National Republican., 1881-12-21
Sono,or Ri,Id,ebcrpcr.

AT Richmond yesterday, by decided
majority of both its branches, the newly
elected Liberal Legislature of Virginia
chose Harrison II. Riddleberger United
States Senator for the term beginning
March 4, 1883. The event commentaries
the symmetrical completion of the No
vember victory in Virginia Of American
ism and nationalism over the belittling
sectionalism that has so long been the
motive and inspiration of Bourbon lead
ership in the South. One of Mahone's
most trusted, skillful, able, and resolute
1ieutenants joins Malone in the Federal
Senate and will contribute eloquent ut
terance of Virginia's rebuke to the inso-
lent Bourbon attempt TO coerce Malone
into doing what Virginia sent him to the
Senate not to do.
In u double sense the able and elo-
quent young Virginian just made SEN
ator symbolizes the purposes and aspira-
tions of the coalition that has brought
Virginia into alignment with the domi-
nant thought of the Nation. Welded to
the best traditions of his native State,
Nirginian who freely risked his life in
defense of the ideas to which the young
Virginians of twenty years ago were
taught fealty, he is yet Virginian of the
class that now feel that they serve Vir-
ginia best who teach Virginians to love
and serve their whole country. 1t is from
this class of Southerners-the young and
ardent and aspirng-that the country
must look for that complete unification
of sections without which our national
destiny cannot be fulfilled. The country
expects nothing from the Bourbon senti-
ment, which, welded hopelessly to eX-
ploded dogmas, has no possible existence
away from the sluggish bayous of extinct
thought.
In second sense Riddleberger's cleo
tion to the Senate meets the logic of the
situation, as well as suggests the poetic
justice of which even politics is capable
Not only as splendid type of the young
South. which turns its back upon a dead
past illuminated with the achievements
of the valorous youths of that section and
begins anew career inviting the conf
dence of the whole country, does Riddle
berger seem the appropriate beneficiary
of the great victory in Virginia; the
events of last spring gave him special
title to the distinction, and now give
special emphasis to Nirginia's scornful de-
tiance of the calumnies heaped upon Ma
hone performing the Independent and
manly role that Virginia intrusted to him.
AS Mahone's candidate for Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate, whom Republicans
Endorsed because of their sympathy with
Malone in his patriotic aspirations to
dcsectonalize the South, Riddleberger
WAS the target of Bourbon shafts. The
Bourbon decree that he was unfit to be
Sergeant-at-Arms is answered by Old
Nirginias triumphant decree that Rid
dleberger is worthy to be the peer of the
proudest Bourbon Senator. lie will take
his seat as a Senator from the oldest and
one of the most honored of the sister
hood of States and he will enterthat emil
nent gathering with emphasized distinc-
ton us the representative of grand in
surrection of patriotism, ofrenewed fealty
20 the Union, in a State which selfish and
incapable leadership has too long kept
isolated and estranged.
OF the Senator-elect from Virginia VIC
voice only the almost unanimous tribute
of political friends and foes when we
avow for him personally sincere admira-
ton, and confidence thathi career in the
Senate will be useful TO his native State
and to the country at large, Though
young in years, being still under thirty
eight, he has had extensive experience
in public affairs and has fairly won his
spurs in many contests of law and poll
tics. He will be equal to the expectations
of his friends and true to the Liberalism
of which Virginia is the theatre Of tri
umphant assertion.