The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-11
WEDNESDAY EvEN'G. JUNE II, 1873.
General wise's letter, and the Repub-
Ucan Party.


A temporary absence from the city has
prevented an earlier notice by us of the
most remarkable letter of General Wise.
We thus characterize his recent missive to
the editor of the Norfolk Virginian, for tho
reason that it is remarkable in many more
respects than one. In fact, it would be
difficult for the distinguished author
to put pen to paper without some
thing remarkable emanating therefrom.
He is not only an original, but one
thoroughly sui generis. AS there never
was but one Homer, so there can never be
but one Henry A. Wise. His mind is self
poised, sell-directed, and thoroughly self
controlled. He would not ask Neptune
for his trident, nor Jove for his power to
thunder. Every badge of authority, and
every bolt of wrath, he would forge in his
own smithy. Even the "Greek fireo that
he pitches with such terrible effect into
the ranks of the Conservatives, is his own.
He stalks into the political arena, another
Nestor-not the aged warrior and coun-
sellor mentioned by Homer-but, ,ntus
ct IN cute, our Virginia Nestor, who,
after slapping the Republican party
square in the face, takes the Con-
servative party across his knee and
administers chastisement, chiefly
for its sins of commission, which
eXctes almost as much COM
misseration in our breast as we should
feel for the victim of the bastinado among
the Turks.
After this double punishment, inflicted
upon the Greek warriors on either side,
this Virginia Nestor compassionately takes
breath, and uniquely comforts both the
political striplings he has chastised, by
telling them that he will be the "Wise
counsellor of either, if the "other dear
charmer is away" 1t IS needless to
say that no man upon the universal
footstool, except Henry A. Wise, would
ever think of winning political charmer
in this way. And yet we are not SO
sure but that this is the identical way
to win. The chastisement which he ad-
ministers to the Republicans is so much
slighter than that which he merclessly
gives their opponents, that there are symp-
toms of rejoicing already in many of our
own circles. We do not share in this
sort of qualification, for the reason that we
are too strongly panoplied to feel
the chastisement ourself, and have no faith
IN the near approach of that political mil
lenium when the lion and lamb shall lie
down together under the same HISTORIAN
vine and fig-tree. We do not argue the
necessity Of political organizations they
always have been, and always will be,
found necessity in every free government,
and their popular outgrowth is as much law
of development as the oak that springs from
the acorn or the eaglet from the cliffs. Par
ties may be broken in pieces, as the oak is
shivered by the blast OF the @unfedged
eaglet by its too premature flight from the
nest; but the law of growth remains in
dubitably the same. All sudden develop
ments are Of mushroom origin, destined to
disappear as precipitately as their growth,
which is often that of single night.
We do not say that the course indi-
Gated by General Wise IS wholly an
impracticable one. What he manifestly
seeks is possible of accomplishment, for it
is not entirely new move on the political
chessboard. Many similar strategical move
ments have heretofore won, and very many
others have failed. The Republican party
can come together at Lynchburg decline
to make nomination for Governor
nominate acceptable candidates for Lieuten-
ant Governor and Attorney General; pass
resolutions endorsing the spirit, and much
of the substance, Of the Generals letter,
and then adjourn with an understanding
that his name is to head the ticket, and
that he is to be voted for, pro hac vice, as
''a good enough Morgan" for the Republic
can party.
But how is this to affect the future status
or condition of the party? Who is to
give pledge that the party will derive
any benefit from the entire abnegation or
remuneration of its own essential tenets
and interests? Will it be the Republican
party with General Wise at its head, or
General Wise with the Republican party
at his feet? The General, it is true. is
high-toned gentleman, too brave and chiv-
alric to betraY a single trust, and too sensi-
tive on the point of honor to give pledge
that might be construed into the slightest
distrust of his integrity as man. We
concede that Seneca's definition of true
philosopher is altogether applicable to
General Wise as true patriot and
statesman: Nature brought him
forth to show mankind, in
corrupt and evil age, how proudly an
exalted nature can stand up against the
pernlcious errors and vices of the surround
ing world" He is absolutely incorrupti-
Bile in politics; and this is saving a vast
deal for even good man in these times
Nor does he differ so much from us in pun-
ciple as to make his nomination impossible
at the hands of the party. 1t is the posi-
ton taken by him in his letter which rem
ders this entirely out of the question.
After all, men-true men-and perhaps
men IN general--agree in more points than
they differ, even in political and religious