The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-14

COMMENTING on brief article in The TIMES
which the voices of the people OF Henrico
county were stifed by the machine. the Pc
tersburg Index-Appesl says
"As we understand the case, Hill delegates
were chosen simply because there were more
Hill Democrats in the county than Cleveland
Democrats This being the fact, political
manmuvring was not necessary, and 1t was
simply case of recording the will OF the ma
jorty."
Our Petersburg contemporary evidently
does not understand the case at all. 1t is
reasonable TO believe that il a fair vote were
taken in Henrico county the proportion of
Cleveland TO Hill Democrats would be about
three to one 1t is we'll known hero that Hill
delegates were elected at the county conven-
ton because the machine captured the pre-
cncts on the sly, and held precincttmeetipgs
before two-thirds of the voters of the county
knew that any such meetings were even con-
templated That IS all there is in it.
WHY should we not have recount accord
ING to the request of Colonel Spotswood The
o,nsnse attending it will fall on him. and if
none of the frauds charged by him were COM
mitted. nobody will be hurt, while If there was
fraud. the city central committee owes It TO
the party as we'll as itself to expose it. 1t is
absurd for tho committee 10 hesitate on the
ground of establishing precedent. We could
not establish too many precedents to prove
that the Democratic party will never, at any
time or under any circumstances, counte-
nance anything that smacks of fraud. After
all that has been said now on this subject if
the committee refuses Colonel SpOtswood's
request. there are hundreds of Democrats in
this city who will always believe that the
committee itself connived at fraud. and was
afraid to permit an investigation.
The lofty tone which some of the Hill toot-
Ing machines assume when they take the
advocates Of Mr.. Cleveland to task for threat
ening to disrupt the party by espousing Mr..
Clevelands cause is as amusing as it is ride
ulous. These same Hill tooters never lose On
opportunity 10 belttle Mr. Cleveland. neither
directly nor 10y inuendo and yet they assume
TO feel highly indignant at what they claim
threatens Democratic Generalization when
the superiority Of Mr.. Cleveland over their
idol is shown. They never seem 10 reflect
that belittlins Mr. Cleveland in order TO
magnify Senator Hill Is much more likely to
disrupt the Democratic party than vice versa.
ONE of the most notable conventions that
ever assembled in the South was the body of
Republicans who recently met at Dallas,
Texas. It's unique character consisted in the
fact that, although three hundred Republi-
cans were present. there was not a single
negro among them. In Texas the Republ-
can party has been seeking TO build up
white mans party. with what success so far
Is disclosed IN the Democratic majorities in
the State and national elections.
~ no fraud has been committed. no harm
eau DC done any one by recount, II any has
been committed. the City Central Committee
cannot afford to be a party to smothering it.
seems 10 US now q at Mr.. Smith will be
more injured by q refusal to have q recount
than Colonel Spotswood.