National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-16

able 10 state that the losses incident thereto
are not as heavy as was anticipated imme-
diately after the disaster. Outside OF the
Injury to the building II Is estimated that one
thousand dollars will cover the damage to
property, and that ten thousand dollars will
pay for all repairs rendered necessary by the
fire.
Tho Secretary Of tue Navy requests us to
express his thanks to the FIRE and police de-
partments for the zeal and efficiency mani
tested by them In saving and guarding the
property Of the Government.
THE JAMES RIVER CANAL AND vlR-
GINA POLITICS.
The Richmond Wing, usually one Of the
fairest as well as most judicious Conservative
journals in Virginia, in replying to the recent
structures Of the REPUBLICAN regarding the
manner In which the demand or request for
the completion Of the James River and Kama
wha canal project has been made, does most
eminent injustice to Its capacity to understand
the English language. We did not intend to
insinuate that an 'honest old Common wealth"
like Virginia could be bribed, or that single
voter within its limits could be induced TO cast
a ballot contrary to his belief. We know that
the purity Of the ballot-box Is Conservative
boast, and that the custom which prevailed
before the war Of ''cooping" mountaineers
and poor white trash" countrymen for days
In advance Of an election always received the
deserved reprobation Of such intelligent gen
uemen as the Wing writer. We are there
fore satisfied that the votes Of the Old Domin-
ion are above corruption. We, however, be-
lieve that some of them are imbued with
struggling CLEANS Of common sense, which
teach them that our assertion of necessity
that the State authorities shall be more thor
oughly in accord with tho National Admins
tration is true. The lesson thus taught Is
among the plainest of all the theories
which have yet been explained regarding the
complexity Of human motives. tits embodied
briefly in the homely old negro saying, ''su-
gar's better to catch aies than vinegar We
did not intend to threaten or brighten any
body into q support Of the Radical ticket; but
did intend to place before our Virginia
readers few reasons to show that the sue
cess Of their pet scheme depends, In grca,
measure, upon the manner In which II Is
urged. In other words, we insist that SO
long as II Is under the control Of the politi cal
opponents Of the dominant party in Congress
the chances for Its success are not so good as
they would DO under opposite circumstances,
We further insist that this Is human nature
the same kind, TOO, that we find in every city
and hamlet in the South-wherein the people
psironize old established merchants and ex'
Confederate friends in preference to "North'
ern emigrants," foreigners" 'carpet-bag'
gers" or whatever else you may choose to
call them. We repeat that Maine and Wis
consin, being indirectly interested in the
canal project as great national
enterprise, are not likely to take q
direct interest In 1t through their
representatives In Congress so long as they
know positively that 1t is under the control
of q State in which the political freedom Of
which they boast does not exist. Further, as
long rs the Wing and the class 1t represents
indulge in their customary cpithets and de-
nunciation Of the dominant party distrusi
will exist which would not obtain II Radical
rule" prevailed in the State. To be more ex
plicit, such corporation as the canal com
pany promises to be will never be allowed tc
exert the mighty political influence which II
would naturally WELD for the establishment
OF sham Conservative supremacy in thii
country.
We do not wish to lie understood by this to
reflect upon the character Of any Of the Off
GERS of the company. They are pure and
immaculate, as Virginia capitalists Away,
are. They would not, under any circum
stances, stoop to defle themselves in tn,
dirty pool of politics, but they might dis
charge the first "nigger' In their employ
who voted the Radical ticket. We hav,
known such things Of immaculate gen
tlcmen.
80 far as the canal Is concerned We beliey,
that the citizens Of Goocbland, for instance
are more directly interested In ils success
than those Of Halifax, and that the hullaba
loo now kicked up over 1t as Slate measure
Is oil moonshine, Indirectly the advantage
to the general commercial interests Of the
State which would follow Its completion
would benefit every man within Its borders,
and It is probable that natural and laudable
State pride will induce them oil to support
It Us measure Of public good. The same
can be said Of 1t as national question, with
the addition that the great Northwest Is not
dependent upon Richmond as an outlet for Its
grain products. And right here we reach q
GROWING point in the argument to induce
our Virginia friends to abstain from their
mistreatment Of the leaders Of the dominant
party, and to place themselves more
thoroughly In accord with the national Ad-
3. ministraiion. II Is to be found In the fact
that Virginia has competitors In the field,
who are as willing as she Is that the
canal should be built through their
territory, and who are even now In
full accord with the powers that be. So 1t Is
evident that q canal might DO built which
would furnish another outlet to the ocean
than the one indicated by the great Virginia
project. We do not ''insult" any one by In
sinuating that they are Influenced either by
partisan or personal motives when we make
this declaration, and we arc still less inclined
to insult the people Of Virginia by insinuating,
as the Wing does, that they are so dumb as
not to be able to appreciate the most COM
mon motives Of humanity.
''But," says the Wing "all we ask of him
president Grant, and Of Congress Ia to take
that project upon lis merits, not as Vir-
gipia measure, but as great national meas
,ire, and when they have adopted 1t they will
n have claim upon the good will Of our peo-
pie" VIII they, forsoothl And who Ia au-
thorized to promise recognition by 'our
b, people" Of this clalml Experience has taught
llins that tour people" are ingrates; that they
. nave not appreciated the lcnlency OF pardon
Tor political offences, OF the non-confscation
,isf their forfeited estates, and that they have
returned hatred OF the bit.erest kind for the
most gracious offers OF friendship. That kind
Of soit-soap - not marketable Just now, Mr..
Wig, and we repel your attempt to bride us
with scorn. Hopey-phrased as your offer, in
behalf Of ''our people, is, Is nothing but a
\ bubble, and one that we did not expect would
!. 10 offered by q leading journal of ian honest
OLD Commonwealth
isssWhutever tho Wing may say about the
, eo,wsd vote Of the sists, We repeat that II