Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-04-25
PARTIES IN VIRGINIA

We nave taken occasion recently to speak az
the sweeping revolution in the Southern States
which Il bearing down in its Irresistible
progress The antiquated political ideas hereto.
lore considered sacred IN that section Of the
country II would be strange were this not so
for the politics Of the South were inspired nv,
and based upon the system of human slavery
The foundation being removed the super
structure cannot stand. The wonder is that
there are men IN the Southern States slow 70
realize a TACT so evident. The presumption is
that many of the leaders there who are oppos
ing reconstruction do so against their conyic
tons OF what Is best. merely for lack of moral
courage to avow their change of opinion, and
place themselves in opposition to the deem
rooted pTejudIces of the majority of their fel =
ow citIzensi while Others land we believe
here are ,uch) who are sincere in their he
fef thai slavery Is divine institution and DO.
ircal and legal equality devices of the evil one,
VIII not sacrifice their principles 10 expedisuev
though convinced that the material PROSPERITY
OF their section depends On their doing so. Blu
both these classes must yield, for necessity
knows no law
Already the party in Virginia lately known
as CONSERVATIVES is disintegrated, and new
combinations are being formed. First there
are the "stand stills" who obstInateIy refuse
- ~~NN t1V @ituAtiOh VI Siu III the WORK or
reconstruction. They are well represented by
the Richmond Times. To show the accommo.
dating spirit Of that journal we quote:
we favor the organization of q Consarxa
i've party, 10 be composed OF the great mass
OF uCse true, noble, and gallant Virginians
who symPathized warmly with The Con f-dsr.
y, VINO fought Tor IT, gave their fortunes .
II, and tho henored its flag until il was furI-d
forever BY the failure of our struggle for in
dependence. We advocate a union with this
party, fair, just, and honorable to all OF All
respectable colored voters, and of all original
Union men, ich1 ore SciIlRg to support for 0 ne
the Con ederGcg''
ms amusing extract shows how eninentIy
practical this waning party Is What charm
ing condescensiOn, to allow Union men AMI
''nlgeers" TO vote for the gallant Virginians
VINO sympathIzed warmly with the Confed
eracy."
But there is another party forming In fact
II bas attained considerable dimensions al.
ready, is growing rapidly, and is exertiug a
powerful influence in the State, as is sho xn
oy the proceedings al recent meetings Of white
and colored citizens, and by the bold tone of
the papers which speak for it, Foremost
among these is the Richmond Wing, which
says:
"lhe political powers and privileges OF tho
colored people are the same that are sni1vad
oy me ~hites; and those of us who hold back
4elusinR 10 accept the fact and 90 i'm
THIS new political element are not only hehind
tne times, put impracticable and unfrieadIv 70
public tranquility" ~
The same paper endorses the resoIutions
adopted at recent mixed conservative
meeting at Petersburg, Va. These Resolutions
werse1plained oy their author 10 near, among
ether things:
That white men and black men shall vo,a
upon tne came and equal terms-and none
Iner. Ihaf wslte men and black men .h ali
boiu once upon the same and equal tarma-
ana none other That 10 tax shall bs assess al
upon coioTed man unless a similar tar il
assessed upon the whites. That not one dollar
OF pubhc money shall be appropriated for the
eoueation OF a white child unless another dol
lar Is appropriated alongside OF it for the edu
cauon OF black child. That there shall be no
olneIencts or distinctions between person. of
oinereht races, except ssch as the God of
Nature has created, and such as the rules on
Poiltrness ana usaEes of society, and the un-
leuered common sense of mani md shall estab
iish ana enforce, without the aid Of laws"
The Wig says:
40 those who lag behind events and ara
resolved nat they will learn nothing and do
nothing, these resolutions may appear TOO
strong. But by men of practical sagacity who
grasp the situation as they find il, and utilize
such advantages as II offers, these resolutians
will be accepted and approved"
This shows what advance Republican ideas
are making in the sold Dominion" and the
same progress Is apparent in other OF the
Sou heTn States.