National Republican., 1873-09-11
THE VIRGINIA CONSERVATIVE PRESS.

NnB t&nS's
As the campaign progresses in virginia the
tone Of the Conservative press becomes every
day more and more intensely bitter ana, we
might add, disloyal. Instead Of discussing
the real issues Of the campaign, OF answering
the arguments OF the Republican journals in
the State and beyond Its borders, the Kcmper
organs an their columns with abuse Of every
Northern man who supports the Republican
ticket with fiery appeals to the supporters Of
the lost cause, with dcnunciation Of those
native virginians like the Hon. James +,
johnson, who have seen At to abandon the
party with which they have hitherto scted
The Virginia editors tolerate no difference o
opinion. Once Conservative, always Con
servative;' once soldier of the Confcderacy
always Q follower of the lost cause
The man or the men who have honestly
changed their political affiliations are branded
- false to their "klth and kin,
whatever that may mean. In addition 10 oil
this, the attempt Is made, and we regret to
say somewhat successfully, to array one race
against another; to persuade the white work
ingman that the aim and object OF the 'Glad.
icAls" and the ''carpet-baggers" Is to elevate
the NEGRO ut their expense, and reduce
them to sort of white slavery. II we may
judge from their own reports Of their own
meetings during the canvass, the Conserva.
tive speakers pursue the same tactics on the
stump. Wherever Kempcr makes Q speech
he never fails TO attempt to arouse the passions
Of the late war, to relums the fires Of the re
belliou, to tear open the wounds that the
North has been so long endeavoring to heal.
In every Conservative paper In the State,
from the Richmond Dispatch down, will be
found every day In the week the proof Of the
truth Of our assertions.
These gentlemen are the very worst enc
mixes Of their State; are doing more to keep
her In hor present condition OF backwardness
80 far as the development Of her Industrial
resources are concerned than all other agen-
cies aud causes combined. Since the present
campaign opened they have by their course
succeeded In creating a public sentiment In
the sections Of the Union to which Virginia
Is constantly appealing for aid and assistance
that cannot but have a disastrous influence
upon her immediate future. The Cincinnati
GaIette, for instance, In recent article, after
slluding TO the great possibilities OF the State,
says; "All Virginians profess to desire the
entrance Of Northern immigration and capi.
tal, but In too many cases they welcome new
eomers with reservations. To vote tho Re-
publican ticket or TO show any disposition to
raise the freedmen from their present igno-
rance and degradation are offences which the
Conservative Virginian cannot overlook.
He will deign TO patronize the newcomer
who sympathizes with the lost cause, and
fsyors q white mans government, but
he turns his back on oil others.
lie is not satisfied with social ostra-
clam, but would like to remodel the laws
% Is to make tho negro keep his phce !
Better poverty, torpor and retrogrsssion than
wealth and advancement purchased at the
expense Of exclusive white Sovereignty Our
excellent Western contemporary makes q mis-
take when 1t declares that all Virginlans
prefer 10 sec their State remain In Its present
eondition rather than surrender ''thc Idea OF
white mans government" Its opinion Is
no doubt based upon the fiery utterances In
tho Conservative press to which wo have ad-
yerted, but we know that these papers by no
means represent the unanimous white sent-
meut Of Virginia. There Is q large and grow
ing class who will be counted by the thousand
and ten thousand at the polls In November
who have no sympathy whatever with these
nree-ating editors, and who will utterly repu-
diate their teachings by voting for Colonel
Hughes and the Republican ticket.
When we consider the present needs and
neoessitiss Of Virginia the course OF these
Conservative organs s truly dcplora6le'
They know very well that the best interests
Of The State lle In the success Of the Rspubll-