The daily gazette., 1876-01-17
What Killed me Centennial Ia VIZ
ginia.

II has already been announced that
the Virginia House of Delegates, on
Thursday, by close vote, refused to
reconsider the vote by which the bill
appropriating $40, 900 towards the pro-
per representation of Virginia at the
approaching centennial was defeated.
This is regarded as settling the question
finally, and therefore Virginia, one of
the original thirteen States, will be
unrepresented officially at the cclebra-
tion of the nations centennial. The
poverty of the State was pleaded by
number of the representatives as Il
reason for refusing TO vote for the ap-
preparation but there was reason to
hope for "A favorable result on the final
vote. 1t seems, however, that MIR.
Blaine's amendment IS the amnesty
bill, excluding jefferson Davis from
its provisions, and his recent violent
speech of abuse of Mr.. Davis were the
chairs which broke the camePs back"
and the appropriation therefore went
under. On Wednesday, cx Governor
Smith, one of the most powerful deba-
ters in the State, addressed the House
in IL three hours speech against the
bill, during which he brought promi,
ncntly forward Mr.. Blaine's amend
mcnt as evidence of the desire of many
of the nortlierners to keep up the bad
feeling and keep open the bloody
chasm. He said Blaine's amendment
was intended as an insult to Jefferson
Davis, and an insult to Davis, under
the circumstances, he considered an
insult to those who were with him in
the late war. The venerable ex Gov
ernor was loudly cheered from the
floor, and in the galleries, and despite
the best efforts of several able speakers
who followed him, the tide had set too
strongly against the bill, and 1t WAS
defeated.
Very probably there are those in
the North who will cito this as evil
. dence of spirit of rebellion still exis-
ting in Virginia, but there will be no
justice in so doing. 1t is not reason
. able to expect men who are willing
themselves to let the sad memories
of the past lie dormant to manifest no
resentment wheu they are wantonly
0 and Extensively sti red by those who
a do SO only to make political capital
out of them. Only fool would de-
J, mand or expect such thing. 1t is
very unfortunate that Mr.. Blaine
)espc siully at this juncture. Virginia
may have Sufficient reason in her
ipoverty rot to make an appropriation
: for the centennial; that was enough
:. without the addition of an irritating
incentive against her making an effort
TO take part In an event OF such char
actcr and SO much importance ia our
na,ional history.
I MIR. NI.hGNE's AMNESTY SPEECH.
y AstDai.Inr.sI or l.is E.-icslis AZ his
" Course .Disapprovai ~ FOlii;, ians-
'Hiie : ppOrl o. Sac $.ate az thc Nn-
fional Convention II0sI.
a Philadelphia dispatch says From
the comments of the press Of the State
add the talk Of Republican poli icians,
It would seem beyond question that
Mr.. Blaine has in single day lost his
hold upon Pennsylvania. II was mis-
n main reliance for success in his Prcsi-
,dentia ambition, and week ago he
had good reason for counting with alb
solute certainty upon its vote in the
National Convention. Now there is
not Il prominent candidate, with the
single exception of Senator Morton,
who has not better prospect IF OBJ
tanning its powerful support. Pennsyl-
vania, the politicians say, has no Use
for man who insists upon dragging
In the skeleton of tha Rebellion at the
Centennial festival of peace and good
will about to be held within her Dor
ders. The lack OF craftsmanship in
the eXSpeaker's speech is remarked on
all HANDS; but what surprises his old
friends here the most is his sudden
blindness to popular sc ,iment. He
has always been regarded as a remark
ably sagacious politician, who, while
, he lacked the great qualities which
enable men to lead public opinion, was
far sighted enough TO see its drift and
pace himself in the cuirent aad nol
across it.
People who thought they knew Tim
thoroughly and could predict his
g" action in any event now ask eac \
I other if he has become demented. He
/ has obviously quite lost his balance Il
4 anything in our current politics is AZ
4 clear as the MONDAY sun, it Is that all
! sections desire to bury the animosities
of the war and strengthen the ties of
a common brotherhood. Just wncn
this feeling is the strongest Mr.. Blaine
deliberately tries to destroy it, to gain
y Ia personal end. His chance of reaching
the goal of the Presidency, toward
which he has toiled for many years,
was better than that of any of his old
: rivals, but he las nearly destroyed it
d by single act, His friends here are
greatly chagrined, and can not under-
stand how they could have 30 mis-
; judged the man heretofore. AS far as
Pennsylvania is concerned, Mr. Blaine's
name must be stricken from the roll
of Preridential candidates, The vote
of this State in Convention will in all
probability be given to Secretary
Bristow after the complimentary vote
Q is thrown for Gov. Hartranft. which
n was pledged to him by the Republican
State Convention last June.-N, Y.
Tribune.
Carpet-Baggors Making Their Exit