The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-03
Ealing into Line.

Falling into Line.
General JrBAL A. EARLY, a trusted leadcr
of Virginians in time of war, has been one
of the few influential men in Virginia who
thought the Baltimore Convention did not
act wisely in ratifying the ticket framed by
the Liberal Republicans at Cincinnati. His
friends saw with lriin the statements, perhaps
impertinently made, that be had declared for
GRANT, or that he was not going to vote at
all on the Presidential question. We were
OF the number Of those who have never
donbtetl for moment where General EARLY
and the few good men like him would stand
on the day of election, and it is therefore
with pleasure, but not surprise, that we read
his unmistakable declaration for GREELEY in
letter from which extracts are given in this
and another column.
The General says most cmphatically that
ga support Of the Philadelphia nominees by
ga true Virginian have regarded as thing
" not admissible under any circumstances, y"
and he thus sketches the character Of
GRANTS adhercnts in this State:
'They consist Of the compact, solid pha-
lanx of ignorant negroes, organized, trained,
and led by the carpet-baggers who came like
iackals in the trail of the invading armies, q
few native citizens who were false to their
native State in the hour of her trials, and
some renegade Confederates who once wore
the gray but have sold their birthright for Il
mess of pottagc. None others constitute the
Radical party in this State. and ] must say
that regard the renegade Conicderatcs as
the worst of the whole lot. 1t is this party
which is struggling for the asccndancy in
the State, and hopes TO attain it hy our divi-
sions and the patronage Oi the Federal Gov
eminent"
And then he asks:
"Can any honest Nirginian ally himself
with any such party, for any purpose Vet
if we do not work together, aud if we allow
ourselves to be divided, this putty will i'll
evitably obtain possession of the State. II
the vote of the State should be cast for
Grant ut the coming election there will he
imminent danger that his supporters will OBJ
tain possession of the state Government ut
the next general elections; and that means
consigniuS the people of Virginia to Il gov
eminent like that of South Carolina. The
Virginian who contributes TO this result by
voting with the Grant party in November,
i'm my estimation, will commit Il wrong
upon his people which cannot be palliatcd
by any services he may have rendered in
the past. I should regret exceedingly to see
any one for whom have the slightest re-
spcct PURSUE any such course, and do not
think il can he excused by amy expression
of devotion to Conservative or Democratic
principles, however sincere. a man may
Stand aloof and abstain from voting in a
pcndin" contest, and maintain his own prin-
riplcs intact; but, in my view, any alliance,
concert, or cooperation with the Radical
party in this State will bring contamination
Inevitably, and | would as soon expect to sec
woman who had once gone down into the
siuks of pollution and there sought her ASSOC
GATES restored to virgin purity is to see a
Eirginian return indebted from an alliance
with such party rs the Radical party of this
State. Such an alliance once made il the
first step. and then, 'facths dcScensus 1Ucrnt.'
No! i'm my Judgment no Virginian who has
not already forfeited his claim to the name
can pursue any such course without COM
hitting grieyous wrong upon his people,
himself, and his posterity.'
Of the policy of standing aloof, General
EARLY speaks us follows:
81 must say that if was certain that the
Radicals would not carry the State my own
tastes would incline me to let those who
made the issue fight ii out. But this l am not
certain OF by any means if ali those Conser-
Vatives TO whom the Cincinnati platform and
nominees are distatetul shall abstain from
voting; and l verify believe that if the State
should vote for Grant in November the dahl
ger of the State governments going into the
hands of the Radicals next year would he
very great, by reason of distraction and diri-
sion in the Conservative party, if such re-
suit would not be i certain consequence. 1t
Is Of Infinitely more importance TO us that
the real people of Virginia-that is, the
white people-should retain possession of
the State Government than that there should
be change i'll the Federal Administration
as important us that is ~~,a-n .---. -
After quoting these utterauees it only re.
mains to be said that if General EARLY, who
takes pride i'll being Il Bourbon and calling
himself such, thus talks, is it unreasonable
TO expect that before another month elapses
we will have positively no defectons from
the Conservative ranks to report? Every
day the liues are more closely drawn and the
issues are more clearly defined. AS in 1869,
it is question of Conservatism or Radical
ism that is to be settled on the 9th of Novem-
Der, and he who votes for GRANT, or votes
not at all, throws the weight Of bis ballot on
the side of military government, centraliza-
ton, oppression, and corruption.
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4 ~ hot TIC ,nTfpf ing 1ata