Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-18
The Second Congressional District.
FRANKLIN, Va, July 16, 1890.
To nle Editor of he Dispatch :

To the Eidor of The Dispatch:
As the time for the election of congress
men is rapidly approaching II is important
that the Democrats IN each congressional
district should be comforting together and
consulting as to what Is the best policy Tor
the party in that district. To this end /
write this letter. expecting that II Will be
read IN this (the Second district. will pro-
woke discussion and lead to wise conclu-
sion one way or the other.
In my opinion, and in the opinion OF
nearly every one in this section the Demo-
cratic party in this (the Second district.
ought not to make any nomination Tor
Congressman. My reasons are tnree-fold !;
/. 1t will give our people much-needed
rest. We are cursed with too many cleo
tons; our people get tired of them. and
following the terrible contest last tall. IN
the face of two elections next year, when
there will be big fight for Democratic
supremacy and consequently for honesty
and ability in home affairs, | say let our
people rest il possible tins year that they
may be fresh for the struggle next year.
2. Ii we nominate we Will be beaten.
Now. this is a candid and some Will say an
impolitic admission. But speak after due
elaboration, and believe know whereof
| speak There are more Democratic voters
i'll this district than Republicans, but 1t
would be impossible for us to get those
Democrats all aroused TO the importance
of this congressional election, and conse-
quentlv many of them would not vote-s
3. The Republicans in the district are
lust on the verge of big family row, and
if we will let them alone for this year
think they will kill or convert such num-
Der of each faction that two years from
now we will have such decided majority
we will have no trouble IN getting our
Democrats aroused TO beat them.
But, SAYS some one, we must keep up our
party organization. Yes; but ! believe
and know that our party organization Will
suffer less from the results of no fight this
fall than il would from the effect OF the
halfway organization that we would have
if we had a nominee. We couldn't get the
masses of the party TO take hold with de-
termination, and they would get out of
the habit of working. A few leaders can't
do much unless popular enthusiasm sus-
tains them.
Again saws some one, We carried this dis
trict last fall, and why can't we carry 1t
| again! | answer, give the same conditions
that We had last fall and we viii carry 1t.
There as some difference IN Republicans. as
bad as they all are, and last fall 1t was u
! fight of the best In both parties against the
yiiest man Virginia ever produced. Men
eagerly and unsolicited voted against Ma
| hone who had not voted before for ten
years. and never Will vote again unless
Malone is candidate, so that they can
| vote against him. If Malone will move TO
| this district aud run l Will change my
| opinion, and feel assured that the sorriest
| man IN the district, provided he is honest
| and q Democrat. can beat him.
| Again, some one says, Why not grab the
| prize this year while they are fighting for
| ftp Try it and see how quickly they Will
! stop fighting and both turn on you. No,
| let them alone this year let them fight and
| get as far apart as possible, and then We
| will come in and try them.
These views are crude. and may be I'M
| sound, but believe they are the views OF
! a majority OF the Democrats of this dis
| trict, and that they, the voters. will decide
| that they don't want a nominee.
| Don't understand me as undertaking the
| importance of this election. In view OF
| late Republican outrages III Congress
| feel that il is of supreme Importance that
| tho Democrats see to II that the next
| House is Democratic, IL indeed. they don't
bind US hand and foot before the election,
| and refuse 10 let us vote. or at least for our
votes to be counted. But think IT USE
| less TO waste our energies and worry our
| people in fight hopeless from the start.
II costs money and time to run any sort
| of campaign. Let the State Committee
send all the money IL could have spared
us to the First district. Let our. patriotic
| citizens send their money there; let all our
speaking talent go there TO work let all
the energies that might have been spent
here 90 20 the First to help those gallant
Democrats to overcome the small majority
against them last time in spite OF the
Lodge bill or any other internal Republic
can device. Thus, believe, We can save
J. G. PARExH