The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-03
ELECTIoN-DAY:
TUESDAY NOVEMBER A, 1878.
rnEAppRoACHrNa ELECTION.

Never IN the history of this state was
there greater or more sacred duty COM
mitted to any party than that which now
rests upon the Republicans of Virginia.
They are called upon not simply to elect
state ticket of their own, but to discharge
another and more important duty--to
vindicate the constitutional guarantees of
our people, make good their rights before
the law, and stay the tide of tyrannical
asperity and bitterness which would
everywhere ostracise and crush out an
Independent Virginia citizenship.
1t is the declared purpose Of the Con-
servative party of Virginia to make this
election test Of that party exclusiveness
which shall shut out all from participa-
ton IN our state affairs who do not come
up to the Bourbon standard of citizenship,
which is expressed in the popular war-cry
Of "Virginians to rule Virginia. They
would bar the doors not simply against the
colored man, but against all those who are
not Of Virginia birth, and who have not
indicated their right to citizenship by an
acceptable secession record, such as Gem
eral Kemper, Colonel Withers, and Mr.. r..
T. Daniel can effectually boast.
This is the attitude of the Conservative
party, and these are the acts of Punic
faith which it would justify. -Four
years ago none but mailman from the
insanest Virginia retreat would have sup
posed them capable Of taking the position
they now do-one that violates every
pledge they have made in the past, and
sets aside every guarantee of liberty
secured to the once enslaved colored man
of the state. With such issues before US,
and such responsibility resting upon us, it
is no time for Republicans to hesitate or
falter. A proud and enviable distinction
awaits US if we but do our duty as men
and lreemen. The Republican party is
now having q hearing before the people of
Virginia. With all their pretended fastidi-
BUSINESS of principle and exclusiveness O:
ciiyalry, the Conservatives, absurdly So
called, dare not deny us this hearing. Their
speakers meet us on the hastings, divide
time, and appeal to the people for exclu-
sive political support. Were the 1.-THE OF
what they say of us true, they would not
do this, and the people must see they
would not. All that we have to do is to
appeal to their reason and Judgment,
sharply define the issues, and vigorously
and theoretically press them home upon
the people. This our speakers are doing,
especially the candidates upon our ticket,
who everywhere make a most favorable
impression upon the public mind.
But three things are essential to enable
us to accomplish grand triumph before
the people: The first is WORK the second
is WORK and the third is WORK! Let
every Republican in the state remember
that the aim and object of his party is to
preserve the Federal Union and the rights
of the states .unimpaired and let the
sacredness Of this great trust inspire in
each breast zeal commensurate with the
task to be accomplished. The great alter
native issue is, the Constitution and Union
as it is, or return to those revolutionary
notions and theories which would have
destroyed both together in the mad race
for sectional ascendancy which the Vir-
ginia Bourbons would again revive.
Republicans! the political skies are bright
ening; the dayspring is deepening into
view! Let us fling out the old constitu-
tional banner, with star for every state
and state for every star; and battling for
the constitution as it is, and the glorious
old Union as 1t should be, we shall achieve
the proudest victory yet chronicled in the
history Of the Old Dominion.