The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-12
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,

!, The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. !,
Governor KEMPER's spirited letter de-
clining to name day for Virginia ut the
| Centennial has not elected much comment
thus far. The New York Herald says that
the letter reminds that paper OF the "polite
excuses Of a superannuated dame for not
mixing with her equals" This, Of course,
is not meant especially for the letter, which
but speaks the sense of public duty i'm
posed upon Governor KEMPER by the act OF
the representatives OF the people ofVir-
ginia. He is right. The people did not
think that they could appropriate money to
the Centennial when even the interest upon
the State debt is not paid, and through their
representatives they failed to take any step
that would have authorized Governor
KEMpER to appear for Virginia at the
Centennial. The most Of the States
having contributed large amounts to the
Centennial, they purchased peculiar privi-
lege on the grounds, which Virginia, pay
ing nothing, could only exercise under a
sense OF intrusveness; and il she be in
deed ssuperannuated dame," we admire
the spirit OF independence which prompts
her not to occupy doubtful relation
towards those with whom she is every inch
an equal. We trust none OF them will be so
vulgar as to turn up their noses at the "old
lady" for this proper pride.
This Centennial business has been yeXa-
tious question with us. We regarded it at
first, as we regard it now, a money-making
concern. Aud we further regarded it as
most unfortunate that such celebration
should take place amidst sectional divisions,
hates and rancors, constitutional violations,
and gross usurpations. rcvolutionizing the
pure form of confederate republican
union as framed by our ancestors. The
fact that these hates, and outrages,
and deviations from the Constitution and
from the spirit Of our republican
ism, and OF true liberty, should all be in
course of aggravation in the presidential
campaign that is contemporary with the
Centennial, proved that the Centennial,
which had been commended as a means OF
restoring national harmony, has been utterly
Intellectual for any such purpose. The head
OF the Government and his law adviser, and
all their party leaders, are conspiring against
our liberties and seeking to prolong their
own possession of the power and means Of
the Government by bringing the cleo
tions in the South under the intimida-
ton and terror of the bayonet. Orators
OF the North are filing the air with vehe-
ment recitals of reasons why the North
should hate the South, and restrain south
ern neople from any participation in the
government OF the nation, and why they
should never be trusted in any public
place; indeed, with arguments why all
northern men who propose to vote as the
South does should not be trusted in their
own section, and should be banished
from all popular favor. What say MORTON,
and BLAINE, and the cunning and meek
fox SCHURz, that would render possible
any fate for us but that OF disgrace and
punishment from all that equality
and freedom Which Of right belong to us as
citizens of the republic-that republic
which was established chiefly by our own
ancestors. These outrageous defamers of
the South-these corrupt leaders, false to
their country, false to the constitution and
laws, and false to their race, give but the
keynote to the lesser declaimers who follow
in their footsteps. With the insults and
lies and satanic sophistries Of these persons
ringing in our ears we cannot see that the
Centennial is grateful sight to any south
ern man, if we look upon it as celebration
OF the noble achievements Of 1876. In that
light it can only be reminder of what we
have lost and how low we have fallen! r.
. When the Centennial met the favor OF so
many States we thought it would be well
that the niche set apart for Virginia should
not be vacant, and felt that she might vote
something to it in order that she might oc-
cupy that niche. The people decided other
, wise, and we were not greatly exercised
about it. The flagitious conduct OF the
Government-the war upon peace and right
OF the leading Republicans since the open
ing of the Centennial-haY entirely salts
fed us with the conduct Of Virginia. And
we care nothing about the Centennial save
in the light that it is, from all accounts, Q
, fine exhibition Of art and artiice, but as 9
celebration OF things that live not in the
. American heart, an abomination. ,,s-,
P. S. We don't know about it, now that
we see Indiana has cast a vote for right and
true republicanism. We, have not seen the
4 show; but il we were certain of meeting
some OF our feuow-citizens OF that State in
the grand building Of the Centennial
, grounds we would SO there. We are nc
partisan. we are for our country, for, lib lib
:. ertg, and equality, II these, along will
!, peace and harmony, could be restored3%~e
could stand prolongation OF the Ceiiten
!, Enial for ten years, and would be'in the hu
!, NOR to visit once, a month. But up to fflis
4 day we have felt indifferently interested il
sllit. a ~ . --.4--.-- Is. -if.n,a,
"ONLY A FAIR VoTE."-That is what
:. General Comfy writes to the New YORK
I Tribune. g Only a fair. vote needed in
Il Ohio.' This is all that The most corrupt
4 party ever known in America needs to gain
: "a victory. AS if all that was wanted to sue
cess in q banls-robbery should be honest
men TO execute it. Thou sayest well, honest
Radical III 5o;rpocs ood bon ort,, -, Al ,