Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-29
r,,r COMING STATE ELECTION

-. r,osday week virginia will e'e''
| ,,i House OF Delegates ana ha"
members that go to make up ner -,
ate. We have no doubt as 10 tue fl,
| II will be such that the Democrats
| Control both branches OF the Genera -
scmbly by large majorties; but this =
No. enough. II experience counts Tor any
thing. In the bearing of the matter upo"
vIreinIa's future and the continued as
cendencv Of Democracy in the STATE
| those maiorities should not be less ina"
have obtained IN previous iesiS'e'''
that have been elected since the Deino
Gratis again began TO control the des'li'o'
OF the Commonwealth. Nor should they
be backed by less solid vote.
And 70 the end that these desiderata
NAV be attained, independentism Va
everv form and no matter by whom rep
resented. personally, should be esche"eu'
and the recu'a1 nominees OF the parry
everywhere should be given the fun party
vote. That way, and that way alone
lie duty and safety.
Whatever may be the personal grew
ance or the personal popularity. or the
pIatform OF the independent candidate
the Dispatch lays 1t down as carolnai
rule that he has no claim to the sup
mort of Democratic voters. In declining
n submit 10 tho duly constituted author
flies OF his party, he has read himseil
ont Of his party organization. He mas
| nv his own deliberate act, placed hiniseh
beyond the pale Of recognition as De"'-
ocrat. .han for such one "a pose o
p Democratic candidate nothing cou'u
he more illogical. save, perhaps, the con-
| tention that he Is entitled TO Deiho
cratic Enforcement at the Polls me
nractical effect OF every indepenoaht
movement in Virginia, no matter now CIR
cumscribed it's locality, has been 10 give
aid and comfort TO Republicanism ana
work 10 the detriment of Democratic
party discipline The independent VINO calls
himself a Democrat may be never so SIN
cere. but none the less he is not Dem
ocrat. He cannot be, seeing that his
course stimulates forces and Influences
which tend to dsorganize the Democratic
marty. and are at war with Democratic
principles.
In several respects the present inoe-
pendent movement is analogous to the
| Malone movement. Malone boasted that
| no was a better Democrat than Ben. HILL
Many Democrats were deceived by that
boast What was the Result! me way
was paved for coalition. The Repuph-
cans were willing. Virginia was wrested
from Democratic control. Corrupt lobpy-
| ism held high carnival in the Capltoi
b,ilding. For the first time the state had
cause to blush for Judges of her own
appointment. Inc taxpayers were
threatened with the commissioner OF safes
bills. one OF the most outrageous mea-
sures ever conceived. The Commonwealth
was thrown back almost into the shauo"
of the reconstruction period.
These were the conditions consequent,
ultimately upon Democrats, running az
Ter false political gods. who had proclaim
ed themselves better party men than the
regular Democrats. And some Of these
false cods-some of the minor ones-be II
known. had started out honestly under
true faith. and could maintain 1t In me
temple of heterodoxy. They started out
lust as some Of our independent friends
Of to-day have started out.
Does Virginia wish 10 take the chance'
Of having TO contend with conditions SIM
liar 10 those we have cited? We an
ticipate in answer to the question an en-
phatic mo" from all over the Common
wealth. Yet like causes produce like re-
suits. We tell our Democratic friends
plainly that Just in proportion as they
support Independents next Tuesday week
and fail Of zeal in supporting the regular
Democratic nominees, the chances OF an
other dark era in the political history OF
the state will be increased. No conside-
ration Of personal relation to independents
can absolve them from the obligation TO
make that fact the controlling influence
I'm casting their ballots on election-day'
|