National Republican., 1873-10-06
A WORD OF ADVICE To VIRGINIA.


With accustomed and stupid blindness the
Conservative press Of Virginia has renewed
the discussion Of the James river and Kama.
wha canal question. They now ask what
aid may be expected from the National Gov
ernment, and argue that under no circum-
stances will that aid be certainly forthcoin-
ing. The stupidity eyinced by this blundcr-
ing exposure Of their own weakness is in
thorough accord with the ignorant and pre-
judiced policy which these papers have pur-
sued from the beginning Of the campaign.
They arc forced to acknowledge that the
General Government as now administered
cannot be expected to grant fayors to per-
sons, corporations, or communities who de-
vote themselves to the defamation Of the
character and the Misrepresentation OF the
acts of members Of tho National Administra-
tion. At the same time they are compelled 10
admit that q Republican victory In the
State would place Its administration in such
close sympathy and warm friendship with
the dominant party In Congress as to insure
favorable hearing Of their demands and
needs. But there is point which they for
get, and which should be repeated so often
and with such emphasis that every citizen
having the interests of the State NJ hoart
should understand it. 1t is that the theory
of States rights and the basis on which the
Bourbon leaders rely for the arguments with
which they attempt to maintain their posi-
tion-the position that they maintained When
they precipitated the country into civil war,
and which they still cling to with idiotic per
tinacity-is utterly opposed to the inter
ference by the Federal Government
either for or against national I'm
provemcnts. Any one who has heard, OF
now hears, their sniveling lies about Fe dera
interference with political affairs can appre
clate the Inconsistency Of their claims; bu
when 1t is remembered that they carry thei
antipatby toward the General Goyernmen
80 fur as to adopt as their battle cry tn,
declaration thss z Virginia shall be held 70
yirginians," and't declare that the indie
pendence of the State from all relation
with the General Government is necessar,
TO It's welfare, they convict themselve
either Of the stupid blindness TO which W,
have referred, or of belief tina
their constituents are so ignorant as to b,
unable to appreciate the contradiction an,
clash Of theories which Is here so startlingl,
apparent. We believe that the people of thu
to detect this glaring duplicity, and to cas-
their votes In such a manner US to rebuke tn
insult TO them which 1t embraces. They knoy
that the hide-bOund and narrow prejudice
which have hitherto prevailed In the contro
of their aflams is due entirely to the close
communion policy OF the Bourbon leader
which has driven away from the State III
new blood and energy required +
rebuild its ruined fresdes and re
vive Its languishing industries. The
know further that the resources OF th
State have been squandered for the beneh
of select few, and that the kindly and lib
eral spirit which should have characterized th
government of the State has been wanting
And they also know that the Republican
party has begun already to mature plans 10
the building of the canal. Volumes of ar
gumcnt are embraced In this simple asser
tion. II means that the dominant party 1
pledged TO carry out the recommendations o.
the President; that the cry OF the peopl'
for cheap transportation, and OF thu
farmers for protection against the
cruel oppression Of the railroad cormOrants
has been heard, and that the power OF the
General Government, the subject Of so much
abuse at the hands of the sham-C onserva.
tiycs, is TO be used TO redeem the pledges
which have virtually been made by the lead
ers OF the Republican party. There can be
no misunderstanding Of these pledges. They
have been plainly spoken, without equlvoca'
tlon and with an honest intention that they
shall be redeemed. II is true that the James
river and Kauawha route is not the only one
that may be selected as the line Of the great
middle thoroughfare, and 1t Is known that
the Chesapeake and Ohio route presents
many advantages, which will be taken into
consideration when the selection Is made
Does 1t not, then, boboove the people OF VIZ