The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-10
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM HON
JAMES LYONS.
His Position Clearly and Boldly Defined.
RICHMOND, Va, June 4. 1872.


expressed in it.
| have taken no part in politics since The
war, except to give quiet vote, when per
mitted, for the candidates brought forward
by what has been called the Conservative
party Of this State, and the National Demo.
cratic party, but | have no hesitation in
giving utterance to my opinion now, be.
cause think that the exigency requires
every man to speak out. .. m
L cannot vote for Horace Greeley under
any circumstances which | can imagine as
likely to occur. -. ~.
A few disconnected Radicals, who united
in the war upon the South and upon that
principle OF local government to which they
profess to be now so much attached; who
had no words ofsympathy for US, while we
OF the South were the only victims of inso-
lent and brutal power; quarrelled with the
President because he chose others for his
advisers and managers, and because the
measures framed to Cypress us now bear
upon them who had not one touch of
sympathy for Mr.. Davis while he was in
prison, or raised finger to avert the fate
OF the murdered Suratt, put their sore
heads together IN mass meeting, as they
called 1t, IN Cincinnati, protesting purpose
to be governed by principles and patriotism
alone, and scouting, through their most
brilliant organ, the idea that they meant
to select man simply because he could
beat Grant; and after as shameless a bar
gain as ever was made by the men selected
as their first and second officers, all their
principles and all their patriotism and all
their wisdom evaporaed, leaving as the resi-
dunn Horace Greeley-the lifelong enemy
of all principles and they call upon us.
the Democrats of the country, who were
earthly excluded from the mysterious as
semblage, to support him and vote for him,
and make him President of the United
States. -
The reasons assigned by the press which
support him are, first, that he is liberal
Republican; second, that he is in favor of
amnesty third, that he is willing to let
the people have a protective tariff, if they
choose; fourth, that he was one of Mr..
Davis's bail; fifth, that he is opposed to
control power, and in favor of local govern
ments; and lastly, and above all, he can
beat Grant. r
Before | consider these reasons, let us
consider who Mr.. Greeley was before the
nomination. ... - ... .s
q The answer is, that he was the most abb
surd ismatic in the world.
That he was the most ultra tariff man.
That he was, throughout his whole life,
the most bitter enemy of the South and the
Democratic party.
That, believing the war upon us to be
wrong, he urged, nevertheless, that it
should be sharp, short, and decisive, our
lands desolated, and the wives and children
of our soldiers made ragged paupers. Hear
his words: "When the rebelous traitors
are overwhelmed in the field, and scattered
like leaves before an angry wind, it must
not be to return to peaceful and contented |
homes. They must find poverty. at their
iiresides, and see privation in the anxious
eyes Of mothers, and the rags of children"
He aided TO elect General Grant, and sup
ported every measure Of his administration
which has been offensive to the country
ku-kluX, bayonet rule and all--and has |
never to this day rccanted one single opin-
ion or expressed regret for one single act
and aided more than any man living, unless
William II. Seward be an exception, to
bring on the war and all the subsequent evils
under which the South suffers or has suf-
iered, and he still Acknowledgement equality
with white people even to mixed schools.
1t would seem to me that the South had
better bear over again all she that has borne
rather than, by her votes, place such man
in the Presidential chair; for, Judging him
by his past conduct, by which alone he can
Judged, she can have nothing TO hope from
him but an aggravation Of her suilerngs,
while his election must be regarded, not as
the reward Of merit or tribute to ability
and attainment, for he has neither, but as
holding out the temptation to every selfish
and unprincipled man in the country to in
yolve it in trouble and distress as means
of acquiring power and pre-eminence.
Such was the temper which actuated the
leading spirits of the French revolution in
1872, and especially of him who acquired su-
prcme power by it. Shall we follow that
example?
Now, as TO the reasons urged in behalf
of the wood-chopper of Cappaqua, as they
call him: .....
|. He is a Liberal Republican. What is
a Liberal Republican? AS far as can
judge by the conduct Of the leaders, he is a
discontinued, disappointed radical, who is
out Of office and wants to get in, with
determination TO turn out and keep out all
who don't belong to his set of Liberal Re-
pubicans.
2. He is in favor of amnesty. We have
as much amnesty as we are likely 10 get
while the Republicans in any degree hold
the control of Congress, and If we have
not, how is Mr.. Greeley to aid us, since the
subject is under the control Of Congress,
and not Of the President, by the fourteenth
amendment, which Mr.. Greeley supported
and approved?
But when did amnesty " become a car
dinal measure with the Conservatives of
Virginia? Very recently, l suppose, for
when the last convention met in Richmond,
they would not allow il to be proposed or
spoken of.
3. He is willing to let the people have
protective tariff if they choose. Wonder
frl!
Isn't every other man willing to say the
same thing? Can any man prevent it ex-
cept by veto? which is not expected of
Mr.. Greeley; or, can President makes
tariff?
A. He was one Of Mr.. Davis's bail.
True and for any kindness shown to Mr..
Davis, from a proper motive, nobody
would give him more cordial thanks than L,
but as even charity is but the work of a
Pharisee, if bestowed ostentatiously and
from an improper motive, so was this mat
ter Of bail for, when impeached for it,
Mr.. Greeley avowed that it was done not to
save Mr.. Davis, but to save the Republican
party and, as if he had been speaking of