The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-24

Wedged in as she is between the great con-
trolling political forces of the continent,
and dependent as she is upon those forces
for even the very breath she draws, can
anything be more unwise, absurd or ride.
ulous than an attempt to hold out against
the destiny that awaits her, or resist the
| tide that is swelling in her favor ? Pride
is q good enough thing in its place,
but pride never yet set broken
limb or mended broken head
and am very much out of my reckoning
il the people of this state will hereafter
give countenance or support to any party
whose principles are not in perfect accord
with the views here expressed, and that
does not strive to place Virginia in the
closest political alliance and sympathy
with her sister states as well as the national
government. We may account it want of
craftsmanship to be influenced by con-
siderations Of this sort but human nature
is human nature. We love those who
love US, and we befriend those who be-
friend us. From our enemies we expect
nothing but enmity. Can this poor, old,
down trodden, Democracy-ridden state,
large proportion of whose people are, at
this moment. on the very verge of bank
ruptcy, afford to wrap itself up in cloak
Of exclusiveness, and proudly say,
II will have nothing to do with the
outside world - and, as it were,
erect great Chinese wall around
itself to shut out intruders? And yet this
is in effect precisely what the so-called Con
sentative party IS attempting to do at this
moment. Colonel Hughes, in a very able
and elaborate argument, has endeayored to
prove that OldsLine Wings sacrifice nothing
by becoming Republicans, and advises them
to cast their lot with us. ] adopt this adj
vice with slight variation-le let all the fools
join the Conservatives. We will take all
who know beans when the bag is open, and
understand what bread means; but, as Tor
those simpletons who never learn anything
and never forget anything, and who are
always clustering and prating about the
past, but whose visions are SO perverted
that the future, with all its magnificent and
glorious promises. is never seen by them, we
advise them to join the Conservatives by
all means. They are the kind Of stuff
out of which good Conservatives are made.
Senator Lewis used to run good one on
poor Ridgway. There were three great
parties in the country, he was won't to say,
"the Democrats, the Republicans. and
Ridgway. There are three great parties in
the country now, the Democrats, the Re-
publicans, and the Virginia Conserva-
stives. And.a beautiful kettle of fish this par
ty is to be sure. 1t is perfectly s,ti generis.
It is harp with out a single string. It is
an instrument with but a single note.
Nay, If it were only thus innocent, we
might regard it with less adherence. But
it is something more and worse. II is a
demon with one horn, fiery dragon that
lives on prejudice and hate, and that rolls
ennaity under its tongue asa sweet morsel.
1t is an ill-gotten monster, too, that would
array race against race in violent antag-
onism, and foment war and blood rather
than relax its hold upon the flesh pots of
Office. Such an organization ought to be
knocked into cooked hat, and the people
will do it. too, as soon as they have q
chance see if they don't.
Let me now array against this party Of
hates, this small party for good but great
one for evil, the great, progressive, liv-
ing, moving party of the country !; the
party that saved the nation and that wields
the destinies of the nation--the great Re
publican party-and ask which one of these
parties any sensible man should join !?
Mark now, | am not going to glorify
this party. 1t is composed Of men,, and
men are fallible. l am not the apologist
of any party. The Republican party has
committed many great and grievous blum
ders. IL was slow to recognize fact
that ought to have been patent to men
everywhere, that slavery was the chief
prop and support of the rebellion,
and that the strongest blow that
could have been struck the one must
be struck through the other; that
to strike the manacles from the slave
was to strike down the rebellion and set
the country free. 1t was slow to perc Give
that the slave set free and not given the
rights Of a freeman was the veriest slave
indeed and ten times worse off than before.
1t dilly.dallied long and uselessly with "a.
Johnson 1t dilly-dallied over recon-
struction and the adoption of the 18th
amendment; and, since reconstruction, it
has dilly-dallied over the removal of disa-
bilities imposed for special and particu-
lar purpose, which perhaps has long since
ceased to have force. 1t has not always,
in my opinion, been prudent in the expen-
diture Of the peoples money; and if
reports" be true many influential MEM
bers Of that party are no better than
they ought to be. admit all
this. But better late than never. It ele-
waited itself at last to the height Of the great
occasion. and nobly did its duty and it is
now the party of ideas it is the party Of
the whole country it is the party that
saved the government and gave us four mill
lions of freemen in place of as many slaves !;
it is the party that vitalized the eleventh
commandment, and learned us to remem-
Der that there was something more than
mere words in the Golden Rule s'Do unto
others as you would have them do unto
you." 1t is the party of progress; it is
the party of power. When we want any
thing we naturally go to those for it who
have the ability to give. The Republican
party is the only party IN the country that
has the ability to give anything. In this
party, too. is contained the intelligence of
the country, and it controls the wealth
Of the country and it has shown will
lingness to use both with no sparing hand
for the grand purposes of the nation.
Should Virginians in their poverty, their
state groaning under the burden of a debt
she is unable to pay, and languishing for
material and intellectual prosperity, prefer
their one-horse concern, their little tea
party of hates and negations, to this grand
and glorious party of the whole country
| know they are poor and proud, and proud
and poor, and have at times behaved very
fooliShlv. but | will not denreciate their