National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-11
The Contest in Virgipia---Duty of True
Republicans.

Inc contest III tltSSlnld---Duty Oh lfuc
Republicans.
There is an old adage which teaches
that halfa loaf is better than no bread" !"
and in so teachingit enunciates a fact that
no reasonable person cares to dispute.
Here and there we find Republican Jour-
nal within the Old Dominion urging Re-
publicanS to act with Malone upon the
ground of the old truism above quoted.
To our mind that is placing the question
upon false and narrow basis. By con-
sulting the platform adopted by the re-
cent State convention of the Readjusters
it will be seen that sound principles get a
whole loaf, and not half a one only. The
resolutions, adopted Unanimously by that
convention, unreseryedly pledge the Re-
adjusters to support and carry into effect,
if successful, the very foundation princi
pies of the National party, without
false Interpretation or mental reservation.
They pledge the Readjusters to support
and maintain
l. The equality of all men before the
law.
2. 4 free and untramrH"led ballot to all
voters, withOutrespectt h ..tsS, nationality,
or past or present condition.
5. An honest count Of all ballots so cast,
and prompt submission to the vii! of the
honest majority.
These are fundamental and cardinal
principles of the faith, and whoever
advocates, supports, or suStain8 them
is good enough for us, no matter what he
may call himself They form the
whole loaf of epublicanism-"c crust,
heel, and core and all who pro-
leSs and maintain them are entitled to
the countenance and active support of all
true Republicans. Spoils-mongers may,
for their own selfish and narrow pur-
poses, raise hue and cry about deserting
the Republican faith, but practical men,
who have been so thoroughly educated
in this workad " world as to be able to
discern the real from the pretended, will
scout such simulated anxiety, and will
take the whole loaf wherever and when
ever they can get it, without much regard
to the effect upon men who make of their
pretended devotion t. principle 4 ladder
by which to climb into positions they
would never reach upon their own merits.
When the constitutional amendments
were under discussion in Congress. those
who formulated and advocated them
(real leaders were they. toaj took the
ground that 10y placing the ballot in the
hands of the freedmen they would be
placed in such position that, in future
contests between parties, it would become
the interest Of those parties to coIrt their
goodwill and support, and, in return for
that support, 10 become champions of the
rights of the freedmen. Those who thus
argued We're undoubtedly right, as the
present condition of afair5 in Virginia
aDnudantly demonstrates and now that
those amendments have worked out their
legitimate result, shall Republicans turn
their backs upon that result? Shall they
EAST away the fruit of those glorious
amendments, merely because they think
that fruit has not been developed by and
through their own partisan manipula-
ton? No, indeed The fruit is ripe
and ready to be plucked, and all true and
genuine Republicans will be glad to see
it garnered for the benefit of our Repub-
lican colored brethren, no matter whose
hand may do the piucking.
Therefore, we say to all true Repub!i-
cans in the Old Dominion, black or white,
pull off your coats and roll up your
sleeves, and make your Jordan the hard
est road for the Bourbons that they have
ever travelled. And to our colored friends