Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-12
The VIRGINIA CANVASS.
Efforts Made by the Democrats to Infam.
. - Race -PrefudfceG

Efforts Made by the Democrats to Infame
- y Race Preiudices.
The alarm of the Democrats in Vir-
gfnfa is shown By the issue upon which
they propose to conduct their cam
paign. Ostensibly they profess that
Mahoneism is the real issue. In real
ity it is the race question with all its
prejudices. Aware since the harmo-
NOUS consolidation of the Republican
factions through the Intervention OF
the National Committee that their
situation is a desperate one they have
descended to the tactics of the cotton
States, and the Democratic newspa-
pers and candidates alike are seeking
TO scare the people with the pretense
of negro domination. Upon the eve
of the Democratic convention the Rich
mond Dispatch said:
The Democratic party is the white mans
party of this country in all its extent and the
Republican party is the negro party and owes
its success to its treachery to the white race.
Mr.. Cleveland's majority of the white vote last
year was perhaps a million.
The Democratic party is also the only Ma
tional party in this country. The Repu blican
party is sectional party. II is as false 70 the
Union as it is TO the white race. 1t lives upon
strife. It glories in sectional hatred Il thrives
upon ignorance and prejudice.
The convention which is to assemble here
will represent National party and party
which does not depend upon negro votes for its
success.
Passing over the absurdity of the
Dispatch's claim that the Democratic
party is National party, it will be seen
that prejudice against the negro is its
main purpose The candidates who
were subsequently nominated at the
convention were still more explicit in
their declarations One of them said:
''God never intended that the Cauca-
sian should be dominated by the Eth
opian." Another: The Republican
party is without principles. and it will
apply the torch to your homes to &C
complish its purposes" Other candi-
dates talked in the most irrational
manner about the race issue, and the
candidate for Acknowledgement p-
posed any further appropriation of
money for the education of the ne
groes.
The last State campaign in Virginia
was conducted by the Democrats upon
the straight rebel issue, and was en-
phasized by professions wearing the
rebel uniforms aud carrying the Con-
federate flags. with General Lee riding
at their head upon his war-horse. 1t
was intended to strike terror to the
hearts of the negroes and deter them
from voting, but it failed to have that
effect to any alarming extent, and the
Democratic majority was still further
reduced. Aware that they can not re-
peat that issue they have gone before
the people this time upon the low Sec
tional issue of the race question and
are hoping to impose upon the intelli-
gence and sense of justice of the Vir-
ginia people by soaring them with the
bugaboo of negro domination and the
dangers to life and property that will
ensue in case the Republicans are sue
cessful 1t proves the hopelessness of
their situation that they have resorted
TO the tactics of Mississippi and Louis
lana and the Texas jaybirds as the
last chance for electing their candi-
dates.
1t will not work, however. The ne
groes in Virginia have white allies
who are skillful and courageous lead
ers. They have settled their fractional
fights and will now unite against a
common enemy. They are receiving
timely and strong reinforcements from
the old Wing ranks of men who recog-
nize the;olG war questions and race
questions as settled and are now bent
upon securing the material prosperity
of the State. \ Virginia is a Republican
State. Unfortunate party quarrels and
Democratic swindling have carried the
State for the Democracy during the
last six or eight years by constantly
decreasing majorities. however. Now
that the party is united and presents
a solid front to the enemy there is
good reason to hope the State will be
redeemed and placed in the Repub-
ican column. The howl OF negro dom
ination and the effort to inflame race
prejudices and provoke strife will not
avail.-Chicago Tribune.