The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-31
THE CANVASS.

THE CANVASS.
From all portions ofthe State our friends
send us words of good cheer; and we make
no empty boast when we repeat that Re-
publican principles are now more thorough
ly understood and generally approved in
Virginia than at any previous time.
Wherever our canvassers have met their
Democratic opponents, after few attempts
to reply to the solid arguments advanced
on behalf of Republicanism, its adversaries
have been driven back on their usual line
Of defence, vituperation and abuse, attack
ing individuals not principles, raising false
issues, instead of meeting real issues.
The press of the State has attacked the
government, as oppressive in its action
against law breaking and murderous Ku-
klux, ignoring alike facts and testimony.
Many of our friends blame us for not
spreading before the public the volumes of
testimony given by willing and unwilling
witnesses before the Congressional COM
mittee and courts of law. We have not
space, even to publish such brief abstract
rs would give the names of the victims,
date and place of outrage; and we also
shrink from this, because we do not desire
such black record to be made part of
our published annals, anxious to remove
the cause rather than expose the disease.
Weak and groundless attacks have been
made against the government, charging it
oppressed people of the South by bur-
densome and discriminating taxation, but
so puerile are these assaults, that the
slightest breath of investigation dissipates
them as dust before the wind.
The government has been charged with
pursuing apolicy which has proved injurious
to the shipping interests, grounding the
complaint upon the fact, (nonc regret more
than ourselves,l that our merchant tonnage
shows considerable decrease since 1860.
We showed most conclusiyely that the de-
crease, which we feel to be public mis-
fortune, is one Of the many calamities
which were entailed upon us by Democra-
cy and its eliminating work-secesson.
While Democratic papers are urging a
system of national financial policy in rails
ing public revenues, which would inevitably
crush our tobacco interests with ruin, and
place our industrial man ufacturing enter
prises at the mercy of such powerful and
wealthy competitors that nothing could
prevent absolute and utter prostrattion
we have striven to the best of our ability
to protect our home interests, to encourage
manufacturers to extend instead of crrtail-
ing their operations, to save our mechanics
from unprotected competition with thi
cheap labor at European countries.
We have exposed the financial wrongs
which have been committed by Demo
cratic legislation in this State, showing thai
while our public credit has been impaired
by violence to our public faith, the public
burdens have been increased in the pre-
sent, and will become intoerable in the
future; that the rights and immunitie
granted to the mass of our citizens undc
the constitution, have been denied or re
stricted, to perpetuate power in the hand
of the few, and if the Democrats do thes
things in the green tree, what will they d
in the dry?
We have denounced that prescription OF
account of birth beyond the borders Of Vii
ginia, and on account of political principles
which has disheartened strangers who hav
sought Virginia as home, and field 70
their industry, and discouraged the thou
sands who would under different state 0
affairs, bring their capital and energy t
the work fbuilding up our wasted fortunes
knowing that no other means will so add t
our taxable property, as 10 enable us t
discharge even onr legitimate public obi
cations.
We have written earnestly, because W
felt deeply our duty has been performed
if not fully, at least faithfully, to the exten
of our ability; it is now for the people t
act--to vote as their judgment, on our fai
presentation OF facts, dictates and not
be deferred from so voting, either by in
limitation or deception.
We are waiting for the verdict to be rcn
dered on the 7th Of November, anxiously
it is true, but in firm and hopeful anticipa
ton that the people will condemn the or
rors and wrongs which the Democracy ha
committed in the past, and inauguratc
new, happy, peaceful, and prosperous fl
ture.
THE Republican party is progressive
and at the same time conservative. 1t pre-
serves what is good and rejects what is baC
1t makes progress. 1t has faith in human
raliao az, tho r,,accac af tlia ranr1o