The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-06


~ second-cla.s matter.
PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS
There is not a chapter in the history
If the art and statesmanshiP OF politics
that is so fraught with instructive les
sons a. the after war record OF the
Democratic party in the South when
The great popular party Of the people
had TO organize itself OF principle OF
self preservation. The manner III
which the people Of the South succeed
ed in fighting political battle, after
they had so disastrously %ost the cause
on the field Of war, is a testimony TO
the honor Of the character and sense OF
the Southern people that is guarantee
Of their capacity to meet a d lihcul'y
in the conscious feeling Of their moral
and intellectual power.
We are bound together by the strong
est ties that have welded togetherall in
terests, all classes, aud we know that
unity is strength and salvation.
The problem has been fought out IL
all the Southern States, and in Virginia
we have it in a somewhat complex
form. if the Republicanism that
wrought rs such wrong is to be ac-
knowledged as respectable.
We believe that in the affairs Of a
great party that holds the safety OF
free government, we may afford, as III
the affairs Of men, to look far forward
to great results, and hold personal CON
sideratious and tcchnicalities, and par
tisan ideas as entirely secondary to the
accomplishment of the final result
which is a final triumph Of the Demo
cratic party, as we know perfectly well
that it has the popular majority.
Now, to apply these ideas to the com
ing contest in Virginia for the guberna
t,rial nomination, We have TO lay down
the recognized principle, first: That a
nomination is first question Of per
sonal preference, but that all personal
preferences must yield to the consid-
Grafton of the general good, which rs
the success Of the Democratic party.
Ii is an old legendary saying in the
Democratic party of Virginia set TO
the music of oratory by patriotic
candidate who was defeated for the
nomination: Il opposed the other can
didate for the nomination, but | sup
port the nominee
Virginia is not school for mug
wump politics. Ii has been the Sparta
81 "a great war. and 1t still feels that
necessity for calling every citizen to
take one side or the other But in
choosing between Republicans and
Democrats, mongrels and indepen-
dents, let us understand distinctly that
the flag Of our great party the cham
pion of the peoples Liberties, is not to
be hired out to any particular person
or any sort of an advertisement.
The Democratic party Of Virginia
should be represented, as it certainly
will be, by good representative men,
aud they will be wise if they will come
10 the convention free to choose the
best man who has the strongest inilu-
ence as Democrat.
The platform Of theTemocratic party
has been moulded in various forms to
suit various occasions, but the people Of
the United States know one important
thing in politics to mark the line be-
tween theparties, viz: That the Demo
Gratis 10 for the rights Of the people as
opposed to class taxes 10 support mo-
nopoly.
In the South we know that. and in
addition 70 it We know that the Demo
cratic party is the one that saved Us
from rum after the war.
We do not see that the conditions are
changed from the carpet-bag rule If
the Southern States are to let 'he Demo-
cratic cause 20 by default.
We repeat that in the South Demo
cratic victory is sclf-preservation, and
in view OF that most burning fact we
implore the delegates TO the convention
10 enter upon their deliberations with |
an idea of party success and with view
TO the man who can win. whoever he |
lie, personal friend, rival or enemy.