The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-01-16
evening State goisraal.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

made her appearance this morning Ia
new dress-one of the very latest fashion
too-a bonnet exactly like that worn b
the more youthful Dispatch. We disik
to see old ladies dress like young girls
Fashion is we'll enough for youth; but on
grandmothers look much better in III
plain costume of half century ago, thai
in the short skirt, panier, and jockey ha
and feather of the girl of the period. A
the age Of sixty-four, the Enquirer shoult
have been prepared to lay aside sucl
vanities and frivolties, and ought to have
rejected all modern innovations ant
changes. 1t should have stuck to its ole
head, at least SO long as 1t remains steadfas
in its old IDEAS There should be some
regard paid to the eternal fitness o.
things; and SO young head upon SO old
body, is in violation of the rules of art
and reverses the order of nature, which
puts old heads upon young bodies. The
Enquirer should have held on to its old
head. We do not believe 10 such changes.
The mostEsuccessful papers we have in this
world never permit any change in their
style. They continue to wear the same
dress from their birth to their DEATH The
people would fail to recognize them, or
would in all probability turn away from
them in disgust were they to change in the
least particular. They have grown up
with their subscribers and admirers from
youth, and their features are familiar and
have fixed themselves in the affections of
their friends. To change these features, is
to run great risk. 1t were better to
-chonge the name, and come out as new
paper, with new features and new ideas
But the Enquirer. of course, had a right
to adopt any style it saw ft,-and it cer-
tainly looks much handsomer than in the
old-fashioned head gear. We trust that
the new suit Is an evidence of our neigh
boris financial success.
But with its change of dress, we do not
discover any change in the political char
acter of our contem porary. That is as
ancient and Bourbonish as ever. 1t is
joined to its idols, ard in this case, at least,
Sheridan Knowles oft quoted idea, that
change makes change, has not been real
lied. The snake may change its skin, but
not its nature. Train up child in the
devious ways Of democracy and when he
is old he will not depart from them, mo
matter how often he may change his coat.
We had feared that the Enquirer, like
the old National Iatelligencer, had outlived
its usefulness and "fallen into the sere, the
yellow leaf" and that its tagging longer
upon the stage was saperAuous; but it's
youthful appearance this morning re-
assures us, aud if it would only take up
few new and progressive ideas in keeping
with the age, and become "young
Enquirer" in the spirit as well as in the
letter, we would sincerely wish it long
and prosperous life.
There is nothing remarkable in the edi-
toral columns of our newly rugged con-
emporary---nothing new there. 1t has a
good deal of complaint to make against
the present State government, which was
of its own choosing. 1t says this govern
ment was not organized for the purpose OF
representing the majority of the people,
which means, we suppose, that the MAORI
ty of the white people accepted Walker
because they could not do any better at
the time,-and not because they preferred
him, or thought his election the best thing
for the State. 1t says
A government organized on a principle OF
yielding power to q minority is always q
dangerous experiment, and we have many
reasons to congratulate ourselves that SO many
OF the dangers of such government have been
avoided in the practical operations of the
present Virsinian system. =
If the Legislature shall take efficient meas
ures to restore power to majority Of the peo-
pie, and postpone all action, that can be
delayed, until the people can actually rule the
State government, they will do the most that
can be hoped from them. Of all the powers
that can rule in any country, the rule of
minority of the people is most to be dreaded
That we have escaped SO many of the ills
which the Black Crook arrangements might
have imposed is a subject for much congratu-
lation.
All of which amounts to just this
"Gentlemen, you have done we'll in refus-
ing or failing to give vigor to the liberal
provisions of the constitution, in disre-
garding that instrument, and treating with
contempt the rights of the people. You
have carried out successfully the game of
sham. which we inaugurated in the choice
of Walker as our candidate for Governor.
You have triumphantly cheated the Ameri-
can nation, and you deserve praise NOT
SO much for the things you have done, as
for the things you have left undone."
But how long does the Enquirer think
the people will put up with such child's
play? The world is moving, and the peo-
pie of Virginia must move with it. There
can be no step backward and although
the "Black Crook" constitution may now
be good subject for Democratic contempt
and ridicule, yet, if we call convention
three years hence, we shall find the people
prepared for still more liberal institutions
In Virginia. You might as well give it an
honest enforcement at once. This stub
born opposition to it will do no good and
those who have permitted it to sleep, will
soon be sent to their political graves The
people have the ballot, and will maintain
their rights.
The Dispatch continues to discuss the
necessity of a changein our modes of in
dustry and domestic economy in Virginia
and the South, which it says has been
rendered necessary by the great change 10
our social relations After setting forth
the fact that in the days Of slavery the
slaves and their families were entirely de-
pendent upon their masters. and had no
Darsnnsl responsibility az ia now tha case