The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-21
HARRIsONBURG, October l5.


10 The Editor Of The State Journal. Psi
The announcement Of Republican meet
ing in the United States courthouse,
brought together large crowd last night,
and the building was filled to its utmost
capacity. About three-fourths of the aud
fence were whites, and among them was 10
be seen very full representation Of the
bar of the Valley, from Lexington to VIM
chester. The meeting was called to order
by Colonel A. s. Gray, upon whose nomi-
ton, Major John A. Hartman, of Staunton,
was elected to preside. On taking the
chair, Mr.. Hartman made a few pertinent
remarks, saying that Augusta would be
creditably heard from in November, and
cast largely increased Republican vote.
Responsive to loud calls, Colonel w. T.
Early, of Charlottesville, came forward
and addressed the meeting in speech full
of sound vigor, logical thought, impas-
traced the history of the so-called Con-
sentative party, and showed by its frequent
change of position, its constant desertion
Of principles, and its nomination of the
most diverse leaders from selfish policy,
that it was governed and actuated solely by
greed Of power and lust of office. To
Slle'u tuelH lFoH JIG puullC Upiliiou Vi Iuc
nation, they had adopted at Richmond
platform like that of 1869, essentially
Republican In its character, and then
practically in the press and on the ros-
trum deserted it, and resort TO the most
despicable and violent appeals to passion
and prejudice. Conservative! They were
conservative in nothing. Their leaders
were original secessionists of the most ex-
IL. aAa h1a a&o1 - l.o,.,
repentance. They were violent before the
war, during the war, and ever since the
war. They publicly proclaimed then
hatred of the government of the
north and its people, of their colored
fellow-citizens, and of every white native
citizen who dared to assert his independ-
ence of thought and spirit. They had
squandered the assets of the state, they
had unwisely and unjustly taxed the peo-
pie, they had legislated for classes and
monopolies, they had grudgingly and inn
perfectly carried out the free school sys-
tenn as far as forced by Republican con-
stitution increased the state debt in eva
sion of the provisions of that constitution,
and had nearly ruined the credit of the
state. They had worshipped Greeley, Sum-
ner and Banks, after abusing them all their
lives. They had slandered Grant unmer-
cifully last fall, and pretended to worship
him and his power after the Republicans
had reelected him. They would fall
down and worship toad for power, place,
and profit. The people would vote for
Hughes, whose able utterances were the
most statesmanlike enunciated in the state /;
for Ramsdell, who had voluntarily chosen
Virginia for his home, and by his energy,
ability, and benevolence had made ten
blades of grass grow where but one grew
before, and for Fultz, whose legal emil
nence was unquestioned, and by placing
in power the Republican party, to put the
state in harmony with the nation and its
administration, and on the high road to
peace, progress, and prosperity.
Charles e. Haas, esq.,, prominent law
yer of Harrisonburg, Republican senate
rial canvasser, and delegate last August to
the Richmond convention, then addressed
his " Fellow citizens Of Rockingham, and
especially his late co-workers in the Con-
servatiye party" and gave his reasons for
cooperating with the Republican party Of
to-day; and very cogent were these reasons
and powerfully and eloquently given. Since
the Conservatives had taken Greeley, Sum
ncr, Banks and Schurz. and all the isms
luuL 10 lltfu DtlOESeu, ne uau Deeu search
ing for principles. They had tried to apollo.
gize for Mr.. Greeley, but nevertheless in
taking Greeley, they took also his princi-
Piles. In assuming Mr.. Greeley's political
principles and platform, wherein did they
differ from the Republicans, save in their
candidates? Have you observed how mar
row the line Of demarkatlon between Us
and the Republicans when We laid Mr..
Greeley in his grave, having taken his lsms
and killed him with our Conservatism
Then if we honestly and fairly took Mr.,
Greeley and his platform, wherein did we
differ from Republicans? Why did VIC
not honestly join the Republican party,
unless we were fighting for place and pow
er? What has transpred since to change
our principles? Republicanism is the same
everywhere, and you cannot separate the
Republicans or the Republicanism of Wis
ginia from that of Pennsylvania, Ohio or
the nation. IL is all part and parcel of
the same powerful, triumphant, progressive
party everywhere. Conservatives charge the
Republican party Of Virginia with being a
NEGRO party" Why? Not because Re-
publicans are negroes, but because negroes
are Republicans. Well, you can't blame
them. The Republican party gave the
negro MS lfetuou, ClllLeuSnlp, euuCaLlOn.
Did you assist in this work and cry, "God
speed to him You know you did not,
and that the negro would be ungrateful and
disregard his own best interests if he did
not follow faithfully, blindly, if you please,
the party that gave him these boons. But
you would be glad Of the negro vote if you
could get it. You tried to get it. The
Republicans succeeded where you failed.
and so you call their party NEGRO
party" This talk Of 'inegro party.n
"social equality" and negro SUI
premacy y is all nonsense and bosh.
gotten up for political effect, and you know
it. Social equality is an impessbility and
cannot be made or effected by legislation.
Neither race desires it. Every man is the
master of his own house and acts, and if
you walk uprightly and manfully your
selves and guard your own morals, you
need not be troubled about social equality.
Do our people suppose for one moment
that six negroes can rule ten white men ?
With the great preponderance of the white
vote in Virginia, it is the greatest absurditv
to talk of negro supremacy. 1t is only by
the completely of both the Democratic and |
Republican parties that this can be accom-
plished. You point to negro rule in South
Carolina, where the negroes have very
large majority. Like their masters, they
want power and office. Make them all
M. t, aud T. At. {,