National Republican., 1880-11-04
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We had hoped, until the developments of
the late election clearly indicated TO the
contrary, that Virginia, bordering upon The
capital, and holding close relation
TO the loyal states, would show some signs
of returning political reason and good sense,
and place itself upon aplane where it would
be entitled to respect and good fellowship.
But during the late election it has
shown itself TO be but reflection Of
the spirit and methods of those states
where law, order and rights are tram
pied into the very earth W ith impunity.
In the late election South Carolina and
Virginia in their conduct and practices
have been MS similar as pair of twins.
The former surrounded the polls with
armed men and overthrow the suflages of
the people at the ballot-boX, rendering the
election worse than farce. Virginia per-
formed the same service in another way.
The mayor and police Of the city of Alex
andria fell upon peacclble and inoilcnsiye
republicans, TO the number of several
hundred, who sought to exercise the right
of suffrage penceobly as good citizens, and
with force and even bloodshed drove them
like cattle from the ballot-box, and thereby
despoilcd them Of their suffrage. There
was no disorder, 10 riot, no lawles,ncss, 10
disturbance of the peace, until the mayor
and his police in rude and outrageous
manner assumed the role of mob and
despoicd hundreds Of unohcnding citizens
of their rights of suffrage and their voice in
a republican form Of government In this,
to some extent, Virginia has placed her
self in line with the red-sh rt, nighttime
and rile-club policy of the dark and
bloody regions of the southern states,
where the republicans have no rights that
the democrats are bound TO respect
We can say to the city Of Alexandria and
to the state of Virginia, you cannot nurse
within your borders such spirit and such
methods and hope to retain the respect and
good-iellowship of the loyal states and pco,
pie of the north. IfyOu hope TO be friends
with that section, aud to preserve the fcl.
lowship of intercourse and trade, we tell
you plainly that 1t cannot be done in this
way. Virginia followed South Carolina
into secession and endeavored to break tho
bond of this union and the integrity ol
this government. 1t deluged IFS own soil
with blood and affected to surrender within
its own borders, and South Carolina fol.
lowed its example, clothed with hate in.
tolerance and blood-thirsti ness. Now
of al
illness and pledging its faith to the princi.
Piles rnd processes of rep ubl lean form o
government and good fellowship TO all
the people Of the nation, Virginia
puts on the barbaris ms that lis leader in
secession has injected into its political can.
vases to pervert the pri nciples and rights
of citizenship and to out rage the citizens
themselves by robbing them Of their dear.
est and most sacred right. We say to the
people of Virginia, you cannot afford tc
cultivate such spirit and indulge sucl
practices if you care or hope for the re-
spect of your fellO w-men. If you are tC
remain u member of the family of thi,
union you should clothe yourself with Tho
genius and spirit of the free institutions o
the republic. You should che erlully accort
to every citizen the right TO vote, and the,
see TO it that his vote is honestly counted
Then you will have viudiGated your ability
aud right to ell-govermcnt, and not un
Ill then Your state has advantages auC
resources to make it one of the most pros
porous OF the family of states, but proscrip
ton aud wrong in no degree tend Il
progress and prospcrity-and you must not