The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-21
The Virginia Election and its Results

The Virginia Election and its Results.
The VIRGINIA election still continues to
be the topic of general interest. Its impor-
tance cannot 'e TOO highly estimated, as it
is the forcrunner of a mighty change. 1t is
the inauguration of II new policy upon the
part of the white men of the SoUTI, mas
much as it itcndorsesth the Fifteenth Amend
ment and accepts the results of the war. 1t
is an acknowledgment on the part of the
South that Democracy is dead. 1t is a
declaration to the world that the people of
VIRGINIA, aristocracy and all, are willing to
abide by the Reconstruction laws of Con
gress. 1t is the enunciaton by the Rcpuh-
lican party of the noble doctrine of Uni
versal Suffrage and General Amnesty. -
This doctrire the WALKER Republicans
adopted in opposition to the proscriptive
policy of the WELLS faction, and invited the
cooperation of such men as were supporters
of the administration, and who were willing
to accord equal rights to all men, and to al
low general amnesty to be proclaimed to all
who had engaged in the rebellion. The
good results of this wise policy were immc-
diatey made manifest. Thousands ot men
who had opposed ratlicalism. and who had
been claimed as belonging to the s"called
Democratic party, at once rallied to the
support of Republican principles, as an
nouncetl in the platform of WALKER.
Indeed so great was the number of those
who thus gave in their adhesion to the Re-
| publican party, flat the Democrats could
not muster sufficient strength to warrant
! them in running canGitiate. The news
papels went the same way, many who had
! always been considered rs immnvably Dem
ocratic, going over 10 the Liberals and
warmly supporting Liberal Republican prin--
ciples. Aiew papers, whose democracy was
| ingraincd, remain aloof ind refused to sup
port any Republican candidate. The infiu-
ence of these journals, however, amounted
to nothing in staying the popular tide, and
they and their supporters served but as mon
urents to mark the place once occupied by
the g.cat Democratic rarty. i
The people, willing TO accept the coun-.
sells of their leaders, forgot their hatred of
negro suffrage, and the prejudIces engen-
dered by the war, and rallied by thousands
in support of principles which but one year
ago they held in detestation. The result is
to be seen in the triumphant election OF
WALKER, the Liberal Republican candidate.
Thus it will be seen that there is no lon
ger Democratic party in Virginia. There
are now in the State but two parties or
rather, but two factions of one party. The
same is true of Texas, Mississippi and Ten
nessee, and the same will be true of every
State in the South. In Texas and Tennes-
sec those who have been acting with the
Democratic party are now supporting Libe-
raj Republicans. In Mississippi those who
have formed the majority of the Democracy,
but who are now disgusted with it, an
nounce their readiness to support any Re
publican WHO will run against the Radical
ticket.
1t is thus evident that there is no longer
a Democratic party in the South. The bat
I'll in the South arc henccforth to he fought
between the Radicals and the LiDeia!s; be-
tween Prescription and Partial Suffrage on
the one side and Universal suffrage and Gen
eral Amnesty upon tile other. Such will be
the division of parties and the issues in tile
South Tor the next four years After til 1t
new issues may arise, new parties spring up,
and new names be given, but from now un-
til the next four years have expired the is
sue is to be bctw cen Radicalism and Liberal
ism Prescription and Amnesty.
Let this le remembered by our friends in
the coming August elections. Let our can
litlates lie men, who, while unwaveringly
true to Republican principles, are also true
to the great principles of Universal Suffrage
and General Amnesty But iii so doing let nc
man who is not an open and avowcd friend
of the General and State administra
ton be nominated, for that woul,
be injurious to the welfare of the people
and give encouragement to tIrt
sinking Democracy, which is now becomin.
aware that its fate is sealed, and that soor
it will go down forever. Democracy is d' al
in Virginia, Texas, Tennessee and Missis
sippi. In every other State it is dying
] Let it die in North Carolina. From th,
good men of both parties there will lie form
ed coalition like that which has jus
trumphed in Virginia, which will he trd
to the government. true TO the white man
true to the black man, and true to the wei
fare of the people. Then the bitter part
z san hate which now idcs our people, set
ting father against son, brother agans
brother and injuring every interest of tll
State and the pcople. willno longer prevail
Then will the welfare ol our State be assure
and the happiness of our people he certain
The French Gable.
The French cable makes satisfactory ssyi