The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-28
EvENG. JUNE IS. 1873


Inc petersburg Appeal ID u llappy HAL,
or rather two of 'em. Happiness is gen.
eric to both editors and they are not
only generically happy, but philologically
so. But we can conceive how they
would be perfectly miserable; how
their occupation as journalists would
be entirely gone. If the word |
"carpet-bagger" were knocked out of
the slang dictionary, of all men they would |
be the most miserable. Their definitIonal |
renown would cease, and their editorial |
glory go trailing into embryonic woodbine.
Our greatest delight is to see them thrive, |
flourish, and grow fat on this word. 1t Is
their mut,m IN pa1r0, their c pt"1buS |
unum, their plus alOGs, then plus mettis, and |
their surplus everything. What they would
do without it, it is impossible for us to
imagine, and we won't try.
But that journal wants US to satisfy our
defntional curiosity about the word, by a
resort to our "truly loyal friend, MIR.
Hale" who recently presided over the
Maine Republican state convention. We
have not the slightest objection to doing SO,
if our friends of The Appeal will accom-
pany us and satisfy themselves little on
the head Of "honest elections" These are
a good deal more needed in Virginia than
" carpet-baggers, salary-grabbers,"
"ballot-box smashers," or any similar
class we can think of. Honest
elections" are Virginia's great need, as
they are Lousiana's. Bat that we shall
get them through such one-sided and thor
oughly partisan machinery as the Conser-
vatives have vouchsafed Us in this state,
is to expect the sky to fall and the moon
to turn into invisible green cheese at its
next quarter. Honest elections will never
come through dishonest channels, any
more than true patriotism will grow
on dsreputable partisan stem. Honesty
has an open face, square look, and
manly, cOnliding brow. 1t scorns dupllc-
ity, as well as the taking of mean party
advantage. If it has 4 vote to count, it
cares not how much inspection there may
be, or how closely the world may scrulmiZc.
Honesty fears not the open day. 1t acts
openly and abovc-board. 1t is only its
counterfeit preseELment that fears the light ;
that seeks to count votes behind a screen,
and without disnterested witness.
But carpet-baggery is the thing we are
after. What is it? The Appeal don't
answer; it only refers us to an authority
down in Maine. We want Virginia def
nition--one according to the fitness and
nicely of Virginia scholarship COM
ing from those who have "the whole art
and mystery of editing" newspaper, and
coming words to their right uses. If The
Appeal can't give it US, who can? We
despair of going further. The pathological
temple is barred to all approach, save only
through the scholarly Appeal, which is our
sole Mecca of definitional worship, if not our
entire Pickwick Papers" ana explanatory
glory. Wewant the definition Of carpet
baggery" in true Appealian sense and
from a true Aprealian point of view.
We had supposed it had fixed and gen.
eric Specification, and applied to those only
who came to the South with no other
effects than carpet-bag, and who had nc
other mission here than to get federal Of
flee Or an Office at the hands ofnegroes. This
has been the accepted Specification in most
sections of the country, and has been WIS.,
tied with as many expressions Of contempt
by us as the next man. But where is the
"carpet-bagger" in Virginia, according to
this defntional distinction? We have
been here nearly two years, and have
searched in vain to find one, except in some
very subordinate clerkship, which no COM
posltor on The Appeal would care to accept
for an hour. We like accuracy Of delini'
ton in all controversies, and, above all, i'll
those that are pleasantly editorial. Wher
we pelt man with verbal distinctions, We
purpose that he shall know what We
mean; and when we receive peltinl
back we want to know what the pelte
means. Editorial courtesy demands a!
much as this, to say the least. The APP
peal will hardly deny so plain and palpabl'
requirement.
But if our Petersburg neighbor woulC
extend the definitiOnal Sense OF carpet
baggery" to the point of including all thos
who come to Virginia and do not vote tn
Conservative ticket, we accept the designa
ton at once as one Of honor and not n
proach and precisely here is where W
want to stick the defnitiona" pin, so a
know when we are spoken of contemptu
ously, and when with respect and honor
Our desire in this respect is surely lartds
Bile one, and it is in the power Of TIL
Appeal to crafty it.
In THE South and extreme West tl
naners have been cnmnlaininr Cor som