The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-04
FRIDAY, MARCH 4 1904
The Young Democrats.

= "A year or so DaCK }"ltei' $3.50 N
#nnbcarab1e III the county Oh Nooflloll N' a.
rumber OF bright and patriotic So"ns
mon In that section took up the cuusels
against the fusionsts, and maue gal'a''.
light in behalf Of Democracy hna soo' ~
government. Indeed, our attention WIS WIS
rirst a ttractcd to the doplorable stlatioFS
n Norfolk county and our interest i'rst
thoroughly aroused by the appear "i'i '
8we received from some OF these Soui's
Dcmocrats TO look into their bright any
honest faces was to satisfy oneself ina :
They were honest and sincere hi'u wiz
ihe artlor and enthusiasm OF youth ai w,
nsua1ly discounted by us old fellows
nno,, Investigation We became thoroughly
satisfied that the young men hau no.
oycrstated the case. ard that the 81 Va
zion vas certainly as bad as they haa
represented It To- be.
|, Some of these young men were up
proached by fusionists and warned that
II they ex pected to have prominence III
nolitics and success in their undertake X
irgs. they were making a mistake 70 f1eht
fusion: that it would be III their interest
TO 1oin with tho fusion forces ana I s al !,
With tie winning side. This propIsa
was Indignantly rejected, and the yours
men continued to fight the gang.
But they have become very much dis
coura red by the action Of the Virginia
Legislature. One Of them, In a private
letter, says: ITO me. individual ~, me
defeat before the caucus was s'ckcnlrS,
and our defeat but emphasized the tact
that, In order 10 have a victory before
4 the Legislature. something more IMAM q
good cause Is necessary
@ The Times Dispatch does not indulge
In claptrap. nor does 1T encourage those
who do If we did not know that this
was the sincere expression Of a sincere
Young Democrat We Should give 1t no
place IN our columns. But 1t is SIM
! cere expression OF Encouragement ana
disgust. This young Democrat knew that
he and his associates had csponsed q
righteous cause; they knew hnt they
we're right in fighting fusion and fusion
lists. They came to Richmond armed with
the facts. They made out complete
case against the fusionsts and If they
had appeared with the same proof and
argument before any honest and intel
ligent jury, they would have obtained,
without doubt. a verdict of conviction.
But the Virginia Legislature lodged
the whole issue as far as 1t could, and
by It's action, or rather by It's refusal
TO act, turned its back upon the great
body OF honest Democrats in Norfolk
county and virtually put the seal of its
sanction upon -sthc fusion regime. It
was, irdeed, -.cneueh TO discourage and
disgust the young Democrats Of that
county. But We bid them good cheer
and Godspecd. Sooner or later the right
will prevail; sooner or later honesty and
integrity Will triumph But whether
these young Democrats actually succeed
or not In driving the fuslonlsts out OF
power they will have tho comfort and
satisfaction of having made an honest
and brave fight against corrupt and
nnrighteous coalition. The safety and
honor Of Virginia and the welfare OF
!. the Democratic party depend upon young
men of character and Integrity, who have
the courage to defend tho right and de-
nounce the wrong, and to resist The
temptations and establishments Of politi
cal frecbooters,