Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-04
TELEPHONES
STATE CAMPAIGN DUTY.

STATE CAMPAIGN DUTY.
Yesterday State Chairman Ellyson gave
Tho word for the formal opcning OF the
Virginia Democratic Congressional cam
paign by announcing his first appoint
monts for speaking, and the first guns
will; be fired tonight. Other anhoui'ce
ments will follow il due season, anu inc
promise is that there VIII be no lack
of ora+ory between now and election DAY.
Nov do VIZ doubt that solid Democratic
delegation will be returned TO congress
But that should not be enough. 1hefe
is a question beyond the one OF parry
triumph in every district, which is Tram
ing itself in the minds Of thoughtiui men
in connection with this campaign. Inc
nassiny away of an old order and the
incoming of {, new, has made this qnes-
ton pertinent and competent Cohui.ioiis
that for years shut it out or subordlnaten
it. no longer obtain. 1t must come 10 the
front. and upon the answer that must be-
yiyen. sooner or later will depend the IN
fluence Virginia shall have IN uilecti's
the destincs of the country.
What shall the harvest be in the matter
of improving the occasion to show Vir-
Einia's capacity for leadership in great
national issues? The opportunity is
great. Will our speakers avail themselves
Of L?
The paramount question which Cor SO
many years enabled our canvassers and
Etumpers to hold the party together,
f1,a fcyt terEld
eloquencc. and which in the then exist
ing circumstances appealed both to the
passions and the reason-nay, the patriot
ism-of the white masses, has been set
tied. The new Constitution settled it.
The sovereign voice of the people de-
vitalized it. Virtually it is no longer any
thing more than ilideous dream. When
the new organic law went into operation
It lifted from the field Of our political
vision a black shadow, that for over a
generation had kept us moving, for the
most part, within the circumscribed
bounds of an issue local to the State and
the South, and prevented our approaching
the domain of great national problems,
save with hating and timid steps. And
could not afford to set away from the
then momentous local question; we could
not afford that the public mind be di-
vcrted from it. We were barred from
boldness and from asserting a right to
prominence In and attempting to enter
the broader arena. by the sternest sort
of necessity.
But with the uplifting of the shadow
the field of national politics and policies
was spread out to us in all its eXpan-
siveness
Will our speakers evidence recogn-
ton of that fact and what it may hold
out for Virginia by aiming to make the
present campaign notable campaign
of education on great national issues.
such as the tariff and banking and cur
rency? Will they strive TO show to the
country at large that we still have men
capable of grasping those issues in all
their phases. and discussing them, not
as tyros. but as masters? VIII they rise
to the obligation which the possibilities
of the new conditions impose upon them
Or will they be satisfied with cntertan-
ing the crowds with anecdotes and jokes,
with giving accounts of their steward
ship, with working to strengthen their
own political fences for the future and
with whooping up the Democratic vote
by threadbare appeals to party loyalty?
II they do not pursue Tic former course
and thus seek TO rise TO the plane of
craftsmanship. it follows that they will
pursue the latter and fall 10 the level of
mere politicians; for, as We have indi-
placed grave duty and responsibility
upon our public men has been eliminated.
The new order is a challenge to Virginia
to produce great men and leaders If she
has them We and many others believe
that che can produce them, and the de-
mand is that those now in active political
DIE prove that she can, by bold, agrees
sivc. ana intelligent discussion of the
supreme issues which affect the whole
country, or become rcconc;led to the COLI
.luso1 that they must step down and
,nt and give others chance to try SO to
30. The campaign now on presents
splendid opportunity for blazing the path
20 high and influential scala domi-
mating seat-for Yirginia III the councils
which, win control the affairs of the ma
ton, Fer our speakers and other publi-
cists, whom the people have honored, TO
ignore that opportunity would be TO con-