Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-13
WEDNESDAY,. MARCH 13, 1895.



Nc "Back Seats" for Us.
The article which appeared In the edi-
torial columns Of this paper some tiine
ago proposing back seats 70 sou', NE
congressman, ought. perhaps before inns
10 have been utterly disclaimed as radi-
caily opposed 20 the views OF those VINO
control the Times Reasons OF a personal
character alone have, however preValieu
10 postpone this statement, but II is que
to the very truth and fact OF the case 70
say that the article was most unadViseuiy
published-how II came to be done IL 10
not necessary 10 detail-and by none was
4, more reprobated than by the manage
ment Of the Times itself--Leader In the
Richmond Times OF yesterday morning
The Times forgets TO reproduce the
gist Of the article in question, but we
do so with pleasure, believing this to De
essential to the proper understanding OF
the matter:
The actual state of the case Is this:
few years ago General Hooker ana many
other southern congressman were most
calamity risklng their lives In a most ue
termined effort TO destroy the CnIteu
States Government. They were deieateu
In the attempt and the failure OF their
efforts resulted in the overflow OF All tns
settled order of things in the Soutn' anu
In general bankruptcy and insolvency
there.
our conuuerors have, with what we
frankly admit we think very great gehs
rosity. allowed US 20 resume our oIu
places In the Union. Now, In our OPINION
becoming modesty would require US
under the circumstances. to be content, III
national measures. with something OF
hack seat. Our representatives,, however
have taken quite the opposite view. FROM
the time they were admitted 20 the halis
of Congress- on probation, at best they
have insisted upon pressing Tor national
legislation which means the most serious
injury, If not destruction. TO the most I'M
portant interests of their old conquerors'
We do not allude here to the EFFORTS ~
abolish the tariff, because that is as mi
rnical 10 the interests Of the great body
OF the northern people as 1t Is to those
of the southern people. We refer 20 sucn
measures as free silver and an income
tax. intended 10 affect those only who
have accumulated property Extract
from an editorial in the Richmond Times
OF November Il. 1884.
In view of the fact that the Times never
lets slip an opportunity TO tell the public
how manly and straightforward 1t Is,
md how it detests hedging" "wrig-
Cling" and "squirming." the public viii
be surprised 10 know that the back |
seat" editorial was published as far back |
as November q. 1884. Had the retractlon
which is pow made by the Times been |
made Immediately after the publication |
Il would have put the Times on firmer |
ground. But the Times has kept silent |
for nearly four months. Meantime its |
editorial has been reproduced and COM
mented upon by ali sorts Of newspapers. |
The Republicans have, Of course, used 1t |
10 our disadvantage wherever possible.
Nor can the Times well plead that the |
matter had escaped its attention. This |
was hardly possible. as so many OF its
southern exchanges took issue with the
Times Immediately upon the appearance
OF the Times editorial. The Atlanta Con-
stitution, for instance, had a column edi-
torial condemnatory Of the Times's posi-
ton, and from this we quoted briefly on
Sunday. The Dispatch made no comment
upon the "hack-seat" editorial at the time
Of Its publication. because We were busy
with other matters, and wished If posi-
bic to avoid a sQuabble with the Times.
But Just previous to Sunday last We had
referred to II twice. Still the Times was
mum" Only after we had published
very conspicuously the Objectionable ar
tlcle and some OF the comments OF the
Atlanta Constitution and the La Grahse
(Ga) Graphic did the Times make It's
disclaimer.
These being the facts OF the case. are
we not justified in believing that but Tor
the exposure which the Dispatch made
OF the Times on Sunday last the Times
would have neglected altogether to make
the retraction now given to the puphcF
1t lad had nearly four months 10 re-
tract, but made no movement In the
matter until the Dispatch had given such
publicity to the Objectionable article that
inaction was no longer possible. Ana YET
we are told by the Times that by none
was IL (the baek-seat editoriaD more re-
probated than by the management OF the
Timesr'
We submit. therefore, that the Iiines
has here given the public new PROOF OF
the fact that Il il not quite so frank ana
omen as II would have US all believe Ana
%, !, comes out OF this difficulty far
better than It did out OF the hrst-edition
oanvilie-riot business.
n win be somewhat astonishing TO the
nubllc 20 learn that the Times has clasped
covernor O'Ferrail to its breast and is
,,slne him as a sort Of shield 10 ward
on the blows OF the Dispatch. The Times
wants 10 know IL II 0he Tines was
wrong In trying to unseat Mr. Epes, why
wasn't Congressman o'Ferrall wrong in
the Rockwell-Noyes case? Our answer TO
this Is that Congressman O'Ferrall sat as
a Judge. as II were. In the Rockwell
Moves case. while the Times has appeared
IN the Epes case as vindict!ve prose-
cutor--a prosecutor that went further in
it's charges against Epes and the Demo-
Gratis OF the Fourth District than the Re-
publican members OF the committee did.
Now that is the precise difference be-
tween the Times and O'Ferrall Another
difference between them is that o'Ferrall
win never condemn party friend with
out giving him fair hearing. whereas
Gas We have repeatedly shown the Times
SEXES upon every whisper OF suspicion 10
excuse itself for It's assaults upon the
Democratic party.
The Times says that the extract from
the Lynchburg Advance which We repro
duced on Sunday was garbled in so far as
It pretended 10 quote the Times's position.
That IL matter between the Advance
apd 'Times--we printed the article as we
found it--but Il Is clear enough that the
Advance made up Its mind from several
expressions OF the Times-not from any
one-fhat ''the Times will not have far
20 drift before II lands In the bosom OF
the Republican party"
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she constitutional provision IL that "all
Antics. imports. and exeises shall be uni