New-York tribune., 1876-06-02
SOME MORE INTERESTING Talk.


The Virginia Democrats at their State Con-
vention on Thursday listened to some excellent
discourse. 1t was earnest, lmpassloned, loity;
full of sound political morality pure patriotism,
and sincere yearnings toward the True, the
beautiful, and the Good There was something
in il too of the trumpet-call and the bugle-
note, the martial figures and the warlike tropes
with which leaders who are willing III wild
selc-abandonment to forsake their present
callipgs and rush into the service OF
the Government at the price of-well any
comfortable salary-summOn the sturdy voters
to the fray-meanng thereby the ballot-bOx
and promise them "A glorious victory--which
means n new deal in the Offices. There was
not lacking either fervor or confidence. The
sneakers deprecated denounced, and condemned
all the bad practices of the party IN power,
the corruptions OF the Administration, the evil
tendencies into which the country has
lately fallen, and, in short, every
thing that is wrong and wicked. Ana
no doubt they meant it. Whatever may he
thoupbt of the uttcrances of these gentlemen
when they are engaged in making promises for
themselves, no one questions their earncstness
when they condemn the practices OF the oppo-
stion. But they went further. Being Demo
Gratis, delegates representing that party i'll
convention called 10 choose ether dele
gates TO assist in selecting a Presidential
candidate, they took occasion to anticipate the
action of the St. LOUIS Convention and of the
people afterward, and 10 indulge in congratu-
iations upon the great benefit the country is
to derive from Democratic success. We are to
have. il seems an era of reform, Of wise and
1 = ..f lttrI IN tllt N
intelligent craftsmanship OF everything de-
sirable in fact III a government worthy the
pride of the citizen and the admiration of the
world.
We are not about to say that those eloquent
| orators did not mean every word OF all thls.
| Dut il does occur. to us that Richmond, where
this convention was held and these speeches
vero made, is not so far from Washington but
that the orators should have known what
Democratic Congress has done and is doing
there. Suppose some unpleasant person OF the
sort Mr.. Lincoln used to describe as " inter
"riptious" had said audibly at the close OF one
of tbc fine periods about reform and about
| eleyating the character OF the public
| service" Fitzhugh ~ 1t would have been
| entirely out of order of course but what
| peltinent annotation. Or suppose some one
had topped off the applause which greeted the
/ finely turned sentences about restoring the
| Government 10 ITS ancient purity with call
| for three cheers for Mr.. IIamblcton, the adj
mirer Of Wilkes Booth. Would that have
been inappropriate Or If some inquisitive
person had calmly risen up after glowing
portrayal of the benefits to be derived from
| Democratic rule and Democratic policy, and
had asked to be informed little in detail
what the Democratic policy is; would
it have been convenient and easy to
answer him9 To the ordinary reader the
large and beautiful discourse of the Virginia
orators seems lacking in illustration. With
Democratic Congress In session only hundred
miles away, they ought to have been able to
''point with pride" to something that has
been done in the six months of it's con-
tinuance which should serve to illustrate
what the party would do if intrusted
with larger opportunities. Why did they not
point to the Democratic majority in Congress
and say: Behold those who have been faith
full in few and little things. Make them now
rulers over many and great things.n This
seems to have been an omission. Perhaps it was
forgotten. 1t would be uncharitabe to suppose
that the record the party had already made was
purp0sely ignored. We repeat that the dis
course was admirable. 1t must have been re-
fresling to listen to. And yet there seems
such difference between what they say at
| Richmond and what they do at Washington.
Shall we paraphrase Mr.. Lincoln and add that
the world will little care nor long remember
what the Democrats say at Richmond it can
not forget what they have done and are doing
| No