Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-12
RICHMOND WHIG.
SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST le, 1884.
-.,...x,,,n..t..,Snns1.
Tn. War Of III. Faithful.

war which the restless ambition Of Mr.. Hunter has
provoked in the family of the faithful in the Old Do
minon il is simply province to note its progress.
to chronicle its Incidents and play the part Of Impair
tal historian to each of the contending factions The
duty thus devoved upon will, no doubt, be some
times melancholy and sometimes amusing; but
whether the one the other, we shall en-.
deavour to discharge it faithfully, permitting ne-
Their commissions Of laughter nor floods Of tears TO
prevent us doing equal and exact justice to the valiant
combatants engaged in this desperate aid unseemly
contest.
Both the Enquirer and Examiner, in their issues
OF yesterday, devote most Of their space to consde
ration of the Hunter Homestead bill, the one dc.
Tending and the other dcnouncing it with the most
commcndable energy and enthusiasm The conflict
between them wakes warmer and warmer; and
sorry to observe that instead Of the discussion
tending to reconcile their differences Of opinion and
to lessen the distance between :hem there is every
probability Of their getting farther apart the farther
they proceed. Both, however, evincc decided nerve
and ability, and it is great consolation to us TO know
that matter which may be the actual victor in
the fight the other must necessarily be second best
There is nothing therefore, in the present aspect OF
the engagement to discourage either; but much to
excite their emulation and cmbolden them for tie
long and oilsomc work before them Their respective
adherents are looking with an anxiety which no man
may describe; and it grosSest folly and ingrati'
tude for either to pause, to grow weary, or to spare
solitary lick, when much in matters Of this Sort
is admitted to depend upon single well-timed and
decisive blow As to the idea of either surreudcring
we have not permitted ourselves TO entertain for n
moment so unworthy and dsparagng thought
their courage, patriotism, and endurance we are salts
fled of beyond the possibility of rational doubt, and
firmly believe they will bravey fight it out, anti,
one or the other is minus his apparel, IL not his
breath. Indeed there is for either rerca; or
n truce,-they have committed themselves too deeply
and gone too far to think of looking back o.
coming to terms until the other is vanquishcd
by the decision Of the State Democratic Convention
to which the Examiner, with courage and conf
dencc that fails it. has already appealed. Is mot
the Enquirer also, ready to submit the question BE-
tween them to the arbitrament of its State Convcr-
ton? We cannot doubt that it is, unless we believe
that it dstrusts the truth and justice of the side
has warmly and z,alousy espoused. Let, there.
FORE the discussion be continued, let the question
ceve all the light that is possible to he thrown upon
it by the opposing organs between this time and the
assembling Of the Convention, and then let it be
brought to prompt and final Issue. This be re-
membered is simply the friendly suggestion of jour
nal that has no earthly interest in the matter, rc
way or the other-its only wish being to that
both sides have fair play and elbOw-room enough,
and that truth and right may triumph in the end.
The war between tue enquirer and Eraminor, as
have already said, progresses most beautifully and
yivaciously. The Equirers tone is eminently prac-
teal and philosophical. Itsays:
"Whcn men OF candor and inteigenc address Them
policy they examine it, in the peiuant temper OF cyu
cacriticsm eager detect deficiencies they view
liberal spirit aud with comprehensive vison aud they
ready make allowance for the circumstances of the
case, and for imperection which skill capacity
avoid. Instead Of housing among petty flaws ard
stumbling almost mperceptble inequalities, they
elevate aud enlarge the OF their vision, and
template only the general effect and necessary operations
of tue l. may not be in accordance with
their conception Of policy it may do violence to Of
their preudices, but the OF whom speak rei
ther stubborn to exact rigid conformity to their
opinions, stupid to attempt to make resistance
against the pressure OF necessity. The true statesman
accommodates himself TO circumstances and wisely pur
chases an advantage by tho surrender Of sctuple"
1t will be seem from this paragraph, that tho En-
quirer resolutey maintains its original position-de.
Tending the Hunter substitute upon the grOuni that
it is wise TO accept compromise Of principle" 1t
changes the phrase little, however, and tells that
it is wise ito purchase advantage 10y the surrender
of ascruple." The thing in Dutch, however Hun
ter's bill simply purchases" what is alleged to be an
advantage" by the compromise OF principle" or,
what is equivalent, the Surrender OF scruplc" We
have long rated the Virginia Democracy on account of
their "scruples" We glad to perceive that there is
some prospect Of their being utterly abandoned un-
der the latter teachings Of the Enquirer 1t is PAIN
full TO reflect however, that the Enquirer has always
refused Surrender its scruples" in order that Yr
ginia and the South might get therus proportion of
the public lands; but it is entirely willing to "sur.
render its scruples" and support bill which gives
this land to Western land pirates aud needy adycnu
from every quarter of the globe. 1t is pity it
didn't think Of surrendering its scrupes until after
II became impossible for its own State to reap any
benefit from such surrender. 1t is sill more u pity
that appears willing TO do for Mr Hunter what it
was unwilling TO do for the entire South, Virginia
inclusive.
The Examiner complains, and very justly, that "a
"bil Of such vast Importance involving the surrender
not only Of great principles but Of vast territorial
possessions" was not earlier introduced that the
Democracy Of the country might have opportunity
of expressing their opinion upon IT, II asks; "wLy
were several months permitted to elapsc without the
least demonstration from Mr. Hunter Of his d!termi-
nation to solve the problem Of dsposng of tue public
lands by this hermnphroditc project" II complains.
in the name Of the Democracy Of Virginia" Pay
hen in whose "name' does the EaygiEsr defend this
"hermaphrodc project" Both surely occupying such
opposite positions, can't speak in the "name Of the
Democracy d Virginia
The Examiner has thc following paragraph, with
which conclude for tosday, which bears severely
upon certain ambitious politicians" "Nlen or princi,
pies" the Examiner says is the question, and so will
say all impartial observers like ourselves hut hear
the Exam nr:
WIS NUsr rrnEE RfFUDTrE or ADOPT THg HuNER Cow.
PROMISE W. NUT either at Hsrt Convention rsnSts
allegiance the anti land ptH,r resolutions Ot our
last CJHrsaii0a or ,Hd0rss Ma. UUSTEks Till. This cx
citing aud ieupestuous SUI up at the Cub
srnatora Convention. 1neto are thousands Of s ate
Rights Democrats Who will insist upon the Democracy OF
Vrgina fnlng their iinc.onOrtd rcsOluojs agaaN
the spirit OF the Homestead bill We sbOU show nOhirg
Ike noncommitta,m upon this question II u due tile
honor a. integrity OF the Democracy Of Virginia. that
their position upon this Homestead question should be