The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-04
Grsuing Stats. So'arnat


The fifteenth birthday of the Philadelphia
Press, which took place yesterday, has
been made the occasion of deserved COM
pliment to that excellent paper and its
distinguished editor. .i9 Auii-tNA R,
We think no man in America represents
more truly what we may call, the chivalry
of politics, than John w. Forneys He is
the "Knight without fear or reproach,
worthy to wear the crest of Bayard or
Sidney's plume of snow," whose powerful
blade, "keen as light and of subtle temper,
has waved only to deliver innocence and to
smite the wrong.v Consistent and cnthu-
siastic in support of his party, he has never
surrendered his independence, or sunk his
manhood to secure place. The birth Of the
Press is remarkable illustrationao his
qualities. siah sIe as sssea5f a lslsaati
We well remember those dark and terri
BILE days of '55, '56 and '57 when slavery,
reinforced by Northern allies, sought to
plant its black banners by force, upon the
fertile plains of Kansas and Nebraska.
When hordes of rutfiafis poured over
the Missouri border to crush out the very
law which had left the question of freedom
OF slavery, to the ballot of the settlers |;
when the administration had recognized the
votes of these ruffian hordes, and cowed,
or purchased, bypromise Of Southern votes,
proposed to force constitution upon the
people, which organized mob violence into
law, and extinguished liberty. Mr.. Buch-
anan had been elected. and under an i'm
piled pledge to the North, that justice
should be done to Kansas. That pledge he
violated when he refused to support Gov
ernor Geary, and later the Governor Of his
own selection, Robert j. Walker, of Miss
issippi, in their attempts to protect the puri-
ty of the ballot and give to the people a
fair election. aasa :. sisss s,alsaM hsn t'iliiAS
Col. Fomey was at that time the idol of
the Northern Democracy, and possessed
the especial friendship of Mr.. Buchanan.
For him the best his triumphant party could
give was waiting. The great trial hour Of
the administration came, and it could no
longer remain neutral, in the irrepressible
conflict, between slavery and freedom for a
continent. Col. Forney used all his pow
ers of persuasion, to put the government on
the side Of freedom, by granting to the peo-
pie of Kansas fair vote upon their constitu-
tion. He was overruled, Goys Walker re-
called, and an attempt was made to crowd
the iniquitous Lecompton constitution down
the throats of the people by Federal bayo-
nets. Forney wavered not moment. He
went forth from the capitol inspired with
the spirit, that shook old Independence Hall
in the days of '76. He established the
Press, through whose columns his burning
words fell on the hearts of the people, and
ran from man to man, till their echoes re-
turned in thunders, speaking doom to the
party that had betrayed liberty. s' .c -.s
He has had his reward in the magnificent
triumph of the right, which he helped SO
greatly to- achieve; in the love and graft
tude of great people, whose confidence
he has fairly won; and in the success of q
great journal, whose counsels are nearly
always just and wise, and such as the
party of which it is an organ, will find it
safe to heed. ,. ,s
The people Of the South have no more
liberal, enlightened, and sincere friend than
Colonel Forney, and we know that thou
sands all over this sunny. land will join us,
in wishing long life and prosperity to him.
and to the Philadelphia Press. ~ ,ogsl ,sis