The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-13
Late Maneuvertngs and Meanterfngs
OF Conservatism I'm Virginia.

Late MameuvertnES ana Meanderfngl
OF Conservatism I'm Virginia.
1t seems to be the especial province O
our Conservative friends to win elections
by abuse, intimidation, and having won, Il
Immediately proceed to shake hands ovel
the bloody chasm. In the last presiden,
tial contest General Kemper and Other
: state canvassers against Grants election
could not find words sufficiently bitter with
which to characterize him. The mayor O.
Richmond. in speech at Petersburg, said
"He was the dummy who drove his cart
on the Jersey beach" and this was consid.
cred mild and civil in comparison to the
ornate utterances of less refined canvassers.
The press, too, overhowed with gall and
bitterness.
Nor did this malignity cease in the late
gubernatorial contest with the going down
of the sun on the 4th o. November. It is
still manifest in the tone and temper Of the
press of the state.
Judging the Conservative party by the
utterances of Governor Kemper in his late
message, the casual observer would be
inclined to believe that the real political
millennium had actually dawned, and that
all that is now necessary to bring in the
golden sunlight of perfect peace IS a uni
versal Misunderstanding and love-feast. Let
us look at this matter.
Governor Kemper gives the notice for
this sudden conversion, the keynote of
this reconciliation, in these words
LET none suppose that we attach i'm.
portance to the dispensation Of the official
patronage of the federal government in
Virginia, or take interest in it beyond de-
string to see appointments conferred upon
honest aud capable men,"
Exactly so, Governor What magnfi-
cent conception! And straightway the
party who, by the press Of the state, is
steadily and ferociously maligning Presi-
dent Grant and Republican measures, inn
mediately take up this little morsel of
Kemper soft-soap too thin to wash) and
propose straightway to farm out the pat
ronage ut Washington with appal emily as
much cheek as they dispense the patronage
at Richmond.
But no one. we opina, will be deceived
by this simple turn of the wrist. It. has
not even the thimble-riggers disguise, for
in another breath Governor Kemper calls
in the often answered but bitter complain
ings against the general government in
these words:
''The financial panic or money famine,
productive of such distress throughout the
country, is notnew here. 1t has with greater
or less severity prevailed in this state for
years past, in consequence of the inequita-
BILE distribution Of national currency.
While some Of the states have allotted to
them several times their due proportion of
currency, Virginia is allowed less than one
third of the amount to which she is Justly
entitled"
Does not Governor Kemper knoao that
o large amount of banking capital was
appropriated for the express purpose Of Civ
ing states which had not sufficient
amount OF currency, an opportunity to get
more that this basis of currency remained
for years unused at Washington, and that
Virginia did not call for the "amount to
which she is entitled?" If Governor
KempT does not knoo this fact some person
reasonably Informed ought TO tell him.
Does not Governor Kemper know that
now currency can be had by apply
ing and paying for it?
Where is the party who wish to engage
in banking in Virginia? l undertake to
say that by complying with the law they
can have the capital. But Virginians must
comply with the law just as New Workers.
or Rhode Islanders do.
Governor Kemper's conversion to Re-
publicanism must be received with many
grains of allowance, and his sgrowth in
grace" had better be watched. He must
put far away from him the wholesale mis-.
representations of the late canvass. and be
really in word, in deed, and in truth,
friend of true, genuine Republcanism,
which is founded on equal rights, and then
we will help him do "works mete for re-
pentance."
Who does not know that this sudden
change of lap has not even the merit Of
originality. Was it not palmed off four
years ago? Did not R. L. Daniel, the
encouragement elect, four years ago
jubilate over Walkers election by dis
patching General Grant congratulating
him on the success of his policy in Vir-
giniaY' That soap did not take Neither
will the recent specimen. although made
very soft and cooked la Kemper.
The truth may as well be said, what in
telligent politicians generally understand,
that the party calling itself Conserva-
tive in Virginia have about as much
use for the American flag as the
d. has for holy water; that from
the utterances of Jefferson Davis down
the campaign speeches in Virginia in the
late canvass were founded, First, on the
glory and achievements of so-called Con-
federate heroes, and Second, the outrage
Gus conduct of the United States towards
the South, including General Grants acts
towards Louisiana, and wholesale dis
paragement of everything unconnected
with the late ''unpleasantness" on the
Southern side. We are tired of syco-
phancy, lawning, for the sake Of federal
offices, after election, and wholesale abuse
and detraction before election. Render
unto Caesar tine things that are Caesar !"
On Christmas eve gas explosion oc-