National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-17

VIM bAuiN lnth NuuihluhNtNiths l
Bold aud defiant "a Is the present attack
upon The Republican hosts, IL Ia confidently
believed that their principles will Withstand
the assaults Of tho Conservative mob, un-
cemcutcd by the adhesive power Of an ex-
allied and worthy purpose. Surely the day |
has not come when the craft Of the sea can /
be navigatod without compass or rudder.
Nor lie IL to be expected that party can /
weather political gales unguidcd by ,rinci-
pies, and II Is not likely that the Intelligent |
people Of Virginia will trust themselves In |
q ship OF State" composites and rudder- |
less. Such Is the reason for our faith In the
triumph OF Hughes over kemper.
THk GRE&T VIRGINIA WATER LINE.
The Richmond Wing has made repeated
illusions to Col. Hughes speech before the
Congress Committee on Commerce last Janu-
airy, IN which he Is reported TO have declared
that the completion Of the James River and
kanawha canal "is subject on which all
parties In Virginia arc more thoroughly
agreed than upon any other subject what
ever" and That citizens Of Virginia, differ
Ing In politics." were then in Washington
engaged in common and harmonious en-
deayor to induce Congress to accept this
property and complete this great work, no
one Of us having any narrow partisan objects
to subscrvo." This declaration the Wing
! commcuds. to Its readers as proof that 'the
canal Is not party question, and as contro-
vcrting our assertion that the sham Conserva-
tive leaders arc practically opposed" to Its
construction. II requires but slight pcnetra-
ton to discover In the Wing nervousness on
this subject which indicates fear that the
truth will get to the people, and that the
building Of the canal viii be accepted by
them as party question. The people know
that the Democratic party, of which the
Wig Is sham-C Conservative follower, has
always opposed internal improvements with
the aid Of the General Government rs mat
ter Of principle. The Wing itself, In view Of
the support rendered by Its editors to the
Confcderacy during the State rights war
cannot consistently advocate such q measure
| and not one Of Its candidates but has beer
''tarrcd with the samc stick" Col. Hughes
assertion therefore, that both parties In tn,
State favor the building of the canal will
Government aid, amounted In effect to a dc
claratiou that the Democratic party had
with accustomed inconsistency and bare
, faced reputation Of the Jcffersonian doc
trine on which II prctcnds to rely, Joined the
, Republicans in advocating thoroughly Re
, publican principle. As q consistent Rcpub
lican himself, he had not only joined thu
party so far as TO accept that principle, bu
IS to accept Its platform In Its entirety as hi
political creed. II was consequently compc
tent for him to speak as he did regarding
his political associates, and he no doubt wa
honest In his belief that the craven hearted
selfish sham Conservatives were also anxioui
10 secure the needed Government aid. But
be this as 1t may, we repeat that the Con.
sentative leaders Of Virginia arc practical,
opposed" to the canal, aud we flnd proof o
this In the history Of their efforts to build 1t
They have, for instance, refused to allow Re
publicans, or men in sympathy with the Ma
tional Administration and the dominan
, party In Congress, any voice Ia the coutro
Of Its affairs. In this refusal they have prac
tically made .tho canal political question
. themselves, and have arraycd the Admin
istration and dominant party agains
Its completion, as 1t Is now organized, for tn
evident reason that 1t would be foolish, In
deed, to place In the hands of the Democrat,
power which would certainly be used to tn
disadvantage Of the Republican party. Thi
, is the situation as 1t actually stands to-day
, The Wing will not attempt to deny 1t, unless
indeed, 1t has so far forgotten oil regard fol
, the truth as to misreprescnt the facts in this
case, as 1t did regarding the President,
sympathy with certain supporters Of tn,
Conservative ticket. But the people will
learn very soon, II they do not now know
that President Grant will listen to his politi.
cal friends and supporters, and grant favor,
, to them, as he has to Colonel Hughes; and
that, while he may listen to tho suggestions
Of the Opposition, will not exert himself I,
, grant them any distinguished favor. Ills pc
sition In this respect Is entirely consistent
Believing, as he docs, that the principle
! which undcrle the platform OF the Republi
, can party form the only basis on which til,
, Government can be safely conducted, h,
can not conscicntlously do that whicl
would aid the enemies Of those prin
, ciples. He knows that the bitter hatre,
. Of the Democracy Of Virginia for III
Republican party would induce tn
present management of the canal to use II
4 power. and the power which would cnsu
, from Government aid. TO defeat those primo
pies; and while he acknowledges and In hi
messages has repeatedly asserted the sound
5 ness OF the internal Improvement policy, h
c will DO 10th to sec II executed In mann,
c which will jcopardizc interests which are, l
n his mind, paramount to that policy. II II
+ Conservatives had not made the canal clos,
a communion political corporation, and If the
e did not propose to use 1t as they have Ii
4 / a.. o tttn anl l..
e the enginery TO perpetuate the opposition I
n the Republican party, the case would be di
II ferent and both the Administration and tn
IT dominant party in Congress would be willinl
> TO aid the project with all necessary earnest
1t ness and energy. But as the matter no
% stands the men who, like Col. Darlington
d ask relief, do so with a perndlous smile, VI
y derneath which ranklcs the most bitter emit
y toward the men and officials Of whom the!
" demand favor. They must 10 blind, indeed
n not to understand that Senators and Repre-
= scntatives In whose hands the control @
70 the situation really rests fully and trul
Is appreciate their Janus-faccd pcr6dy.
l. sounds well to talk about tho d,
e velopment Of the resources Of the State
g and the grand project of great nations
| water line; out tne ccnOco OF tnOsc SOUND
J. arc drowned In the utterauce Of denuncit
n ton OF the Administration aud the lies whic
s. are SO currently reported by the talkcr
l. about leading Republican members of Con
% gross. II is for these reasons that We repca
e the declaration that the Conservative leader
% arc practically opposed to the canal. The!
u acknowledged the force of our position them
r selves when they besought Colonel Hughes I
o accompany them in their lobbying trip Il
), Washington and to plead for them befor
committees composed of their political enc
mics and his political friends. Impelled by
: patriotic desire to serve his State, he dit
a what he could under the circumstances, an
:. the favorable impression made during the In
teryews with the Commerce Committees wa
n due solely to his efforts. II he had been as
a ISOLATED with and sustained by another elias
v Of men-.men who respect and aid the Admin
!, istration-the result might have been differ
:. cnt; and when, after his election on the Il
J.. OF November next, he renews that effort, sup
n ported by the moral strength Of Republi
!, can administration in the State, we conf
!. IDENTIFY expect different and favorable result
The Home OF jefferson.