New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-31
VIRGINIA-AN EXAMPLE.

VIRGINIA-AN EXAMPLE.
The Virginia newspapers resent with justi
fable earnestness the sweeping denunciations
of lawlessness in the South, which seem to
include the Old Dominion in the general CEN
sure. Jealousy for the good name of their
State has long been characteristic OF Nir-
ginians and their sensible course since the
war has been dictated, we believe, by State
pride almost as much as by patriotism and
conscience. The period of reconstruction was
stormy time in Virginia as well as in every
State of the South. 1t was marked, no doubt,
there, as elsewhere, by some unfortunate Incl
dents which, for the sake of all the actors
therein, may well be forgotten. But it
is fact that Virginia was the first
of the late Confederate States to recog-
nize fully and accept the results of the
war, and without waving individual opinions
which would have been cowardice-and
without cOncealing them-which would have
been hypocrisy-tO address herself to the task
of building in good faith a government
adapted to the new order of things and
administering it with sincerity and justice. A
Constitution framed in this spirit, but marred
by proscriptive features dictated by unthink-
ing if not INSCRIPTIONS partsans was submit
ted to the people. Willing to accept the gen.
eral provisions of the instrument, however
obnoxious to prejudces still sensitive, but I'M
willing to stultify themselves and vote for the
punishment of fellOw-ctizens whose opinions
they had shared and whose abilities alone gave
them greater prominence in the conduct of
the war, they applied to the President and to
r. 30 70 ota1v
upon the proscriptive clauses of the new
Constitution. This granted, the Constitution
was adopted by an overwhelming majority,
and the obnoxious sections were as decisively
rejected. At the same election were elected
to the highest offices in the State men against
whom the most Jealous Unionist or Republican
could not offer an objection; and with dis
position to give the experiment fair trial,
colored men also were elected to offices which
they were believed to be capable of filing
The first Legislature chosen after the re-
admission of the State into the Union was
largely Conservative, but it took no step
backward. Legislative acts made operative
constitutional provisions; Conservative AS
sembly sent Republican to the United States
Senate. Succeeding Legislatures, all Conserva-
tive and every year more largely composed OF
white men, though sometimes strongly tempted
to swerve from the right path, have as rule
followed it unhinchingly.
The result is that Virginia is to-day the best
governed, the most peaceable of the Southern
States indeed we doubt whether any State
in the Union can present a fairer record.
Mistakes may have been committed, injustice
perpetrated in exceptional cases, but not more,
IN, thn Iacf anul of
Northern States, for it is deplorable fact
that partisan politics are not yet dead any
where. But to the credit of Virginia be it
said, and we say it the more gladly because
we have condemned political outrages and race
persecution wherever they have occurred, the
recent amendments to the Constitution of the
United States have been observed in good
faith. The division of parties too nearly ap-
proaches the color line, but we have yet to
hear of a War of Races or of lynching In the
Old Dominion. COlOred men are elected to
Office, sit in the Legislature, appear by the
appointment of Conservative Governor upon
some of the State Boards for the man
agement of charitable institutions, serve
as cOuncilmen in the cities, as super
yisors, as justices and magistrates, are
admitted to the jury-box, and have their
militia companies with officers OF their own
choice and color, commissioned by Conserva-
tive Governor and armed and equipped by
the State. But perhaps to be commended
more than all Is the establishment of a public
school system after the most advanced and
approved models, and literally supported by
taxation which must be paid almost entirely
by the whites, but open to whites and blacks
alike.
We repeat that this is a record of which
Virginia has q right to be proud; and we
commend its example to other States. The
wisdom of the policy which has controlled the
State has been fully proved. immigration has
not been repealed from its borders. Although
its financial credit has been somewhat i'm
paired by indecisve legislation, no one doubts
its intention to pay its debt to the last
cent in due time. Virginia has the confidence
of the people outside of Virginia. We trust
that in the campaign now opening, whatever
may be the occasional Incorporate utterance
of the politicians and the press, nothing may
be done by which this confidence may be
shaken. But in any event the past four years
have abundantly shown what the Southern
people may do if they will take heart, ignore
prejudice, and persist in the right.
A FAITHFUL POSTMASTER.