Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-27

The Perils of the Coming Elections.

Inc PeruS OF the coming clocIlohSs
Tomorrow the people of Richmond will
have the privilege Of gong to tho polls to
vote for City Treasurer. No other Office
Is TO be filled Of this election, and the
Democratic nominee has no opposition SO
far as can be seen or heard of at this time.
We should not. however, take anything
for granted. IL the whites stay at home.
the blacks may be tempted to seize the OPP
portunity to rush forward and elect some
Republican OF Independent. Our folks
should, therefore, keep close watch upon
the polls and in case danger appears they
should sound general alarm.
Our City Treasurer is elected once in
three years. The term OF the office is
gixed by the State constitution, but an
amendment could have been adopted years
ago (there would have been no opposition
to il from any quarter) altering the term
20 two or four years, as might be deemed
most advisable, and throwing the election
upon the same day as that of the other city
officers. We hope that some one of Rich
mond's senators or delegates at the next
session will propose such @ constitutional
amendment. Two Legislatures approval
and q popular vote. il is true, will be es-
sential to put il into force. but they can
be had without much trouble and with
out price.
Right at our doors. in the county of Hen
rico, the most stirring campaign known in
many years is now drawing to close. The
Democrats are resolved to wTest from the
Republicans the possession the latter have
had OF the county for nearly score of
gears. This il matter in which the peo-
ple of Richmond take o great interest.
They have often wondered why the county
people did not "strike for liberty" and
have been ready at all times to help them;
but county "independentism" has too often
STAYED the hand of revolt. Men who are
able 10 find favor with both parties have
rather discouraged any uprising on our
part. But, happily, all of this belongs to
the past. Our people are now aroused and
determined TO win, and the victory will be
ours almost surely. At best the Republic
cans only hope to save one or two OF their
candidates; while, on the other hand, the
Democrats are working to win every office
and to defeat every opponent To let one
be TO allow continued foothold for lnde-
pendentism. The victory should be made
complete for US and overwhelming to the
enemy.
Every county in the State. and not few
of the cities, have elections tomorrow. and
there are many local issues and numerous
questions Of personal popularity to be
fought oyer and determined by the voters.
IN some of the counties the Farmers Al
Esnces, or members of the alliances act
ing together, are taking hand. but gene
rally speaking the issue is the old one-be-
tween the whites and the blacks, the
Democrats and the Republicans.
Our political adversaries, though well
acquainted with defeat are indomitablein
returning 10 the fight. In the past they
have seen the Democratic party in Nir-
ginia, after showing itself impregnable to
outside attacks. rent asunder by internal
dissensions. Ii is their constant hope
that our great majority in this Common
wealth will induce us TO relax our disci-
pine and divide amongst ourselves. Hence
we zee them ever ready to support indie
pendents." even though the men assuming
that role should be personally obnoxious to
them. SO, too, they will bargain and trade
md scheme in local election in the hope
of earning their reward in a general cleo
ton. They ore willy and watchful. We
cannot do better than to keep up our or
ganization and have as little as possible
to do in these matters with those who are
plotting for our undoing.