Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-28
SATURDAY. :. NOVEMBER IS. 1891.
New York state.

The fight for the liberties of the people
which has been going on in New York
State for some time is one in which the
whole country is interested. In another
article elsewhere in to-dsy's paper we have
said something as 10 the national contest
now going on for the perpetuation OF the
rule OF the Republican party. This ma
tional contest Is indeed an important one.
IL cannot be too highly estimated. But
the local contest now going on in New
York State is also at tho same time q ma
tionsl one. It suits the purposes OF the
Nugwumps. led by the New York Times,
and OF half-and-half Democrats. to belittle
the battle now being waged in behalf OF
the Democratic party; yet nothing is more
certain than that the result of that battle
may determine the result of the
grand battle of 1892. There is no use in
mincing matters. We must fight the devil
with FIRE. We need not longer expect 10
achieve success in the Empire State unless
we stand by the Democrats of that State
in the close, hand-to-haud fight to the
death which they. led by Governor HILL,
ore now carrying on. The man who said,
with an emphasis that has made popular
saying out of the casual remark. Il am
Democrat is now endeavorIng to do his
country such a service as it is not often in
the power Of any man to do for any coun-
try. For many years New York has been
held by the Republicans as conquered
State. For six or seven years, if not
longer. the Republicans have under the
forms of law stolen tho Offices OF that State
and kept than in their hands. although
every State election in which the Demo
Gratis were not wroDgfully cheated showed
by its results that New York was q Demo-
cratic State. Both houses of the Legisla-
Sure have been by trickery made Republi-
can, and the grand Democratic Empire
State has been all the time represented in
the United States Senate by two malig-
nant Republicans.
How can the power thus wrongtully con-
centred IN the hands of the Republican
party be snatohed from them In no other
manner than that which the cool-headed
Governor HILL proposes. Wisely and most
fortunately for the Democratic party and
the country. he did not desert his party
and his country by resigning his Office Of
Governor and fastening to Washington TO
figure az a United States senator-eloct. He
chose rather TO suffer with his people and
fight with his people; and he has the salts
faction OF knowing that his course will
probably give New York Democratic
legislature and place her immense Demo-
cratic host at the head of the advancing
columns of our party in 1892. We say
probably" because there are no methods,
however wrongful, TO which the Republi-
cans OF New York will not resort In order
to make that State their own, and because
they seem to have already found Republi-
can courts and judges ready and willing
70 do the dirty work--the wicked work
of undertaking to decide who shall be re-
turned as members of the New York Legis-
lature which meets the first Tuesday in
January next. We trust-we hope and be-
neye-that Governor HILL and his asso-
ciates in the good work of redeemIng
their State from misrule will pay no at
tention whatever TO any bogus proceed
ings that may take place in the Republi-
can courts under the lead of Republican
partlsans coaching" Republican judges.
The courts have no right TO interfere.
Each house of the Legislature has the
constitutional right TO judge of the cleo
tions, qualifications, and returns of its
own members. and the judicial depart
ment Is forbidden to usurp the functions
of the legislative department.
II the Democrats OF the whole country
will stand by Governor HnL and his asso-
ciates New York will soon be redeemed,
regenerated, and disenthralled." She has
been bound in Republican bands until her
enemies seem 10 think that she has no
rights which they are bound TO respect.
By the way, let us say here that there are
Democrats judges as well as Republican
Judges in New York; but we would fain
hope that the Democratic judges will not
find It necessary to enter the lists as cham
pions of the Democratic policy or the
Democratic party. Such work must, If
possible, be left to Republican partisan
judges.
We warn the country that the Demo-
Gratis OF New York are probably making
their last effort IN behalf of free govern
ment They seem to have been riding on
q waye of success hitherto. Let us do ali
that we can to encourage them--to hold mp
their arms. Let our sympathies be ex-
tended TO them in every possible way and
on every possible opportunity. They
eight, we repeat, the battles Of the whole
republic. They stand for our free institu-
tons. They speak in the name OF the Con
stitution Of tho United States.