Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-20
TUESDAY. ......."AUGUST 20. 1883



A cool sign. ana one pregnant with both
encoururomert aua warming istheinierest
that tbrourhout thc country has attached
r. the Virgins State Democratic C0aven-
ton. Mover in ary state has q convention
assembled. which before is meeting called
forth more speculation or concentored
more thoror hly Che attention OF the prass.
Never il any State las o convention assem-
bed whose work. ofterit had been finished,
was the subject Of more widespread
comment. There IS hardly q leading
pa,,er an the United States that has not re-
cen.ly devoted unusual space 70 thc " VIZ
ginia campli-n.' ari the cOn9ensus OF
journalistic comment leaves no d1uot OF
the fact th1t Y.reiuio "a regarded every
Whor, rs pivotal State. Ila Republican
as VOL aa the Democrtt'c pfpers recognize
thst in TIE Old Donation u November Is
T. be made the supr us effort Of the ma
h-nants 90 break tAo solid South, and
thus inaugurate another saturnalla OF negro
domination. 10 be presided over by the
southern MARoyEs and their northern al
lies. the BJUTELLEs, tho SHERMASs, the To-
EAKEas. the HALsTEADs, and the followers
of these. We have SAID there are encOur-
agement and warning in the extraordinary
Journalistic manifestation OF interest IN
the Virginia situation. We find cncour-
agomont in the faith in the Virginia
Democracy exhibited before and since
the convention by the Democratic
press and in tie feeble attacks Of
the Republican papers on the nomi-
nees and platform. We discover warning
in the responsibility that contemporaries
OF both parties place upon US. II Is well,
even at tins early date in the campaign, to
BEE TO it that the encouragement we have
received does not blind US 10 the breadth
of the issue and that our people be posted
not only as to what Virginia but what the
entire South expects Of them. In order TO
this we quote from the New Orleans
Times Democrat, whose views on the impor-
lance of the Virginia campaign we have
found to be very fair summary of the
views of its southern Democratic contem-
poraries. In its issue Of Friday the
Tunes Democrat says:
1.-THE whole South, yesterday and the
day before, had its earnest attention drawn
10 the proceedings OF the Democratic state
Convention in Virginia. IL has regarded
the meeting and course of that convention
with an interest almost akin to that attend
ant upon a national convention TO choose
party candidate for the presidency"
In comparing the Virginia convention 10
a national convention does our New Or
leans contemporary go too far? Not If the
following from the same paper, which Is
n 4 L. 4 Nf
Republican contemporaries. be true;
THE Republican party is about TO begin
its most formidable effort TO wrest from
the Democracy and 30 restore TO Itself one
of the first southern States that broke
from its strong bonds after reconstruction
and returned to representative rule. That
party in this effort is backed by the power
aud the patronage OF an Administration
that devOtes more time and attention to
building up its party than 1t does to the
government of the country"
But the Times D, mocrdt does not stop
here. 1t covers the situation in manner
that bristles withsuggestions to our speak
ers. Continuing it says:
at 1.-THE Republican schemel is n con-
tossed attempt to break the solid South by
combining the worst elements Of its poPula-
ton with the most ignorant and brutal and
endeaVOrlng 10 fOrce ~ ABOVE thOae WHO
practically monopolize its property, cha
acter, refinement, and civilization.
This odious plan should fail through
the most rebuking defeat that could be al.
ministered by an intelligent, brave, and
free people. IL can only be defeated by the
united harmonious, and active efforts OF
the gallant Democracy of the Old Donin-
ion. Hence it is that the eyes of all the
South are to-day. and will be for nearly
H. 80 ot A
that once so long proved itself the bulwark
of its liberties in war"
If the words of the Times Democrat mean
anything-and, as we have said, that paper
fairly embodies the views of the southern
Democratic press and presents the hopes
and designs of the Republicans-they
mean that never in her history was Virgil
MIA confronted with graver responsibility
responsibility to herself, to the South, and
to the nation.