The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-18
evening state Saltrnal.
I.otiers From The PeOpIe-A Sensible
-. COnSerVatiye.

Letters From The PeOpIe--A SsnsibI,
Conservative.
To The Editor Of The State Journal:
Please indulge me in presenting to YOU
readers few items of my political enperf
eRce.
have been national Democrat and an
now Virginia Conservative, with strong
national sympathies, but am becoming
little disguised with our platform -'Oppo
sition to Rad'caism." Nothing to be said
or done in regard to our PROSTATE school
interests, nothing of taxation or of re.
trenchment, nothing about railroads, moth.
ing OF cons titutional amendments, nothing
to advance our farming, manufacturing or
trading interests, nothing whatever but fear
and trembling lest the negroes should get
IN power. And so we are neither to eat
the hay ourselves nor suffer the OK to eat
it. and our old party hacks are perpetually
to ring their appeals to this low prejudice
of color against color and race against
race.
In common with the masses of the Con-
sentative party | have been taking lessons
in Republicanism. In 1869 we voted for a
Republican for governor, universal am
nesty and impartial suffrage" Last No
vember we swallowed Mr.. Greeley and his
Republican doctrines, lauding him as the
best friend of the negro but now we are
expected to vote solidly against the negro,
ignoring all other issues. Honest Old Horace
would hardly approve of such course of
living. The Republican party is now firmly
established as the great national American
party; all efforts to overthrow it have been
futile. ! think it would be part of wisdom
and prudence in us now to act in accord
with this national party. There are no
great issues of principle dividing the Ame-
rican people. II the great important mat
ter is to keep the negroes in check, we
can do that more effectually in the Repub-
lican party than outside of it. Let us 90
over and strengthen the white element in
the Republican ranks.
re we hope for congressional favors we
can only get them through the instrument
tahty of friendly Republicans, and let us
make them all our friends by this conces-
sion. Concessions should come from both
points Of the compass. 70 gain friends we
must show ourselves friendly. We want
the great central water line completed we
want aid, and ought to have it, IN educating
our negro voters. 1t was enough for the
south to lose their money value, without
being compelled to bear alone the burden
OF their education. We are also entitled
to our share of the public lands for the
endowment OF our common schools,
Some would even ask aid in the matter of
our state finances. But to array ourselves
in political hostility to the Federal admin
istration, we could not with the same
propriety ask these favors.
There is, or should be, progress in politi-
cal opinion, as in everything else, and as
one event necessitates another, so the action
OF parties last year governs, TO certain
extent, the course of parties this year. In
the last presidential election the Conserva-
tives and Democrats endorsed by their
votes all the essential principles of the Re-
publican party. From unity of senti-
ment there can be but one more step to
united action. Shall we hesitate to take
that next and all important step merely
from feeling and prejudice. Nay, verify,
but rather let us aspire to that more exal-
ted standard of heroism that arises superior
to passion and prejudice. When we all
voted for Greedy and were defeated, it was
the second great Appomattox surrender.
Where is the necessity for keeping up a
mere guerilla warfare? Let us disband
our organization and opposition, and Re-
publicans will cease to fight US; aye, their
army will be disbanded when there is no
longer any necessity for their keeping the
field. The only effect of Opposition to
Radicalism' is to keep the Radical element
10 the Republican party alive. And SO
long as we continue to array ourselves
against the negro, whether we mean him any
harm or not, the more radical portion of
the party in power will continue to encourage
the negroes of the south in their political
aspirations, and those who now hold the
Ieins Of government will continue to hold
them, however corruptly. 1t may be easier
10 surrender arms than to give up prelude
ces, but Virginians have proved themselves
capable Of superior courage, and they are
as noble in moral as in physical heroism.
In the approaching gubernatorial struggle
let Virginia lead the van in the great work
of reconciliation. Let us enter heartily
into the Republican movement. Go in
strong enough to neutralize the injurious
tendency of the negro element, and strive
to put down official corruption by support
ing the best men for office.
A CONSERVATIVE.