Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-14
IN THE DOUBTFUL COLUMN
Democrats Can Not Be Sure of Carving
Virginia Now.
Brynn's Leadership Has Alienated
Large Eiemcnt-No Fear of
Negro Domination,
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.


RICHMOND. Va. September II, 1890.
The political situation In Virginia be
comes more and more interesting The old
time democrats. whose faith in their marty
mas always been second only to their reli-
gious belief, have completely lost their
bearings and are drifting amlessIy in the
sea political
only one issue remains undisturbed-the
color line; but that does not apnly to tho
entire state. and is only an effective rally-
ing cry in what has long been known as
the black belt" Even there the people
are beginning to realize that negro domi-
nation is a myth. No matter which party
is in power the negro receives but scant
consideration. Nor does he expect it.
That the republican ticket is the ticket for
him to vote, in and out of season has
been drilled into him until there is no
earthly chance of his deserving that party.
1t is true that money and whisky are
freely used in Virginia elections. hut the
effect produced thereby is much less than
is generally thought.
7 do not believe they have any appre-
ciable effect on the result" said AN old
politician yesterday. The man. black or
white, who is mean enough to agree To sell
MS vote Is mean enough when he gets in
the secret booth to fail to deliver the goods.
l do not believe that one vote in twenty
five that is bought is delivered
The meeting of the Virginia Republican
Association in Washington few days ago
created considerable interest among the
republican leaders here but the conclu-
sions reached at that meeting are not in
dorsed by any means unanimously.
The burden of the song of the association
spells in Virginia. This is undoubtedly
true. but it is also a fact that the negro
would not have 1t otherwise. He knows
that his condition would be much worse
10 l. s,.t,
sitonS of trust.
4 Political Menagerie.
The democratic party of Virginia is now
something of a political menagere any
and every kind of view be found in it's
ranks. There are gold democrats, silver
democrats. expansion democrats. anti-ex-
pansion democrats. Martin democrats. Ty-
Ter democrats. honest-election democrats
and machine democrats. And each faction
infinitely prefers a republican to his erst-
while brother
With such state of things prevailing it
is no wonder that conservative. clear
sighted men should the finish of the
party at no distant day
1t has been the pride and boast of the
democracy of the old dominion that Vir-
ginia is always found in line in a national
election. What the outcome will be next
year. however, Is perplexing the leaders
sorely. Indeed, they can find nothing in
the situation to cheer them up.
1T seems that we are almost bound to
lose Virginia. said "a prominent. politician
in discussing this question recently 1T
was a hard-fought battle last time, and
the margin was'7a small one for a state
generally so overwhelmingly democratic.
The opposition to Bryan. and all that he
represents. is undoubtedly much stronger
than 1t was in 1896. There is now abund-
ance of money in the state and there is
work for every one who wants it.
Il would not make such admission in
public" he continued with smile. for it
is not democratic doctrine now to admit
that there is any prosperity. Bryan's only
hope in this state is in the ability of the
speakers to make the people believe that
they are on the verge of eternal ruin.
fear that We will not be able to do so with
the exhibits to the contrary on every
hand
Party FeaIty Weakening.
Along with the other landmarks that are
fast being effaced in these days of change
is the fetch of party regularity" so often
and successfully invoked by the democ-
racy.
'If my party indorses the devil himself,
and declares the leaves of the trees good
money. | will still go with my party men
have been heard to say in days not so long
gone by. There are but few now who
would be willing to subscribe to such
doctrine. Men.ans. beginning to think for
themselves. When the party. as is now
the in Virginia. falls into the hands of
ignorant. corrupt or unbalanced men, the
honest members. reserve to. themselves the
right to withdraw from the organization.
while clinging to the principles which
should dominate it.
Such state of things. there can be no
doubt. now exists in virginia. and the men
who in 1896 voted for Bryan to avoid being
called ''bolters' will do so more They
have reasoned out the problem for them
selves. have concluded that negro domina-
ton is only a shadow and are now pre-
pared to put their votes where they will
the most effectualiy Strangle the dangerous
doctrines for which the new democracy
stands. This done they will return to their
ancient allegiance.
Down with the trusts" will be the rally
ing cry of the democratic speakers next
year. They hope thus to catch the farmer
vote. and in the list of "octopuses' they
have prepared the American Tobacco Com
pany stands conspicuous.