The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-19
TUESDAY NOVEMBER A, 1878
TuE WANTS or VIRGINIA.

AS the gubernatorial canvass progresses,
and the popular mind is more and more
aroused. the indications of a signal defeat
Of the Bourbon party in Virginia are
becoming more evident on every hand. In
every part of the state from every quar-
ter and section of it-there Is evidence of
a steady and onward march to victory in
the Republican ranks. The canvassers are
everywhere doing their work well and
thoroughly. They are active, energetic,
hopeful, aggressive. But the most cheer
ing signs come from the people themselves
we mean the laboring, toiling, thinking
people--who not only listen attentively to
our speakers, but openly express their
sympathy with us and their determination
to think and act hereafter for themselves.
There is no boisterous excitement, no pre-
tentious demonstration on the contrary,
q thoughtful and business-like survey of
the situation which argues well for the
cause and the Republic.
1t is indeed q good and wholesome
evidence of better times and better
political status among the people ;
among the farmers, the laborers,
the merchants, the manufacturers-indee
in every branch of industrial occupation
to observe that truth, solid reflection, COM
mon sense, and manly independence, are
taking the place of subserviency in the
public mind; that the mass of Virginia
voters are determined no longer 10 be the
blind followers Of the blind. Rhetoric
has lost its power; defamation passes
unheeded; defamation has no charm ;
threats convey no terror for men
who mean work thorough work-in the
way of political regeneration in this state.
The Confederate flag has had its day.
The great masses of the people don't rally
around it any more. Glowing appeals to
do so are only so much wasted elocution ;
it falls upon listless ears. stirs no enthu.
siasm, awakens no slumbering fire. The
next war possesses no attractions for men
vino now seek stable government, with
peace, prosperity and happiness as its sub
stantial Accomplishments. Those once mis-
led in cause in which they lost their all.
by bravely following their Confederate
generals, want some higher evidences of
capacity and good leadership in the future
than the fading exploits of which they
should never boast. Lee and Stonewall
Jackson had boasted Of none of these
things. War ended with the former at
Appomattox, and with the latter when he
went down in glory on the red field OF
strife Brave men never revive !" lost
cluses," nor try to build regulations on
ruined homes, impoverished families,
widows reduced to pennry, orphans to
starvation, and society to disastrous and i'll
starred emergence. Virginia, dismantled of
her greatness and power stripped Of her
ancient glory, prosperity, and happiness
is no pedestal on which to place brilliant
reputation. Men whoare great and glori-
Gus in spite of the evil their inconsiderate
acts have wrought may have something
whereof to boast; but the evil itself pre-.
senis very poor record, and any Boosting
of it only makes its poverty the more
glazing. bs
It is stable government. solid industrial
improvements, general and deep-laid
foundations of prosperity, that the people
now want, and not high-sounding declama-
tons and burlesque representations of q
+" faded glory or Of cause that was lost
because it should never have been won.
The people who work, who think, who
have minds of their 0wn-who love their
state, whether native or adopted who have
national pride reaching beyond its bor-
ders, and who want to make Virginia as
great and glorious in the future as she
deservedly was in the past-are those
most ready to cast aside their prejudices
and act henceforth with the great party
of progress and substantial improve
ment in the state. It is these
who desire the success Of the Republican
party in November. They feel that
faded military glory and worn-out epaulcts
will not dig out the wealth that lies con-
cealed in our mountains and invites to cul-
ture in our soil. They feel that the pros
perity of the state and the best welfare and
happiness of all her sons and daughters,
depend ON the defeat Of the Bourbon party
of Virginia-the party to whose boosted
pretensions and ill-starred teachings in the
past are attributed all the evils that now
afflict us. g
They want no more Governor Wake
fresh from the camp of Butler, no more
Kempers big with the issues of the next
war, no more blind leaders leading the
blind, no more "lost causes" galvanized
into CHASTITY and hideons life; they
want peace, happiness, prosperity,
and assured stability OF government
as guarantees for the future. In other
words, they want such men as Hughes.
Ramsdell, and Fultz to come to the front,
while Walker, Kemper, Daniel ct id oane,
shall becomingly, il not gracefully, step to |
the rear.