The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-07-15
The Virginia Election.

The Virginia Election.
The success of the -CenserFatiye-
candidates is the. most sanitary thing
which could haye happened for the
people, not only of the State alone,
but of the whole South. That WILDE
better than mere partyAexultation
which will show what won the vic
tory, the magnitude of it, and how TO
conquer with equal certainty in all
subsequent contests. rse-j
The victory was won by policy of
activity, liberation, and an acceptance
of the situation. Activity was shown
in full registration thorough organiza-
ton, careful eanvassing, and care to !
see that all entitled to vote did vote
federation was exhibited ina cordial
cooperation of all Conservatives of
either party. We are glad, too, that
there was not a race vote. Enough
blacks have cast their suffrages for
Governor Walker to elect him. The
discredit of only being supported by
a race attaches to the Wells men. This
liberation, too, was further displayed
by the Union of all, whether old or
new, to the Commonwealth, who have
her real good at heart, upon single
ticket. The result is as gratifying as
the spirit and work which led to it
were commendable.
| The thoroughness with which the
situation in that State has been recog-
nized is indeed significant and prom
ising. 1t shows larger comprehen-
sion, and more of real craftsmanship,
than have been evinced in that lati-
tude since the close of the war. Tri-
Hmplf has been won by the cheerful
acceptance of the inevitable, The
Virginians have carried practical bus
/ mess sense into their politics.. They
have ignored a past which is dead,
and have not lost by wooing an unat4
tainable utopia. .t :.
Negro suffrage may have been dis
tasteful, but the disfranchisement OF
thousands of whites was worse. By
conceding the first they have undone
the second. The Conservative ticket
is elected, and the Constitution is
stripped of its most obnoxious fea-
lures. A do-nothing policy would
simply have remanded the State to the
custody of the Radicals. Opposition
to the Constitution in toto would have
saddled the whole of it upon the peo-
pie. BY judicious choice of the least
evil, the Yirginians are now in pc,
sition to control their own affairs, and
remedy, in time, those Inequalities il
their constitution which survive it,
e adoption.
: The magnitude of this victory il
hard to be overestimated in conse
quences. 1t eliminates from the re
!. construction laws their element o
prescription, which has been the pivo
:. on which they have turned. Itsets il
!. operation series of causes which will
/; lift from the whole South the disfran
= chisement undef Whlch she staggerS
IL shears OH tne tfaaitlonal oostaele
" " "iiicn nave s'oou IN the way oi III
= rehaoiiita.ioh u ti!e INDUSTRIES all
t capital of that section. 1t opens
t, future to that suffering people, an
u turns their faces towards 1t. 1t is
II triumph OF enlightenment and con
> mon sense, ana the Mater1al gam OIL
ought 10 DE as great as the poiltle'
IS advantage.
i This Virginia victory can and shoul
: be realized in all the Southern State
't whether reconstructed or not. l.
p the course characterizing the Old D.
a. minion be followed by all her sister
:, = The negro is bound to vote. for tt
= time. The white man cannot prevel
: that at the present, and can only riv
- disfranchisement on himself by labo
oi ol ing at this stage to decitizeniZe Il
fee kblack man. os8a ie ltis.st s.
Fii The inexpedient expulsion of Il
a., colored members of the Georgia LIE
~ u islature is case in point For tn
~ technical, regular and practical blu
u der not only is the State debarred re
d resentation in Congress, but is liab
MT to repeated reconstruction; beside
the Conservatives. have probab
talienated the coIored vote as a who
- :
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on 49, r. fat,,,e - - :,
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vi ,a,,. s.,eaoaa r, IN .aaaoSt..- "a =. !.
as bai, = as tho y;n a;cat;au of tbe con,
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