The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-10-22
hnllnuo,td 4ispattl.
The independents.

Tn the community formed for mutual pro.
tec,ioy Of ALI the members of it compromise
IL unavoidable. There must be concession
for The sake of harmony and for the sake OF
order aud security. 1t is impossible to pre-
serve these incstimable blessings without The
yielding up Of prejudlces, and preference
and ideas Of policy which run counter to Inc
opinions Of the majority; and the policy oil
that msjority is but result OF the conces'
sions OF the members Of the community LOT
the good Of the whole.
The Conservative party grew out OF
state of affairs that placed society 10 virginia
in peril from causes which rendered COM
biuation of the people necessary, IN many
respects resembling the necessities wh'cn
originate the comnunity. There was So
cial revolution which threatened US with
new dangers and excited general alarm. We
were threatened Wits new element IN
she governing class whose Influence we
could not foIesee, but which none could
doubt would be disastrous.
In this social and political exisency the
Conservative party was formed 81 a new
means Of guarding the community from the
new dangers-dapgers unexamp!sd in his
tory. The people of Virginia united heart
and hand in its formation. The best and
truest OF men took prominent positions in
its organization aud proceedings. 1t proved
a glorious success, aud shielded Virginia
from consequences which the public forebo-
tlings nad not whit exaggerated.
The importance Of this party cannot oe
orer.esrima,ed, whether we consider the eA'
ipeucy which called it forth or the services
which il has rendered the State. That 1t is
still necessary for the preservation OF that
public welfare which it guarded ut moment
of direst peril none can deny. For its pre-
serva,ion we can only hope by the respect
that is shown the party by the people ana the
readiness with which we all acqulesce 10 lis
authority. How could the community ID It's
early stages exist without an authority au-
thoiized by the members OF the community
and respected by them? Discord and disobe-
deuce 10 authority would disrupt it.
The authority of the Conservative party,
constituted as it has been, is hardly less eDtl-
tied to respect than is the conventional pow
ers established by the community. Morally
and socially, the same motives are at The
bottom of both. To resist either would be
bad faith to society. and would impair the
strength of the bulwarks erected for its pro-
lection. Resistance is not less than crime,
and it is proper to measure the crime by the
dignity of the thing resisted.
We therefore look upon the Boilers and
Independents who treat the authority OF the
Conservative party with contempt as guilty
of most serious offence-an offence which
NAV well cause their fellow.ci!jzens to dis.
trust them aad not be willing to confde to
them any position Of profit or honor. Ger
taiuly the community in its early stages OF
existence would regard such men as enemies
to the public pesce and public welfare, and
the resemblance of the condition Of these
times to the state of such community make
the Independents and Boilers in each case
very much alike.