The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-15

We concur in the main with both the
spirit and statements of fact contained in
these articles. Repubicanism, as we know
it at the North, has yet to be taught to the
people of Virginia. Our party here is tim
i'll, apologize, and passive, fearful OF bold,
sharp issues, compromising. and disposed
to sell out for small chance of immediate
gains. There il is bold, umcompromising,
aggressive, and all-conquering, and can
maintain itself. as was seen in Andrew
Johnson's time, against the combined State
and Federal patronage.
That faithful, devoted, organized effort,
which changed the overwhelming majorities
of the North by change in the convictions
of men, will work similar results here,
whenever it is undertaken in the same
spirit of self-sacriiicing devotion, and pro-
secuted with the same method ard yigor.
No party deserves or need expect success
which postpones all party work till the few
days prior to each election, and then leaves
it to candidates for office. At that period
when party prejudices are thoroughly ex-
cited, when the public mind is least recep-
tive, and the candidate comes before the
people with the presumption of a selfish
purpose strongly against him, the best work
Of u party like our own, cannot be done.
We can never attain permanent tri-.
umph except by change in the opinions
of men who now vote against us. TO Sc
cure this result, the best means Of persua-
sion and enlightenment must be used, and
under circumstances most favorable to con-
vince the Judgment that our pretensions are
well based, and our principles and meas
urcs right in themselves and essential to the
prosperity and happiness of the people.
Any success obtained by compromises and
trickery, by the mere personal popularity of
candidates, will be but local and temporary,
barren and unsubstantial. But educate the
people into those glorious doctrines of
nationality, education and progressive civil
lization to which the Republican party
stands committed, and they will never re-
lapse to the old ways of unthinking seryi-
tude to party. Tired Of feeding on dry
husks of State pride, and wallowing in the
mire of clannish sectional politics, the hope
ful and vigorous young men of the South
will turn to lis with hope.
Released from the dominion of caste,
rising above the fear of prescription,
strong in the strength Of truth, and in
spired by the breath of a new atmosphere,
great host of noble and brave Virginians
will come to our side and battle with us for
the good cause.
To attain this result, we have need Of all
our resources and Of the active aid of every
good man among us. The Federal patron
age is undoubtedly a most importaat ele-
nent in this work. The representatives OF
the government ought to be men who can
successfully commend the administration
to a people among whose ruling class to-
day there is Ill concealed hatred and dis
trust, not merely of it, but of the nation
which it represents. 1t is a fact that can
not be successfully denied, that large num-
Der of the Federal appointes during An
drew Johnson's administration were cor
rupt and bad, conspiring to defraud the
government and the people alike. These
wretches who are now mostly fugltives
from justice, OF in prisons, reaping the re-
ward of their crimes, We're not Republicans.
They were selected with express reference
to aid in destroying the Republican party
and building up coalition, at the head o.
which johnson should ride into power for
a second term.
Since the election Of General Grant, these
officers have generally been replaced by a
far better class of men, and Johnson's
plunderers have been closely pursued in
the courts. But, by anIunfortunate COM
bination of circumstances, these bad men
and their crimes are imputed to Republic
cans. Through ignorance, and the mis-
representations of designing politicians, the
people in many portions Of this State look
upon Federal officer as an enemy who is
punderng them In the interest of the
Northern States.
The opposition press and many leading
men of that party on the stump, scdulous-
ly taught this in the late canvass. Many
Of these speakers, before supposed to be
moderate in their views, openly proclaimed
sentiments of disloyalty, speaking of the
National government as if they were for
eigners, at war with it. Through these
evil influences the growth Of loyalty among
the people has been arrested, and to-day
the malignants and reactionists have more
powerful hold upon the State than ever be-
fore. Among people who read little, they
hold the only avenues of approach, and
control the public sentiment as before the
war, by plausible falsehoods, appeals to
pride Of race and birthplace, and that
bitter prescription for opinions sake,
which disgraces and degrades any people.
We have now to recover this lost ground
lost to us us by treason and corruption.
The administration edt all us greatly. We
have no sweeping charges to make against