The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-15
TUESDAY NOVEMBER A, 1878
THE COMING DAWN.

THE COMING DAWN.
Republicans Of Virginia! the political
skies are Frightening. The day-spring is in
the east; the dawn is near. The news that
comes up 10 us from all sections of the
state where the canvass is now progressing,
IL of the most cheering character. The signs
are not few, but many. They do not come
from the mere attendance Of the laboring
white men upon our meetings, but from
open sympathy and expression-the de-
clared expression on their part that they
have had enough of 6 Virginia Conserva-
tsm;" that in the future they shall act
with the party of progress and real
development, and let the party Of
dead issues" and of conservatism
that conserves nothing but the hates and
animosities of the past, slide. They the
Conservatives) are too much like those
kings and counsellors OF the earth which
built only desolate places for men to dwell
in. The Virginia Of their pride and boast
is that which, in material prosperity and
grandeur, went back from the very front
rank Of states to the humiliating place now
occupied by her people. Fear already com.
eth upon them, and trembling, which
maketh all their bones to shake. Their
iniquity has been thoroughly weighed,
and the calamity which shall come upon
them. laid in the balances. The stalwart
white laborers of Virginia no longer heed
their counsel, and the colored laborers
have been driven from them, en- masse, by
the breath of their hate.
Such is the condition of our opponents,
and such the attitude of the laboring hosts
in respect to them. They are to-day
party without principles without single
vitalizing aim with which to animate POI
litical canvass. Only the epaulets of a
"lost cause,' and the broken symbols of a
"dead conlederacy," are vouchsafed to the
people as incentives to stir their hope
and inspire their enthusiasm. There is no
life, no fire, no animation whatever in their
canvass. Their speeches fall as lead upon
the people, except as they reach the ears
OF those who hate the negro, despise the
Yankee, and deem the carpet-bagger the
greatest affection upon the earth. These
thow up their caps and shout. The more
thoughtful men, however. are everywhere
grave and silent. "Where is this thing to
end-where is prosperity to begin ?" is the
anxious inquiry they PROFOUND to them
selves. They may admire General Kemper
and Colonel Withers for their course DUR
ing the war, but they want to see a
manlier course in them now than that of
asking pardon for their treason and then
abusing Mrs. Squeers, whose spoon they
licked The glory of epaulets and past
records are not things to build up the
waste places of Virginia. This is self
evident proposition to the thoughtful men
of the state; and they listen in silence at
Conservative meetings, and not unfrequent-
ly go away in disgust.
Is it surprising, then, when they go to
Republican meeting, that they should be,
as we have seen them, not only attentive
listeners, but willing recipients of the
truth as uttered They see in our candi-
dates for governor and acknowledgement
two men working earnestly for the material
growth and prosperity of the state. The
one they know is native Virginian the
other, Virginian from choice. They
are addressing themselves to the living
ISSUES OF the day--to the vital demands
and necessities of our people. Questions
OF internal improvement, agriculture,
manufactures, commerce, trade, enter into
Their estimate of the future greatness and
power OF the state, and are the themes
ON which they dilate. Played-out
epaulets and the symbols of lost
causes they fling aside, to grapple with
live questions, vital issues, and the imper-
alive needs of our people, Under the inspi.
ration OF their teachings grander fortune
IL seen opening up for the once noble
mother of states" Patriotism catches a
glow from their presence, and manler
sentiment, If not a truly national one, lifts
itself out of the heart of the occasion.
There is faith, hope, belief in common
destiny, trust in the future, and earnest
ness OF heart, soul, and purpose in their
appeals to the people, which make
far proiounder impression than all
the deelamatory utterances of passion
that can fall from lips imbued with no
higher or manlier sentiment than race
hates, sectional dislikes, and inherited ami
mosities. These fall out of their categories
of truth the moment that reason assumes
sway and passion loses its hold on the
moro imaginative intellect.
We regardsa Republican victory in Vir-
GINA as next to a moral certainty. AS
passion and prejudice give way to reason
and patriotism, this result is sure to come.
The grand moral effect of such n
victory will be felt from one end
OF the Union to the other. Il will
be as a bow Of promise and hope
spanning once more our political sky, IL
Will awaken, not our dead. but aur to,-