The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-06
WHO REspONsTBLE FOR rrq

WHO RESPONSIBLE FOR IT?
The Bourbon press of this state is still
harping on the responsibility of the Repub
lican party for the issue they now make o.
white against black" The pertinacious.
ness with which they stick to this false
hood Is extraordinary, and can only
be accounted for on the principle that
lars have short memories, and
Bourbon liars proyerbially short
ones. IT. can hardly have escaped the
recollection Of our readers that no longer
ago than last April the Bourbon press Of
the state-espeeially the Richmond portion
of it--opened simultaneous fire on this
question, demanding that all other ques-
tons aud issues should be subbordi-
mated to the vital one of race against race.
The tariff question was to be slenced !;
the bankrupt law ignored: the free rail-
road issue cast out as an intruding Satan !;
nobody In the party was to raise single
distracting question; all things were to be
lovely as the charmingest May morning,
by adopting the one vital issue of white
against black" in Virginia.
The Dispatch demanded that all other
questions should be sunk out of sight in
order to keep the state officers and honors
IN the hands of the Bourbon dynasty. The
vital question was declared to be the as
cendancy of the white or tax-paying people
of Virginia over radicalism, carpet-bagism,
negroism, and the barbaric element general
ly The Wing was appealed to with an
earnestness of solicitation never before
exhibited by Bourbon Importantly to drop
its disturbing railroad issues, and to raise no
new question which would interfere with a
square fight against radicalism, negroism,
and the " barbarc ELEMENT of the state.
BY this square fight the state was to be
saved; by the introduction of other and dis
turbng issues it was to be lost.
The columns Of THE STATE JOURNAL,
will show how this issue was met by us, as
those OF our contemporaries will show
how 1T was pushed by them. We assailed
the attitude Of our neighbors as one Of
extreme folly and madness, and Indignantly
repealed the charge made by them that the
Republican party of the state was in any
way responsible for the issue they were
raising. We stated then what we reiterate
now, that there was not a Republican of
any influence Or character in Virginia
VINO did not deprecate the arraying of
blacks against whites, Or vice Ueasa, or who |
did not desire to see what we have ear
nastly labored to bring about since we
came to the state-a division of political |
parties in Virginia without regard to race
or color, but upon such issues as are vital
to our material growth and prosperity as
state. We believe that if political par
es could be thus divided, upon issues thus
vital, it would be decidedly better for the
colored people, since differences in
political opinion among themselves would
stimulate to mental activity, as well
as self-reliance, and make them more in
dependent, prosperous and happy people.
Without political parties free governments
nave no continuing guarantee against des-
9otism, and would die of inanition and sink
out of sight, if they did not invite to con-
quest and overthrow by other and more
organized nationalties.
But the negroes have had no oppottu-
lity certainly no inducement-to thus
liYide themselves politically since the war |
They have found the Bourbon party of
'lrginia hostile to their every reasonable
emand, and reluctant to yield them the
irst political right, except as it was wrung .
rom them by the reconstruction acts
assed by the Republican party and the
institutional amendments adopted bv
ne Republican states. And this G
bourbon hostility is just as inyeterate y
'-day as it was when the last !
ln OF the Confederacy was fred. or p
ne first blow was struck to make African
avery the cornerstone of the Republic.
urey, 1t is not the fault of the colored /"
aople OF the state that they do not vote !,
he Bourbon ticket, when the leaders of y
lat party Extensively declare that thew =
On t want single "nigger" vote; when, !
TACT, they make the square issue of :,
hite against black, and demand that all J.
her issues shall be sunk out of sight in =
&c canvass, to give place to this malisn :
he OF hostility to the African race.