Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-09
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER o, 1889.
A Good Work that Must Be Done.

A GOOD Work that Must Be Done.
II is deplorable that any good man
should ever be compelled to adopt the
methods Of bad one. whether IN public
matters or private. But what is good
man 10 DO when he knows how he can
right a wrong. though 10 do so he must
adopt the methods of "a bad man? Let us
illustrato the case. Mr. HIsTEsD informs
rs that the Democratic Legislature OF ONO
will rcdistrict the State, congressionally,
and give the Democrats aS many members
from that State additiQnal as the Repubii-
cans GET IN the four new States.
We must an confess that congressional
districts ought 20 be made only once IN ten
wears after each census. But in Ohio the
Republicans have so gerrymandered the
State that out Of tweuty-ono congressman
the Democrats elect only FIVE, although
nearly half the voters were Democrats even
e. the last presidential election. That IS
g ssy, the vote IN Ohio in 1855 was for HAIR
BISON. 4lGOJ4; for CLEVELAND, 1896. ij5, or
only 10. 500 majority in a total vote of more
than eight hundred and twelve thousand.
The difference is not one twentieth of the
whole vote.
The Legislature inst elected in Ohio is
Democratic. Shall the Democrats allow
the opportunity 60 right wrong 70 pass
unused because it is not good form to
rediHrict o state more than once in ten
wears: Shall the Ohio Democrats turn
deaf cor TO their Democratic brethren in
other States who are kept ont Of Office by
shameful eerrymanding done by the Re
puhiicans several years ago? Shall the
Democrats of Ohio take no account of the
stealing 81 O State legislature and two
United States senators by the Republic
cans OF Montana viii not those gallant
Democrats rather make haste 10 do all
That may lie m their power 10 strengthen
Tire hands Of their brethren in all the
States;
The Democrats Of Ohio ought 10 do al
thcy can to prevent the national House of
Representatives 10 bc elected in 1890 from
being Republican body bent upon legis-
latiug against the southern States. The
liil passed st the last session of Congress
providing am Objectionable method of nd
hitting States into the Union-that Is,
empowering the President of the United
State. 20 issue proclamation having that
cfect-ought to serve rs warning not
only 10 the Ohio Democrats but to Demo-
Gratis an over the Union that they must let
escape them no opportunity of putting down
the Republican mischief-makers. Certainly
when We see the Republican strength in
The House of Representatives increased
from l6l TO 1G9 by resort to such mea-
sures a. that enabling act of the four new
States We ought to determine to redistrict
IN the interest of the Democratic party
every State IN which we may have the
power 10 do so. II is a bOunden duty
which We ought not 20 think of neglecting.
ly the way. Mr.. HMsTEAD says that under
tho new districting winch will be done by
the Ohio Legislature the Democrats will
gain as many votes in that State as the Re
publicnns gained in the four new States
ITcrritoriesl which either have come or
are TO come into the Union under circum-
stances so suspicious. Thisis an argument
i'm favor of redistricting Ohio. not against
that measure. Surely it will be right for
the Democrats Of Ohio to neutralize Re
publican votes in the national House of
Representatives gained by admitting States
into the Union in an irregular manner.