Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-24
orp FRIENDS THE ENEMY.

The dreary war between the Lamp
o,d onti-Iarnb factions OF the Virginia
RonubIicans continues. Chairman Lamp
announces that he IS In favor OF the
Republicans putting a State ticket III the
6eld this fall, while his opponents IN
cline TO the opinion that there should
Ia no such ticket nominated. In the end
no we have said before. the Hon. Mar
Gus Aurelius Hanna will settle the
squabble.
The leaders and so-called leaders OF
tho Virginia Republicans may imagine
that they will have something to do with
the determination Of the question, but
they will not-except TO carry out the
orders that may come from Washington
So far as we Democrats are concerned
# Is q matter Of utter Indifference to US
whether the Republicans contest the
state with us or not. In no event IS II
possible for them TO win, and this they
know as well as we do.
Our oninion IS that a Republican ticket
will be put up. What Mr. Hanna IS
waiting for IS 10 see If the gold Demo
Gratis Of Virginia cannot be persuaded
IN null the cbestnuts out Of the fire FOR
tbom What they desire. is that a gold
Democratic" ticket shall be nominated
and If this should be done. Mr.. Hanna
would no doubt order the Republican
vote to be cast for it.
Bat the gold Democrats have no IDEA
at all Of being made tools Of IN that
way. They are wiser than they were
last year Most Of them will cheeriully
vote for the excellent gentlemen Whoh
our Marty will nominate at Roanoke on
AUGUST 18th. Some others will not sup
mort the Roanoke nominees, because OF
the anticipated free silver PLATFORM Out
tbev will do nothing more hostile to US
than etav at home on elcctiOn-day. So 1t
is clear enough to us that Mr.. Hanna
will not be able to secure the help Of the
gold Democrats Of Virginia. Whatever
fighting Of the Roanoke ticket is to be
done must be done by the Republicans
themselves.
In n few weeks the eyes Of the adj
mlnistration will be opened TO the true
situation in Virginia. Then, quite likely
the Republicans will be ordered to trot
out n ticket Of their own.
As we have said, It Is matter or the
least possible moment to MS which Of the
two courses they take. Divided as they
are. and burdened in their canvass as
they would be by the Dngley atrocity
of a tariff bill, they could not hope TO
pou their usual vote. And their usual
vote is very far from being sufficient to
elect a state ticket.
1t is quite probable, however, that the
Republicans will take an active part in
the legislative contests. They know, and
we know. that the state senators to be
elected this fan will not only have the
privilege Of voting for a United States
senator this year, but for a United
States senator two years hence. We all
know. too. that there is no 'possible
chance Of the Republicans electing a
United States senator this year, but
they may have some faint expectations
Of doing so two years hence.
This is absolutely all there is in this
campaign for the Virginia Republicans.
They cannot expect to elect their state
ticket: nor can they hope TO carry the
Legislature, but possible they may
dream of a victory two years hence and
may think it worth while TO look after
those senatorial districts that elect this
year. But what is the use of their making
such a great noise about 50 small mat
ter that is so very far off?