The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-18
aLesson of the Late Election.


food for rejection rather than cause Tor TN"
fricpdlIuess and accusation against the south
crn people.
Let Il he remembered that the whole
negro rapuaiion in this State were banded
together as one man in favor Of the nominees
of what is called here the Republican party.
Such Il compact and drilled body of voters in
the midst of an intelligent community Is al.
most sure to give the victory to that side i'll
politics which they support. They go as one
shot, while the people, if they be intelligent
and independent, arc apt to divide, and Their
division gives the triumph to the side when
is reinforced by the embodied and diSc'-
plned band.
How is it that, notwithstanding this COM
pacted band in Virginia, the people opposed
10 it united and defeated the party 10 Which
that band attached itself 10y majority I'M
prccedcnted in the State:
II WAS because the compacted Body, the
solid shot at the polls, was composed OF nc
grocs, illitcrate, yindctiyc, and hostile to the
whites. They supported strangers and in
compctcntS, who taught them to hate their
late masters, and to combine for the purpose
Of placing them under the control OF men
who did not understand their government,
who were incompetent and untruStworhy-
men who, whenever and wherever they had
got power, had betrayed the interests of the
people they were elected TO represent, and
filled their own pockets with public money.
Then We sec that an extraordinary tri-
umph has been achieved in the cause Of
good government over party which had
mustered into their service IN illitcrltc and
scryie band, which had been excited against
the intelligent and substantial people Of tn"
Statc-whch attempted 10 deprive those
| intelligent and substantial people OF the
State Of all control of their own Govern
ment, they paying nearly all taxes, and those
who sought to ostlaciSc them from all place
in the Government paying 50 small Il part OF
| the means 10 support the Government as To
| bc almost beneath consideration.
The compact band of negro voters and
| their leaders were furthermore sustained ny
| the co,lntclancc and material MD OF the Gov
| eminent. and all the inducements through
promise of Government favor that could be
brought to their aid were freely held out to
the public.
What then. indeed. must have been the
powerful motives that impellcd the solid
and intelligent people of the State TO that
powerful resistance which overwhelmed Il
party 50 marshacd and SO reinforced:
1t was tie desire for good and respectable
govcrnmcnt--to guard the safety of the pub
| lie interests and to maintain that public con-
fdencc in the Government without which
| there can be no order, 10 contcntmenI, no
prosperity.
These motives were local. and the >tlug-
| .lc for their accomplishment WAS local. Yet
who outside of Virginia can fail to apprc-
ciutc them: Is the Administration party 80
blind that they cannot perceive them, and
must regard the people Of Virginia aS re
si,tin- the Federal Governments in their
noble effort to protect their own:
Why not accord to Virsiniaus credit for
noble purposes and noble conduct i'll their
local political affairs, and leave them to act
upon the suggestions OF their best luds-
ments in national elections:
The intelligent statesman will not fail to
appreciate the powerful impulses which
have led to Il political victory OF the people
OF this State over combinations such rs were
never before brought i'll the field Of ro-
iticS. He should weigh the Importance
OF the questions at stake by the grandeur OF
the triumph.
Then let Us ask the statesman why should
the policy of the party in power be to favor
the dangerous element in this State and to
show cold disfayor and injustice 10 the in
tclligcnt and responsible people? Would
not that party gain iar more strength by
being considerable and Just to those people
Would it not thus help to promote good
government and attach 10 itself the best |
people OF the State by securing their igicnd- |
ship?
Let the Government cease to froWn upon |
tue only truly lhtcillScnt ana responsible
people in the South; let it cease to have for
favortes anybody, and lcnst OF all to have
for tavoritcs the least reliable and least re-
sponsible of tie southern people, and let it |
have more respect for local State authority, |
and appeal TO the generous and manly senti-
mentS of the southern people by such
conduct towards them as would iudi-
cate not only Il knowledge OF their
existence but recognition OF their good
faith and devotion to the country, and their
responsibility rs owners Of the land and |
representatives OF Ill that is noble and
heroic in the South. Let the Government
DO this. and we shall indeed have peace and
good government and national harmony.
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When Shall the General Assembly