The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-01
evening Stats Solrnal.
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.

and revolution through which it passed
Adversely taught it much and when tn
restoration came in 1915, we found it read
to make use of the knowledge thus &C
quired by accepting things as they wer
found. Old Bourbonism had passed ava.
forever, and only its name was restored
So, too, with the Enquirer of this city.
was the Bourbon of pre-revolutionar.
times, and during the changes through
which we have just past, it would neithe
learn nor forget; but now it is restored,
and does not seek to restore the dncien
regime. 1t will accept the officers of thu
Empire and trust them if found worthy
that is if they are not too Radical ant
sans culottish. 1t rises again to the leader
ship in the State, and its old prestige viii
return under the new regime. 1t will now
control and direct the fortunes of Virginia
we hope, as it so lately shaped her fate
This morning, under the heading of A
New Era" further intimation is given Of
the line of policy marked out by the new
adm Illustration
The day of progress begins to dawn on our
beloved State, and all around may be seen evil
dences Of life and vigor, which have not be.
fore existed since "grim visaged war; had
stifed all her energies and left in ruins her
most cherished hopes.
Tempora nautantur, ct cum iUis nos mutan,ur,
contains a truth whsch must control and gov
ern both men and measures, so long as seasons
come and go and time rolls along. To change
does not necessarily involve Inconsistency, while
an obstinate adherence to long cherished views
may not unfrequently indicate folly, if not
crime. 1t is the part of wisdom to yield to the
conviction ofjudgment-t to the power OF truth !;
while, on the other hand, it is foolish, If not
sinful, to retain opinions no longer warranted
by facts or by reason. 49,.
We have no such pride of opinion as will
interpose an impeachment to full and prompt
abandonment Of any line of policy, however
strenuously pursued, which no longer obtains
the sanction OF our judgment.
Then follows somewhat mysterious
and Delphic-like paragraph, which may
or may not contain hidden meaning, or
be capable of two or three interpretations
We trust therefore, that we, who are en-
gagged in a common cause, with an eye single
to common end, shall not pick quarrels with
one another for supposed inconsistencies in
either, or for mere differences of opinion as to
policy or men, when there is SO much room for
square, open, full and free fight with our
enemies. We are not advised that our
s'material of war" is so full and ample, as to
permit divisions in our camp, and we rather
conclude that it will be wiser for us to reserve
our ammunition, as well as our wind, for the
great battle that is before US.
Now, if we knew exactly whom you
count among your enemies, we should
have the key to the cipher and if we knew
what you mean by "Radicalism" in the
next and closing paragraph, the enigma
would be solved:
The time is near at hand when we shall have
10 measure arms with Radicalism. We propose
to do our deveir for "God and the right and
If we shall fail to do Efficient we shall strive at
least to do "knightly" service.
Well; we suppose you intend to say
that you are what you are--and II not, you
don't know what you may be. But your
style suits us. Let us all try to be kind and
courteous, even in our angriest moods.
In another article, the Inquirer does
vigorous battle in the cause of the people
by its strenuous advocacy OF the all-rall
line to Washington. In very able edi-
torial. favoring the charter of the Alexan-
dria. Richmond and Potomac road, it puts
the case strongly against the dog-in-the-
manger policy of the Richmond, treder-
icksburg and Potomac company--which
will neither build through road to Wash
ington, nor suffer others to do it--as fol-
lows
Is the Richmond community, or are the pub
lie at large, longer to be held subservient to
The will of this institution Shall the door to
the fullest facilities to trade and travel be for
ever closed to this great public, because this
e q Has In fbp lie
from its grasp, or itself De nicheo from the
pocket of somebody.
The capacitu of the objecting company for
the through trade, if estimated by its receipts,
would seem to be limited to an exceedingly
small margin; if this be not SO, then the
measure of its capacity is dwaried oy It's an
,oillinqness to open up its road to facilities TO-
traffic, H,uay and through" 1t is matter OF
The least Importance whether the one or the
other cause prevails. The public is alike the
sufferer. We are very much inclined to the
opinion that there is a reason which Is furnisnea
by the polieg, rather than by the sncapacny Oh
the road, though both may exert an influence
There happens to be railway from Weldon
to Portsmouth connecting there with line OF
steamers. to whose interests the Il. II. d I. is
rendered subservient, from the fact that the
common shareholders in the two routes have
larger interest in the Seaboard and pay INES,
holding, however, controlling power In the
Potomac road. If any credit is to attach to
human testimony, the fact is established that
the Seaboard road or bay route holds the r.,
F.&P. road in the hollow of its land, I! not in
its pocket.
The Legislature is now asked to sustain this
"dog In the manger'' monopoly in its opposi-
ton to another company, which seeks to open
a new route which can and ,oiH afford both the
capacity and the disposition to accommodate
trade and travel at half the price and in half
the time now afforded by Mr.. Robinson's Fred
ericksburg line.
And this Seaboard road carries Off all
the trade and travel from Petersburg,
Richmond, aud Alexandria, simply be-
cause we have no railroad from this city to
Washington. That few hours of steam
boat travel on the Potomac from the creek
to the. Capital, is the cause Of all our woes.
With through line the whole travel and
large portion of the trade OF the South
would pass and re-pass through Richmond,
to and fro,--and then it would be the fault
of our merchants and manufacturers them
selves if they did not get their share OF it.
The Wing has another article upon ln-
ducing wholesale or general immigration &c
the State, following the one we noticed IN
its columns few days since. 1t seems
to be convert to Mr.. Greeley idea, that
if Northern people come here they must
come in droyes or colonies, and bring thell