The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-27
CLOSE UP THE RANKS.


There has never been an hour in the
history of the State when Virginia stood
more in need of the Republican party than
it does to-day never an hour when it was
more necessary that Republicans should be
firm and brave. We believe the purpose
of our enemies to be treacherous and bad !;
that they mean not to preserve and
perpetuate the liberties of the people,
but, as far as they can safely dare, TO
abrogate and destroy them. By their
own admission, they mean not to Support
and maintain" the constitution for which
they have so generously voted, but to all
ter and amend it until it is in their hands,
made as potent for evil as it would have
been powerful for good had it been en-
trusted to the care of the Republican
party which framed it, aud which for
years has been battling for the supremacy
Of the principles embodied therein In
the meantime, there is but one course for
Republicans to adopt, and that is to close
up their ranks and stand to their guns
like men. Let there be no unmanly re-
pinings over defeat, but rather renewal
of courage and zeal.
We are great and powerful party, and
If we but present a firm and unbroken
front, resisting step by step every at
tempted oncroachment upon the rights,
privileges and liberties of the people
sternly protesting against every violation
OF justice, every attempted usurpation of
power, every act committed in disregard
of and disobedience to law; every effort,
open or covert, to nullify or wrongfully
change the constitution in any of its pro-
visions, we can and will thwart many of
the cunningly devised plans now contem-
plated by the enemy. AS it was not given
to us to inaugurate wise and vigorous
administration of the affairs of the State,
as we had hoped to do, let us at least serve
the Commonwealth by maintaining fear
less and unceasing opposition to the mis-
rule which threatens it.
Nothing would more delight our foes
than to see the Republican party disor-
ganized and scattered, and their efforts
to accomplish that result will in the future
be untiring. Republicans generally, both
white aud colored, we would bid remember
that behind the puny might of the brawl-
ing demagogues and their servie followers,
stands the supreme power of the govern
ment, sworn to secure to every law-abiding
citizen of the Republic the right to dwell in
peace within the borders of any State in this
Federal Union; the right there to think, to
speak, to act untrammelled, except by the
just restrictions of constitutional law. That
government will fulfill the pledge. When
the State is unable, or refuses to protect
us, to it we can appeal, and we will not
appeal in vain. But there is for us a
higher assurance than even this it is thai
when earthly tribunals and earthly powers
fail us there stands above, and infinitely
overshadowing these, the great God in
whose care we can implicitly con6de SO
long as we remain faithful to Justice and
humanity. His ''hand is not shortened,
that cannot save; neither his car heavy,
that it cannot hear" and calmly trusting
in his wisdom and bis strength let us again
so forward, bravely and hopefully battling
for The truth.