Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-02-28
lCOMMUNIC.tTEn

course OF events, the different changes which !
mark the progress OF mankind: afford matter
for searching and speculative thought. 10
probe social diseases, 10 discover the causes
which overthrow our civilization and produce
another, 10 bring into prominence the abuses
and perVerslons which destroy different systems
of governments to watch the birth ola new idea
to- trace its pareutage, to attend its gradual de:
velopmentf4tiil in matured'strengthi it exerts its
power and shakessthe foundations ;ef society;
these are matters which ,appertaln, to, the his.
toran long after the generations SWsih eAperI.
enced these mutations has passed away. @s5a
those, however, who live in the midst OF these
changes, different dut les devove. Tie prac
tical solution of these problems .demlrd1 their
attention. IT'S theirs to discriminate between
ephemcral ebuliitlonS OF popular madness and l
steady continued public spirit, aud with care
full dcberalion to meet the cxgcncIcs OF the
hour. They must DC actors not spectators -
| The rapil strides OF revolution allow but lit
tie time to mediate on past grandeur Or 10
theoriZe as to the CAUSES OF It's decay. liz dlt-
| irrent and startling phases which public oplll
| ion in our own State, has in quick SUCCESSION
assumed, need only to be mentioned to lhd'-
cate the existence o! Il great revolution. hen,
| in pursuance Of the Acts Of Congress, con
ycnton assembled to frame constitution, we
did not imagine the possibility OF It's accep'
lance bv the people Of: Virginia. As soon rs
the convention adjourned the Conservatives
organized a crushing opposition and dtVIdcd
| the insane efforts to impose upon Us as 4 con
stituton 50 hdeous violation or right Ii
was evident the work of tho convention was
doomed to rejection We were no! allowed an
| opportunity to express our choice. No day
| for the ecc.ion was appointed. Meanwhile AZ
military district our interests langulshed land
the revolution went on The Committee OF
| Nine was it's next feature No men We're ever
more abused, ridiculcd and ccnsured. Never
theleSs they did their work. The withdrawal OF
| the Conservative candidate for Governor, and
| tho adoption Of MIR. Walker, came next. ihrn
followed the ratification striking olll the dis.
| lrarchising clauses OF the constitution by l
largo ma jority and the election OF miA ton
servativc nomincca--whosc cxccicnc' W. had
previously ignored. ln less then three years
we find public sentiment in FirgiuIl COM !ctG-
ly rcvoIutonized. Our political and civil status
;s still anomalous. What does reason dictate
now? Shall We pause and attempt the lnconi
patibc task oil living under changed organic
| law, as We have previously lived? The qurs
ton admits but one reply.
Dividing them as to their opinions with re-
gard TO our present condition, The rorIa .!
| This State may be classified as lmprar! Ieabc5,
| Moleratcs and Radicals. La every conmun.
ity there are men who carry vcner"tlon Tor
! their ancestors 10 the extent al b'lnd anu IN
reasoning il3ialry. Admiration Of such anc;a-
tors az ours indicates intelligence an "i>a"h.
! Humanity, civilized and savage, everywhere
bo,sl5. canonzcd ancestry. Reverence i1r
theul is Il universal principle. We rhon5'l
never We can never, forge. oar mold" rlrcS. |"
| cmuiaic their virtues should ever 80 DIR All
i b,ion. "Tno kueht!icSt RI thHk"!.:hty ra';r.
| sucE we deem oar iDrciathcrS. and '}v' 'h"n
| ha.!owcd nlnu,i rests :! nations bes,IH:. 1874
I'll true admirers ot cur liu>trlouS predecessor
must depIore their being called w a. ! !" ~
| tenders Of every species OF Old i1gyiSn!, III" al
vocatc: OF every obsolete idea lmhrnh'd IN the
strata of dclunct SYSTEMS. "Wll' The d'$san
dluts of Washington Jefferson and Madison
10 such things?' This is the stercotypcd phrase
with which some would meet the terrible issue
Of the day, and which has justly expGsrd Us to
the criticism ct our opponents Let " dis
I card such pucriiity. Let the bones I" on
glorious dead rest in peace. Bring them not
forward to be exposed to the SCOTS Of al unan
preeiating age. They did their duty. Let Us
ID ours TO them We're never submitted the
questions which now press upon u.s. ana a
rcsurrcctcd Washington or Madison mi light
startle his worshippcrs by the ideas be might
uphold Circumstances of different ages give
different m0uds to their heroes. Had Ma
pocon lived under Louis XIV, lie doubtless
would have used his sword as brlvcy In defence
of the Neur de IL rs of the revolutionary san
dard under which he caracd his lame. And
Ills the land of our birth. less tho land Of ou:
| birth,
Or its claim tho lcss strong, or Its cause Inc
less worth
Our unfolding. because thu white lily mere
Is Ms sAcrcd rs all that it boomed for OF yore =
10 sluie, however, to more serious mode
Of opposition to the settlement OF our troubles.
Strange as it may seem, there are efforts beng
made to revive old party hncs rcauscItHtc the
democracy and to fling political aHpcr!ie1 in!"
the secthng canldrom OF our difficulties. we
speak advinscdly when we say that the IhSil
gators Of this movement are diligently at work
and are men Of ability and DISCRIMINATING. ne
ARGUMENT advanced is that We must either be
Democrats or Radicals, no middle ground Is
r0ssibc." "Thcrc can be no compromises. -
There is as much solid sense as humor IN the
rcpIy-as the great English historian gives 1t
OF George Savillc-l lalilax-when j2cfcd as
q tritnmGr-ln conflicting interests com
promise is often necessary and is generally 81,
| cctcd by great minds. Extremists never com
promiso and cxtrcmism and narr0W-mlndcdncss
are synonymous. But is the word Democracy
one of such melody and potency as to enlist Us
at once under its banDerS. Democratic theories
of government have proved themselves mlSer"-
bly, detective. utterly incapable OF eomprehcnd'
ing our true interests and needs. Shall We ally
ourselves to dead political organization, ex'
hume exploded doctrines, and model our move
ments thereon? 10 be thus lead away from
discussing questions Ct solid interest would dis.
close height ofiolly and lnlatualon, Of which
We cannot deem our people guilty.
Virginia will never regain her a>ccniancy
by such means. Her influence n i member Of
this immense Empire must rest OH other four
dations. Reprobatc such schemes NOT only as
unworthy of our attention, but as destructive
Of our hopes Of future prosperity IoIltcal
COMMISSIONS bring also to view class directly
diverse ARCirENENS.
ALEXANDRIA, February, 1870.