Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-23
Features Of the Campaign.

Two weeks from to-day will occur cleo
items In which the people OF virginia
will have profound interest. 1T be-
comes them, therefore. TO ponder well
the circumstances which surround them
and follow the path OF duty-the path In
which they must walk II they would
emulate the wise deeds OF their fathers.
II is so much easier 10 omit the com
mission OF an error than IL Is TO cor
rect an error after II is committed that
every voter should study the situation
carefully and see that he deposits his
ballot as a regard for the welfare or
his country. his State. his county. or his
city. may dictate. 1t Is no ordinary
election that stands just before us. but
an election whose consequences may re-
suit In the downfall OF our free institu-
tons.
The sectionnists stand ready to do
whatever is necessary to be done In order
TO perpctuate the rule OF the Republican
party. 1t Is plainly TO be seen that they
regret now that they did not provide
for its perpetuation In the days when
lack Chandler. Beast Butler. Oliver p.
Morton. and other malignants ruled the
Republican party And all persons con-
cerned on the subject may be assured
that If the Republicans gain possession
of the Federal Government In lS96-that
Is. elect a Republican President and Sc
cure Congress Republican In both
branches-they will proceed at once TO
lay deep the foundations Of Republican
misrule in this country. They will fol-
low the example Of the New York Re
publicans. who have had the enrontery
to attempt to put the majority OF the
voters In that State under the control or
the minority. Men who would thus wrong
the people would of course not hesitate
a moment to pass laws placing all Fede-
raj elections under Federal control.
We have again and again referred to
the Infamous gerrymander which the New
York Republican Constitutional Conven-
ton has attempted TO provide fora ger
rymander which would stihe the voice of
the Empire city. Nay. the voice of the
people of the whole country would be
stined If that OF the people OF New York
were. There has been no presidential
election for many years which the Re
pubicans would not have carried IL they
had had the vote OF New York state
under their control. The fact Is, there
fore. that this attempt TO put the Demo
cratic majority in New York under the
control of the Republican minority would
,..tt 1
placing of the Democratic majority In
the whole country under the control OF
the Republican minority a scheme so
audacious ought to meet with no favor
at the hands of any patriot.
So that one Of the questions which we
I'm Virginia are to decide or assist In de-
Gliding two weeks from to-day will be
whether the national House of Repre-
sentatives shall pass into the hands Of
the Republican party or not. The Re
publicans claim that they Will make
such gains in Missouri, Tennessee, New
York and elsewhere as Will give 10 them
a majority in that body. In fact, If the
figuring of the Republican leaders may
be relied upon, the election OF single
Republican member in Virginia may turn
the scale in favor Of the Republicans
in tho next House. We do not concede
by any means that the Republican
claims are well-founded. But we can
not hide from our eyes the possibility
that supineness and apathy and dis
position to charge the Democratic party
with the sins of the Republican party
might result in electing majority OF
Republicans to the next national House
Of Representatives. AS we have said
heretofore, the fight in New YORK Is the
fight of the Virginia Democrats. but the
battle must be fought, so far as they
are concerned, upon Virginia soil.
Democrats of Virginia, never let 1t be
said that the Old Dominion has wronged
her sister States of the South.