The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-18

done its softening work there, talk to your
neighbors about it when you reach your
| homes.
Such are 10 be some of the fruits of the
/ completion of the water-line.
But how shall we secure itsoompletion
The state, blasted in her financial power by
the late war, and burd.ned already by a
forty million debt, is wholly unable to
carry on the work, and if she could
lind company with the amplest means to
complete it, she could never consent to
prostitute the grand commercial highway
of the nation, by turning it over 10 a pri.
vate corporation or monopoly.
10 can neUer be completed, bit by The
means ofMe Federal government, and in
that aoay zoe can hare Il completed If zoe acill
pursue the policy of common sense.
| The Republican party, including P,es-
dent Grant and many of its members of
congress, is to very considerable extent
committed to our water-line, as one Of the
avenues Of cheap transportation for the
country. A committee of congress, mostly
Republican, has actually reported bill
appropriating eight millions Of dollars, to
begin with, with a mastery argument in
favor of the enterprise. This party, too,
| is the party of progress, OF liberal ideas, of
industrial developments, of railroads and
canals, and of capacious nationality. 1t
is just the party for US at this vital juno
ture in our affairs. IL has both the dispose
ton and the power to helpsus in our great
extremity. IL can give us commerce, and
| it will. 1t can give us busy manufactures,
and it will, If we will ally ourselves with
it, and help it while it helps US in its on
ward march to an expanded and honorable
nationality.
This alliance is denounced in advance as
bribery. 1t is (say the Conservatives q
taking Of the canal for votes to be given.
Admit it. II is, as Ihaye said once before,
but "a Unsuitable and amicable reciproci-
ty;" and must say, we buy the canal
very cheap at that. Bribery implies cor
ruption, but is there any corruption in sup
porting party that is doing all it can to
advance our highest special interests, and
that is at the same time administering the
government for us with ability and wis
dom? IL it be bribery, warn gentlemen
that there will be a very army of bribed
men at the polls in November. But if
those who make this suggestion Of bribery
will consult Blackstone's Commentaries for
the definition Of bribery, their disturbed
consciences will be speedily put at ease.
But it is said that by this sympathy with
the Republican party we give ascendancy
in the state government to the negro and
the carpet-bagger. T6 I
If that be the result, whose fault will it
be but of those-the Conservatives them
selyes-who, by threatening to put under
the ban and regard infamous every white
man who shall vote on the same side with
the negro, have consolidated the colored
people in self defence in one solid mass,
against the white men2 Will not their in
tolerance toward the colored race and its
white friends, this drawing the line Of color,
make the colored people cling the more
closely TO the carpet-bagger?
1t is true that in South Carolina and Lou
isiana the public debt was largely increased
under colored rule; but does it follow that
such will be the case in Virginia? Have
we not security against it in the provision
of our state constitution, which forbids an
increase of the state debt? al
For one | have no such fear, and trust
that my manhood will enable me to brook
the anathemas that the Conservative press
Of the state are hurting against every white
man Of the state who shall not support the
Conservative nominees. 1t is not policy,
either now or for the future, to draw the
line of color. 1t will bring mischief to the
highest interests of the state, and | will
endeavor 70 show it.
The national sentiment of the people Of
the United States has, with extraordinary
unanimity and determination, decreed
the legal and political equality of
the colored race, and has incorpo-
rated it into our institutions by dellbe-
rate constitutional amendment. No right
shall be denied or abridged. on account Of
race or color. This item in the creed of
the Republican party is its especial boast,
its most cherished dogma, and can never
be annihilated but by revolution The
people of the United States will fight for it,
will enforce it, if need be, by all the power
of the government.
Now, with what face can we go for fay, r.
to congress cherishing this principle as
fundamental and of peculiar sanctty, and
Immediately after draw line of color, and
denounce as Infamous Every white citizen,
too, who refuses to draw it?
Congress, the legislative representative of
the Republican party, will say to US,
a"9ou are drawing line which we dare
not draw; you are making distinction
on account of race and color which we
dare not make. Your harsh, cruel denun-
citation of all the white men who vote
with the negro, operates as and intimi-
dation to the colcred voters and to the
white, and is in violation Of the spirit of
our enforcement acts designed to make the
ballot free. You seem to think that this
is still white mans government when it
is no longer such, but the government of
the black man and of the white man alike,
and if you do not accept this faith you
are not yet reconstructed, and must not
expect lavors of us until you are"
do not mean to say that Congress will
not on account of our recusancy, make APP
preparations for our water-line at its next
session; but this | do affirm, that, in my
judgement, if at the approaching election
we shxll put ourselves in cordial and
entire accord with congress, we shall slim
ulate the good feeling of that body
towards us, and much advance our chances
of succe $.
1t is said, too, we shall get our water
line from congress anyhow, and that
therefore we need not connect it in any
way with the politics of the coming cleo
tons.
We had better not ''lay this fattering
JUNCTION to our souls.o We must bear in
mind that other parties are competing for
the favor of Congress in reference TO
water-line appropriations. There is the
canal around the Falls of Niagara, work
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