The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-30
The Two Parties and the Coming
(N.nna

Canvass.
We do not deny that the Radical party is a
strong party in the State, nor that it exhibited
more strength than the Conservative party at
the election last November; and, taking all
things together, we do not wonder that the Rad
zeal leaders should be looking more hopefully
than heretofore TO the coming contest for the
offices of the Commonwealth Enquirer
The Enquirer of this morning has an
able and well-consdered article (well-con-
sidered, we mean, from its own party
outlook on the subject of the two
political parties in the state, and the
relative strength of their columns
as confronting each other in their present
line Of battle. A, marked feature in the
editorial is the calmness and precision with
which the writer looks over the entire field.
1t is happily devoid of partisan bluster, and
has no word that can inspire with lala-
cious hope, OF give encouragement beyond
a true purpose and intent to fight great
impending battle, and win by sheer force
and pluck Of numbers. We like this
spirit, and wish only to inspire our own
ranks with like courage and resolution.
Nothing is more fatal on the eve Of
great battle than an overweening confidence.
in numbers. The mighty army Of Xerxes
was crushed at Thermopyle by few hum
dred resolute Greeks; but Mardonius,
with only fraction in numbers of the
mighty army reduced Greece to the verge of
despairing hope. This historic example is
not alone lesson to The Enquirer; it is
one we can take to ourselves. We have
the prestige of victory in our favor, and
many OF our people imagine we have the
superiority in numbers. Even our coLtem-
porary comedies that we have a right to
expect victory from the staggering
blow that was dealt the Democracy last
fall. 1t also admits that we have much
to expect from the general opathy
hitherto existing in the Conservative
ranks, if not from that actually existing at
the present time. But we place no reliance
on any Of these conditional advantages.
We know that the contest must be close
one. and, as the Conservative party has the
advantage of position, we must wrest a
victory from their hands. A drawn battle
with us is defeat. Our men have got to
charge on their position and carry it in a
hand to hand fight. All the state Offices,
and lines of approach, including the coun-
tv court rihe-pits, are in their hands.
They will yield nothing but to the stub
born blows that shall fall on official pates
everywhere, and every blow that does not
palpably "tell " on one of these pates
might as we'll be a sabre-slash in the air.
To bring men enthusiastically up to such a
fight as this, it is necessary to have not
only consummate generalship, but leader
in whom all shall conllde, and for whose
success all shall be inspired, while he per-
sonally presses to the forefront of the
battle himself. Any element Of weak
ness in leader will be fatal in
such a decisive struggle. He should
be the unanimous choice Of the party in
army of recraits by which we ultimately
expect to sweep the field. This happy
" contingent" is to come in as a reserved
force only !; and unless we are confident
that we can sweep the field without them.
we must look well to the motives that shall
prompt their action iB the decisive moment
of the struggle. Any spirit Of detection, from
whatever motive it may spring, will be
fatal to us, and leave the enemy, however
shattered and broken, still in his powerfully
entrenched position, as proudly defiant as
ever, and without single laurel Of victory
snatched from his relentless clutch.
This is our dispassionate view of the
situation. We regard Republican victory
certain with the conditional arrange
ments we have named fully perfected and
carried out in advance. We believe that
hundreds and thousands in the State who
have not yet committed themselves to the
fortunes of the Republican party in Virginia,
are waiting and looking with intense anxiety
to our action at Lynchburg. in the hope
that way may be opened for them to dash
the cup Of political bitterness they so re-
luctantly tasted -four years ago aside, and
henceforth ally themselves with party Of
true and substantial progress in Virginia !;
with party that gladly welcomes the in
telligence, strength and industry of the
state into its ranks. and that cannot be
charged with slamming the door in the
face of those upon whose cooperation our
success must depend. All things for the
cause when such powerful motives prompt
us TO win.