The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1866-05-23
Absurdity of Radical Professions of Icy
atty

Absurdity of Radical Professions of 10y
atty.
Nations, like Statesmen, can with more
impunity commita great crime than great
blundcr in politics. The world, alter
few matter Of course protestations, is gen
orally content to forget bold dashing
atrocity, perpctuated with an appearance
of overwhelmingstrength but an absurdi-
ty, never and among the absurdities
which mankind least readily forgive, is
the glaring weakness Of inconsistency
Whatever may be said Of the wickedness,
past and present, Of the United States
Government, the Radical dominant party
of the country have contrived to render it
more intensely and ridiculously inconsist-
ant, than any other Government ancient
or modern.
If the continued practice Of everything
they have ever denounced and stigmatized
in theory; if the systematic disregard of
all they have been taught and have pre-
tended to revere, and the contempteous
spurning of all the well recognized funda-
mental principles of the Republic. tends to
render party and nation mean and con-
temptible in the eyes Of mankind, then
that party and the nation, which they I'M
fortunately represent for the time being,
stand confessed and exultant-"n naked, yet
not ashamed -before the world, the most
absurd personifcation Of glaring inconsis-
tency. Brought up to regard the Consti-
tuition, as expounded by the honored Faith
crs of the Republic, asthe great Palladium
of liberty, it now seems to be their aim
and study to cast contempt and reproach
upon it, ard to make it by-word and a
Kissing among the nations Of the earth.-
They now delight to denounce the descen-
dants of Washington, Jefferson and Hen
ry, as traitors and conspirators, for follow
ing the dictates of that Declaration of In
dependence, which they have been accus-
toned, from their earliest childhood. to
hear read on every National Anniversary.
Which declaration proclaims in no uncer-
tain Or taltering utterance, the great prin-
ciple, that all free Governments must rest
Oh the consent Of the governed. Ever
prone, in the very recent past: to applaud
rebellions and lionize rebels-the boosted
friends of the oppressed and downtrodden
in all quarters of the Globe-these peo
pie, noo, without an effort and without
giving the world OF themselves time te
catch breath for the astounding somer
sault, suddenly present themselves to the
wondering gaze Of mankind, as the cham
pions Of despotism and the divine right o.
Governments. Five short years ago the
the Rebel, Washington; the Partizan, Ma.
rion; the Privateer, Paul Jones were all
that was heroic and patriotic. Noso the
Traitor, Lee; the Comspiratov, Jefferson
Davis the Murderer, Mosby ); the Pirate,
Semmes are criminals unworthy to breathe
the pure air Of Heaven.
These are some Of the mean and con.
temptable things which the Radical party
and their co-laborers of the Botts-Under-
wood Convention, at Alexandria, are enact
ing before High Heaven at this day. The
power of such an organization cannot last
a party may be wicked and atroeious and
live, but weighed down by such load Of
absurdities andinconsistencies, it must fall
1t is impossible that the intelligent masses
Of the American people, North and South
canlong be blind tothe exquisite ludcrous-
ness Of the assumption Of patriotism, pa,
encelzance, by party which spurns and
scorns the most sacred principles of repub-
lican, constitutional liberty. It is impos-
sihle that they can long be blind to the
fact that the tenets Of this party lead logi
cally and inevitably to anarchy or despo-
tism that it elves and moves and has its
being" in an atmosphere Of corruption
and despotism, while protesting with sen
timental fervor its devotion to universal
freedom.