Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-05-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

ana the beLtuccut lhHltnCt OF Written law
covers our whole domain. The host Of evils
begotten by the war are conquered by the in
teiligence and virtue Of free people, and our
are purified and exalted by the ter
ribo ordeal through which We have passed
In future times this will be written rs the most
splendid period Of our history the period in
which mankind most signaly vindicated their
right TO be free hy the wisdom with which
they governed themselves.
The men who are 50 fortunate as 10 have
been conspicuous actors in producing these hap
Ply results are crowned with immortality. All
the minor details Of the struggle will be lost
It's issue will be recognized as a blessing 10
mankind, aud its authors as beneiactors. Had
the exci,able aud dangerous class Of either par
iy secured control hat a different picture
would have been presented to the world
Instead Of concord aud amity internal strife
would have been general and universal desoa-
tion would have been depending over every
household.
There are two ulen-one a Democrat and
the other a Republican-whose action entities
them to the lasting gratitude Of their country
men. Samuel j. Randall, during the stormi-
est and most dangerous period Of our history,
held the issues Of peace aud prosperity, or war
and ruin 10 the hollow Of his hand. He calm
ed the sea Of passion by subordinating his
strong partisan inc,inalions to the OehestS and
the duty Of patriotism. During the last days
Of the Coun, he was subjected to trial Of nerve
and Judgment that was calculated to conquer
the stoutest heart He was calm when the
whole country was couvulsed by the most dan
Gerous passions, and performed lis duty with
an impartiality aud frmuess that, under such
excitement, has but few, if any, parallels in
history
When the excitement was greatest and the
danger most imminent he said, in substance,
10 me, III, 1t his devotion 10 his party aud its
success were, perhaps, the controlling motive
Of his life; that to perpetuate it we must pre-
serve its honor that while not the author OF
the Electoral Commission he, with almost the
whole body of the democratic House, had sub
mitted the issue Of the contest to its control /;
that, if in bis power, there should be lawful
and a peaceful issue Of our troubles; that it
should never be said Of him that he had used
the high station 10 which the country elevated
him to jeopardize the public safety or encour-
ace intestine strife; whatever the future might
have in store for him, he thought his duty
plain, and that he should feaTlesSly execute il;
that the Electoral Commission, in bis juds-
meut, hal wrongly determined, bat II was now
the only peaceful and constitutional way out
of our trouble that the least calamity that
could follow failure to execute its decree would
be the establishment Of revolutionary prece-
dents, endanseriug all our future, while uni
vcrsal ruin might cnsue that he held it his
duty to abide the result, looking 10 the justice
Of the people for redress in the future.
His fearless and just action, supported by
the coolest and most sagacious Of his friends,
saved at one and the same time the integrity
and the honor of his country and party. Six
ty days have elapsed the passions are cooled
and he has the confidence Of the whole country
and the devotion Of his party as a reward for
the moral heroiSm he exhibited.
Rutherford b. Hayes, decreed President By
the Electoral Commission, surrounded by en-
barassments greater than ever beset a prede
cessor, has, since his Inauguration, bent all the
energies Of his mind and all the power of his
place to give repoSe and security to The future
has palsiel every limb Of despotism. and peace
fu!ly rehablitated the dsmaatled States Of the
South lie, too, has held the passions of the
dangerous elemen: of his party in check has
subordinCted personal feeling and party pre-
iudice to the public welfare has ho'oically
withstood the most terrible pressure Of large
portion Of his party following. In a little time
the disputed succession and the bitterness it
begot viii be forgotten and he will be Tecog-
nized by all his countrymen as an upright
man and patriotic officer.
In the last six months all the questions dan
gerous to our repose have been eliminated from
the theatre Of party action by the wisdom and
moderation oithe now successful leaders Of the
two great parties, as representatives, of whom
Samuel j Randall and Rutherford B. Hayes
have been fortunately placed in the most con-
Spicuous and powerful positions.
In the future parties 90 he successful must
be geographically national, because paciiica-
tion has been sincerely advanced and sincere
ly accepted As one Of tho bencfcont results
the negro becomes legitimate factor of na-
tioual political power, and before another Pres
ideutial election the conteudiug parties, under
whatever name they marshal their forces, will
each be eudeavoriug to secure his support, and
the racial question that was stimulated to dan
ger by sectional contests since the conclusion
of the war. will be solved by the substitution
Of contest upon great principles for a contest
founded on sectional antipathy. When our
people separate on existing dlverGences OF
thought as to the proper application of the
principles Of government the mental element
that was the substructure f the Wing party
is an existing force in every hamlet Ct the
the conservative and aggressive forces
Of society viii peacefully fight over the battles
that are IS OLD Is civilization, and many Of our
people che Wbig Patty being 20 more who
are now known as Democrats viii be found in
The camp of the Republican party or the new
creation. and many Of them now known as
Republicans will carry their baggage into the
Dcmocrltic camp. Great events make strange
aud Zlchariah Chandler may soon
be rep0siug on the responsive bosom of Allen
T. Thurman, James G.. Blaine be grading
Thomas \. Hendricks 30 s'umber. and Oliver
?. Morton have our Uncle Samuel in close en-
brace.
\ translation from rhapsodies over our de-
iverance to the bloody realities in the distant
last is hardly in order. but my pen is way
ward and will follow It's inclinatious. War, /
,rocrastiaated but always intended by Russia,
S declared, and the two absolute deSpotisms
f Europe aye precipitating iheir forces to col
isi5n Each nation on Bonded knee Offering
Up prayers to a common Creator; and each /.
eeve the other 10 be iuficl dogs When /
be Turk battles his cimeter in the blood Of the .
russian, be does it for God and Country I
When tie Russian Stays the Turk be believes
bat one of the eBemies of the same God is sur /
cudered to judgment. How strange and re-
lorscless are the iufatuatous Of hnaticism /