The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-18
SOWING THE DRAaoN,s TEETH.

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SOWING THE DRAGONS TEETH.
II there is no other reason why the Con-
ticket Should be beaten in this
election, the fact that its nominees are
sowing the dragons teeth'' wherever they
speak, is the best of all possible reasons.
From the specimens we have heard Of these
speeches, the Conservative state
central committee do well in With
holding them from publication for it
would only scatter these malignant teeth
over much wider field if not more perni-
cious territory. If the people of Virginia
could only see the crop of additional
horrors which they must inevitably reap
from this malign sowing, they would need
TO note of warning from us, either to
heed or reject, as their wisdom
or folly might dictate. We know
how widely these teeth were sown
in both sections of the country before the
war, and we have seen too much of the
desola,ion, ruin aud death that followed, ,
not TO lift note Of warning against this con-
slant Resolving of thcm.by the " Kemper
Kampaign Kanvassers." We use the favor
ite initial photography in vogue among the
Kemperites as will be seen from the CAM
paign banners and devices they everywhere
display. Even these initial letters are
pregnant with the dragons teeth of Cad
mus, and bode no good to the Republic.
For whatever is calculated to keep alive
the hates and animositics Of our late civil
strife, or strengthen the remembrance OF
them, is sowing anew the dragons teeth.
We doubt whether at any time before the
summer and autumn of 1850, more of these
dragons teeth were sown in public speeches
than arc now being broadcasted throughout
the state by our Conservative writers and
speakers. Even when secession was most
rampant in Virginia, in 1861, there was
not half the bitterness and proscriptive
rancor that are exhibited now. The white
women were nowhere called upon at that
time to refuse social recognition to those
who opposed secession. Such unmanly
and un-chivaliic appeals would have sent
secession to the wall in twenty-fcur hours,
or aroused such a Union sentiment among
the people Of the state as would have sent
it bowling back to the Gulf states, and
saved even them from the direful conse-
qucnces then threatening.
But now the political welkin is made to
ring with these appeals against social re-
cognition, and every national sentiment
) that may renew itself in the hearts of the
people. Would to God that we were moi
n Cassandra, to warn against these appeals
in vain! But what we write is true, and
sad it is that we must confess to the truth
of it. The fact that a clergyman, speak
ing from the political rostrum only the
other night, should find it necessary to
fling the meanest of all personal insults
against one of the most honored names Of
Virginia, because its not unhonored wearcr
had sided with the true Union sentiment
of the state, is evidence all too conclusive
of what we charge to be true. Not even is
christian charity, the grandest and noblest
of all christian characteristics, allowed
3 to tolerate Union sentiment in Virginia.
Shame on the treachery and cowardice
that would demand all this!
II is not the people of the state, thank
God, who encourage this second sowing of
The dragon's teeth it is the men who, for
the sake of paltry office, confessed their
treason, begged pardon for 1t, and, when it
was granted, made their treason boast,
and their pardon a two-fold thing Of con-
tempt and scorn. Is there anything OF
manliness in this-anything to lift it out
of the contempt Of mems minds, who
reason, reflect, consider, and really forecast
the destinics Of our great Republic? We
believe-and we say it rather in aspirit Of
thankfulness than of boasting-that our
country presents the best and grandest
specimen of human government the world
has ever seen. We are, or ought to be,
strong in our very differences Of political
opinion. The two great political parties
OF 1.-THE country are, or ought to
be, hints for good to each 9TH
er. Each has, or should have,
its own sphere Of influence, and prove q
proper check upon the other. We should
never assent to the dogma that govern
ments are not as much under the guidance
of Heaven as of the social and political
world around US. States, as well as
creation itself, are progressive. We cannot,
as world, stand STILL much less retro
gade. States may rise and fall; but, in their
growth aud symmetry. they are worked
out by mightier hands than our own. A
heart that is truly touched with the FIRE
patriotism, believes chat its country is the
fayorad child If haapap yvhafauar NAV he