The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-20
But aSca,awap,, replies. s.Tbere womb

Dut"ocaiaWag" replies "Jhere would
be no principle in nominating Conserva-
tive ; policy would be the ruling motive"
This is still 'harping on my daughter !"
for no one has thought Of nominating a
Conservative. We want man who has
not only acted with us heretofore, but who
shall be pledged to act with us hereafter
and we shall be satisfied with none other.
We have never yet heard that age
improved politicians, although it may
sometimes improve patriots as it
improves wine; but we have not
much choice between politician
born into the faith of Republicanism six
months ago, and one so born six years ago.
If the former was born into the true faith
out of his own inner consciousness of right
and duty, we should have as much faith in
him as if his judgment had been carried by
the last argument Of the kings-the ultima
ratione Of desolating war. The man we
want above all others at the head of our
ticket, is the one who can win us a social
peace in Virginia who can carry the vote
of General Grant as given last fall and win
over majority of those who did not vote,
but emphatically repudiated the action of
the Conservative party. If "Scalawag"
believes that any one of the gentlemen he
has named can do this, he has faith that
builds on mustard seed, and not on the
motives that actuate men and underlie
human action. We recognize their
superior worth and commanding
abilities, and would be as proud
to see them honored by Vireinians as the
next man. But the motives that govern
the individual are one thing, and those
which govern men in masses are quite an
other, as he who sneers at policy in politi-
cal warfare, while ostentatiously parading
principle on the house-tops, will be very
likely to find out in the end.
But" Scalawag" assures us that there is
little, if any disposition among Republic
cans, to take an outside man for any place
on the ticket. In this we k,,o,p he is mis-
taken, as we are confident he is when he
seeks to belittle our victory last fall by de-
claring that there were not thousand votes
secured by General Grant outside of our
own party strength in the state. Why,
four years ago the Conservatives carried
the state by ever eighteen thou
sand majority. Where has that
majority gone to-? Since that time we
have lost ten votes by removals from the
state to the Conservatives one. Since last
November even, over five thousand colored
voters have left the state, in squads of
workingmen going north, south and west,
under the charge of agents employing
them and similar exodus had been
going on long before the late presidential
election. The last census shows the white
population of the state to be two hundred
thousand more than the colored /; and the
disparity is beyond all doubt much greater
to-day. If what Scalawag' says, then,
be true, that Republicans want no white
recruits but such as shall come in to occupy
the place of neophytes, it is the insanest
party that ever lifted head above ground.
We know it to be untrue, and shall vindi-
cate the party from any such aspe1sion.
Pray who are the neophytes-the "new
converts"-to' the Republican party in this
state? Does even the patent of "Scala-
wag's" Republicanism date back of Apo
mattox Courthouse? 1t is simply absurd
to demand a show of Republican patents
in Virginia, to ascertain which bears priori-
ty of date; and when g Scalawag" talks
about consolidating and holding our own
party votes on the strength ofveteran SER
vice in the ranks, it must provoke smile
even on his own grave face. q, 1,
But our veteran in the seryicev
objects to taking up "a trimmer from
among the doubtful" Who has de-
manded that he should? He talks of
the bat in the battle of the beasts and
birds, and wants to know if the victorious
party made the bat their commander-in-
chief. Not as the fable runs. But had
the bat furnished the sinews of war,
and given the browning touch to the
ENTHUSIASTICALLY deciding the battle in
their favor-they would have been set
of ill-odored birds had they not generously
conferred the laurel. As to the dog that
snatched at the shadow and lost the sub
stance, we can only say that he
xyould ho N 1orr whit a-l,rarad dor ,yho