Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-18
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER IS, 1894.
The Democratic Party.


II has been stated that never before
now did a party base its claims to public
confidence upon the misfortunes OF the
country. Now we have the Republican
party telling upon every stump how the
hard times speak in favor of restoring
the Republican party TO power. and en-
1eavoring 10 lay upon the shoulders Of
the Democratic party the burthen Of
bad measures and needed legislation for
which the former party is really respon-
sible. The Republicans are shut UP to
this course. They were the authors Of
the bad measures which the Democrats
have already consigned TO the moles and
the bats. As Speaker Crisp said in his
recent speech in Atlanta. the Democrats
have repealed the Mckinley law. No
sooner was it repealed than times began
20 look as if they might soon be better.
Who passed that law? The Republicans.
rhe Democrats have reduced taxation.
Who levied that heavy taxation? The
Republicans. The Democrats have made
all money taxable. Who refused TO tax
greenbacks, &C.? The Republicans. The
Democratic Congress has taxed incomes
OF over $1,000. Who refused TO tax
incomes? The Republicans. The Demo-
Gratis have restored the freedom Of cleo
tons. Who passed the abominable Fede-
raj election-laws which authorized the
minonS of the National Government 10
arrest our State electiOn-officers, and en-
powered the United States marshals to
appoint thousands Of deputy marshals,
supervisors. &c. &C.? OF course the Re-
Dublicans passed them. The Democratic
party, as we have often had occasion to
say. is the party. and the only party,
that respects the rights of the States,
Ind teaches that all elections ought 10
be held under the laws Of the several
btates.
But that IS not all. The Democrats
have reduced public expenditures. Is that
all? No. Better yet, they have declared
undying hostility TO all trusts and mo-
nopolies organized for the oppression Of
the people The people must be set free
and the Democratic party must set them
free.
The Democratic party has always been
the peoples party. AS we stated re-
Gently, the Republican party can trace
its history back TO the days Of the alien
fought so successfully.
A word on the subject Of allegiance TO
party was spoken in Senator Walshs
paper recently-the Augusta Chronicle.
Read:
But in every party there are those
who do not coincide fully with the adj
vanced ideas of the platform, and lean
10 more conservative teachings, and some
times actually favor certain tenets Of the
opposing party. When, therefore. an is
sue comes up in which these policies are
TO be voted on, and the two parties are
evenly divided ii Is not matter Of great
surprise that compromises have TO be
made, and concessions allowed TO those
men who do not go 10 the full extent
that their party goes on certain issues.
Such has been the experience Of the
Democratic party in its tariff legislation"
But, as the Chronicle argues, It would
be very unwise for true Democrats to
desert their party because it contains
some men who are not true Democrats.
II would be ineXcusable TO part company
with men with whom we concur in opin-
ion upon almost all questions and ally
ourselves with men with whom We con-
cur in opinion on POSSIBLY but single
question.
We do not believe for moment that
the Democrats of Virginia will run off
after false gods. The prospect Of sue
cess In the fall elections grows better
day by day. Let us enter the battle with
out a doubt as to how it will result.