. He
is at the same time becomingly reticent.
That is to say, when he speaks he says
what he thinks, though he always re-
members that, in the language of the
Scriptures, "he who keepeth his mouth
and his tongue keepeth his soul from
evil" We attach, therefore, great I'M
portance to Mr.. BARBoUR's utteranees.
As to Mr.. CLEVELAND, the Democratic
party as a whole has reached the same
conclusion which Mr.. BARBOUR has. IL
seems to be the universal opinion Of all
good Democrats not only that Mr..
CLEVELAND will be renominated, but
that he ought to be. He has a strength
of bis own. He is, besides, man OF
destiny-if not in fact, at any rate in the
opinion of the voters; and this Is the
same thing in effect.
Nevertheless, all Virginia Democrats
must regret that there should be any
thing in the relations between Mr.. BAR
BoUR and Mr. CLEVELAND which might
make it proper for the former to decline
to remain longer as the chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee
and the Democratic State Executive
Committee. If there is anybody else in
the Democratic party of Virginia who can
fill his place we do not know who it is.
Or if we are acquainted with the man We
not familiar with his qualifications.
The State Central Committee will as
semble in this city tomorrow. One of
its duties will be to call convention of
the Democratic party. One of the du-
ties of that body, when assembled, will
be to decide whether Mr.. BARBOUR shall
be excused from longer service or not.
II the question is put to the convention,
however, with the understanding that
unanimous call will secure Mr.. BAR
BoUR's services. then the head of the two
State committees and Of the whole
Democratic party in Virginia will con-
tinue to be JOIN S. BARBOUR.