National Republican., 1873-05-28
A WORD OF ADVICE TO VIRGINIA RE.
PUBLICANS.

PUBL1CANS.
The Richmond Wing, aided by the Peters,
buTglAppedl and the combined elements Of
the sham Conservative strength Of Virginia,
denounccs Mr.. Ruffner State superintendent
II schools, for an alleged intention to intro
duco the question Of free schools into the
coming political campaign, and argues that
educational questions should not be allowed
to enter Into politics. The "old-timc" poll
tics Of the South had but little to do with
educational mattcrs-thc less the better the
leaders were satisfied; but matters have
changed. We care not whether Mr.. Rufner
has made the effort with which he Is charged
or not; II he has we arc glad Of It. The
sooner he does make II the better II will be
for his people. II Is q significant fact, how
ever, AMI one which directly interests every
poor man, woman and child In the State,
white oolorod, that the Conservatives, on
such slight proyocatlon, instantly and with
such great unanlmity, array themselves IN
opposition to the discussion Of this question.
It Is their boast that they have adopted the
progressive and civilized ideas Of the
North, and have established successful
tree-school system for the benefit Of the
poorer classes. II these be true, why do
they object to discussion Of the merits
Of their systeml But II Is not true, as we
have repeatedly proven by statistics obtained
from trustworthy and official sources. The
desire to keep the people ignorant on this
subject Is the motive Of their present attl
tude. We Insist that our friends Of the Re-
publican party In Virginia shall pay heed to
this fact and proceed to expose the false
hoods Of their opponents. Such an exposure
will do them no harm, for they have not had
the management Of the State administration,
and, while II may be disgrace to the Com
monwealth, 1t will prove that the Conserva-
tiyes never have done and never will do any
thing honorably and conscientlously for the
education Of the masses. This Is more i'm
portant question, so far as the true interests
Of the State are concerned, than anything
pertaining to railroad interests or tlde-water
navigation. The intelligence OF the people
once established, such internal Improvements
follow as a natural consequence. Now that
the Conservatives have made record against
II, through their acknowledged organs, let
the Republicans build platform for the
campaign the chief plank Of which shall be
llNN cNnOOlS uuu luI llJ lnuobtbs
Now THAT TIE SUMNER HEATS have fairly
set In upon US we arc reminded OF the amia-
bic and playful banter Of our Democratic CO.
temporaries, In which they indulge every sum-
mer, about the Presidents occasional absence
from the city. II that unfortunate citizen of
the United States, who Is quietly trusted to
mind his own and the public business by oil
except q few discontinued snarlcyows, who
would die Of dry-rot II they did not fret,
should take his instructions from his enemies
instead Of obeylng the laws Of health and the
dictates Of his own common sense, he would
be In most depl0rable prcdicament. lie
would have TO stay In Washington the whole
year round and live in house which is un-
healthful In summer and inconycnlent OF all
times. The President ought to bo furnished
house separate from his office; but as the
people decline 10 do that, he has bought one
at Long Branch where he can live In some
comfort, and the distance from Washington
Is very little, II any. hindrance TO business.
The indignant parties who do the heavy
virtue business for the entire country would
not only lock the President into dllapldated
old barn, which Is almost entirely devoted to
offices and ceremonial rooms, but would have
him live like green grocer, In the second
story OF his shop. The petty malice Of these
scribblers is simply contemplate, but that
gives no encouragement that we shall net
have aplenty Of It for the coming season.
|
THE PROPOSITION before the Legislature
TO appropriate 200 for the purchase of a
site for u school In the Third district and
S40, 900 for the erection Of q schoOl-houso In
the Second district, the amount to be paid
out Of the school fund, will be very disastrous
10 the interests Of all our schools. A specific
sum will be appropriated for the payment Of
teachers and expenses Of schools. II this
ESQ, 900 Is taken out Of the school fund there
must Inevitably be deficiency, and during
portion of tho year the teachers will be kept
out Of their salaries. This should also apply
to the teacher Of the normal school, an office
which pending bill proposes to create.
CERTAIN JOURNALS IN VIRGINIA object to
the REPUBLICAS's comncnts on political af.
fairs In the Old Dominion on the ground that
a Washington newspaper has no right to lin
teriore" in State politics. We have no
apology to make, but willingly explain that
our rapidly increasing circulation In Nir-
ginla proves the acceptabllity Of our COM
ments to numbers Of readers In the State.
We hold 1t TO be the duty OF an Intelligent
newspaper TO discuss current questions OF the
day, even II they arise from circumstances
that may happen In Lynchbnrg or 81. Peters
burg. But VIC arc directly interested IN The