The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-10
A POLITICAL OBJECT LESSON.

| Whenever one OF the ieauinE "'P"
journals of the North falls into cheeriui an'
sanquine mood IL begins at once 70 coniu'
m the most delightful visions of Republican
victories in the South. The political solidarity
of this section is 10 10 broken. the Demo
cratic majoiities are todisappear Ike the niiSt
Of tho morning before the advancing SUI
and white men and black men. forgetiui o.
all the ineradicable differences Of race aAd
tradition. ere to unite in giving tho hcpuD
lican party common support.
OF course this is only political taie'oi
Rasseles which will be heard with satisfaction
by those anon tho Republicans who. III spite
of the repeated defeats which their orgahi-
cation has sustained in the South. stll listen
with credulty to the whispers OF fancy ana
still pursue with eagerness tue phantoms OF
/ hope in this matter If the resuscitation OF tho
Southern Republican party. No reasonable
man who has carefully examined all the con-
ditions prevailing in the Southern states at
this moment believes for an instant that there
is now the slightest prospect OF hepuohcsn
victory in these States.
Tie editor of the Mail and Express. the
notorious shepherd. whom tho late William
n Vanderbilt. bis father-in-law, declared
had added a new species TO tho genus fool,
asserts in q recent number Of his paper that
Republican cyclone is now brewing IN the
South which will sweep the Democrats 70
destruction. The opinion Of Shepherd IS
entitled to no weight in itself, but it IS I'M
doubtedly shared in this instance by very
influential number Of Republicans at the
North.
There could not DO q greater mistake. As
a most excellent oh ect lesson. we cordially
invite all Northern Republicans who are in
fatuated with such groundless notions to
look in upon the present Legislature OF VIZ
ginia. There is not a negro in either branch,
although the negro vote is the most important
factor of the Republican strength in Virginia.
In the House Of Delegates there are two
white Republicans but in the Senate there Is
only one and this. too. in year when the
national administration in all its ranifica-
tions is entirely in the hands of the Republi-
can party, and when it would be supposed
the galvanlzing influence generally exercised
from Washington would introduce the utmost
stiffness and conference in the party organiza-
ton in every part Of the Mon.
Virginia is one Of the border States. It has
the capital Of the country. the fountain head
of patronage. right at It's threshold A part
Of the State is populated almost exclusively
by white people and is looking to the growth
Of manufactures as its principal basis of re-
lance for great prosperitv in tho future. In
spite Of these facts there are not enough Re-
publicans in the Legislature to form even
corporals guard-not enough indeed, to give
the slightest dignity 10 any nomination for
the United States senatorship which they
nav make in opposition to John W. Daniel.
Has this the appearance Of reviying
strength IN the Southern Republican party,
Does this suggest a series Of victories in the
future? There is not a State capitol in the
South which does not convey precisely tho
Same conclusion as the Virginia capitol.
Wherever q Southern Legislature is in session
to-day there is to be observed the true status
Of the Southern Republican party at the
present time. The revival of that party must
begin in local affairs. 1t must begin in an
increase in the number Of its representatives
in our State legislatures. The party must
necessarily develop great. local strength
before it can entertain Justly and properly
the hope of success in national elections.