National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-05


THE inaugural message of Governor KEN
per, of Virginia, sent to the Legislature last
week, appears to be a very fair, smooth, sorho-
.morical production, abounding In 'tglittering
generalities" and stsoft solder" The Gov
crnor is anxious for a harmonious reconstruc-
ton, politically, morally and socially, Of the
industrial, educational and financial institu-
lions of the State. He wants In these matters
the countenance and cooperation Of General
Grant and leading Republicans upon the plat
form of Conservatism. In Other words, he re-
commends conciliation, but, HE tho hard
headed old deacon, who was ANXIOUS to COM
promise difficulty with ono of his oo1aeaeaes
| in Christian spirit, he says:,"Yop must back
down; for can't" He supplicates Northern
capital and immigration, and laments the mis-
representations, as he is pleased to term the
narratives of the victims of persecution, ostra-
cism and plumber who have entered Virginia
| through the door of immigration with fecces
and have come forth shorn. With any guam
tity of native labor at hand for the Develop
ment of the resources of the State, he harps
upon the immensely and grandeur of those re-
sources for the purpose of cnticing foreign cap
ital and labor, instead of dcvo.ing his energies
to the education, elevation and utilization of
that already upon the soil. If he would pro-
duce the same results from colored labor
which he dreams would flow from that
he desires to see imported, he must
learn to treat Il in like manner.
He should not forget that # is the
labor of the Commonwealth which pays the
taxes, the landowners being simply the con-
duits through which the accumulated revenues
are conducted into the Golfers of the State.
Governor Kemper complains of lack of bank
ing capital because the volume is less than
before the war, and fails to give the correct
solution of this scarcity. In those days q very
large proportion of the banking capital of the
State was employed I'm traffic which, hap
PLY, now no longer exists-the vending of
slaves. The Same amount may now be needed
for other purposes, such as the employment of
that labor which is no longer the object Of pur-
chase and sale, but the comparison is fallacious
in the absence of a note of this important
change in the condition of the industry of the
State. Formerly she exported labor and pur-
chased guano and corn. Now she must seek
to utilize her labor upon her soil and export its
pruducts. It is to be feared that Governor
Kemper has adopted or constructed an imprac-
ticable theory upon the labor question, and
that his appeals to foreigners and Northerncrs
to aid him in the attempt to experiment upon
It will fail of an Affirmative response Let him
show real statesnansh!p and a sound political
economy by utilizing the means he has at hand
before inviting more from abroad
T. x<~s>x
high prices of the mcam Of subsistence 70 our
paper currency. This undoubtedly contributes
something towards them, but then there are
other causes even more formidable. The con-
sumner pays the taxes of the country. These
taxes have to be made up to the amount Of two
or three hundred millions per annum by an ad-
dition to the former prices of the articles con
sumcd. The taxes ON imports raise the prices
of all foreign articles, and those on real estate
increase rents and the prices of al the pro-
ducts of agriculture, such - Hour, meats
and vegetables. The taxes ON rail-
WAYS and banks arc sdded to fares, frcights
and interest on money. As consequence,
therefore, those who est and drink most, and
wear the richest clothing, and live in the finest
and most expensive hous es,. pay the most
taxes. All men being taxpayers are bound BY
their own interests to live prudently. The
Government officers and msfnbers Of Congress
can render immense seryice to the people by
the practice Of rigid economy IN al the pub
Lie expenditures. Every cent saved In this
manner tends to lower the cost of living. g
For WANT Of something better to write about
some of the correspondents are busyfng them
selves with dispatches to their respective jour.
mails, announcing that the Hon. Alexander II.
Stephens, of Georgia, ID Sin training, % fancies
himself so, for the Presidential sweepstakes IN
1876" OF course, iris b an bumcombe; bat
stranger things have happened, and II d be
true that the Democrats intend 70 70 into the
next national campaisn aqnare,y and fhiriy on
. States rights platform, Mr.. 6tePAssA b the
man fer them. 81 .i.f
TIM New fotk Essxssy Foss y sasguine
enough TO expect soas good from Congress
after the recess. h b tots NOD thae ~ sens
pectations VIII b rsaliasd! TAeas4 moaskcf
the session VIII show. Ths johs s1d srhsmes
which WIN be prsss.Asd b the inGsssst e nsre
private cofporstios IN. isalyiauals, wh0 hUps