Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-03-28


erty Of all Americans. a-
At Boston, on. Washington's birthday,
in fulfilment Of representative trusts at
the National Capitol, or in the local po-
litical struggles of the several States,
there are grave duties superior to the
mere legerdcmain of politics and more
mandatory than loyalty to party. Vir-
ginia is awake to those duties, and her
public men have no preteXt for misinter-
preting the sentiment of her people MS
to what Is proper and necessary in the
present and to be striven for In the future.
Virginia sees no justification for political
alignments based upon sectional array or
sectional menace; she disowns all politi-
cal alliances based upon fundamental
questions disputed before the war be-
tween the States. such as have grown out
of the results Of the war, or such us have
arisen from the measures of rcconstruc-
ton. Virginia regards the amendments
to the Federal Constitution as a part of
the organic law Of the land to be as sa-
credly executed as the original instru-
ment. The will Of her people cannot be
affirmed with too much emphasis upon
this and the kindred subject Of the per-
pctual aud harmonious coordination of
The State and Federal Governmental -
These are cardinal beliefs IN the Ameii-
can creed; they are fundamental tenets
of the Virginia creed.
10 tell you of the present. of Virginia,
| could with more tloquence than that Of
words point you to her performance in
those lines of development Which have
made Massachusetts eminent among Com-
monwcalths. Our people hare Just de-
clarcd popular education to be among
the most sacred duties and trusts Of rep
resentative government, and are brayely
executing that honorable decree. With
valuable aud bcneficent results we are
rapidly guaranteeing priceless ballot TO
all entitled to 1t under the American
theory. Conspicuous among the achieve
mcnts of the advanced thought tllat
places Virginia In full alignment with
the highest American civilization, Is the
prompt justice with which she deals with
an element of population which has been
the fruitful source of passionate disputa-
tion. Virginia has closed the long strife
which Jefferson forosaw and dreaded as
lie would dread "lhe ilre-bell at night"
over the status of the colored man. His
political equality is secured throughout
her domain. Never undertaking the
reciprocity of kindness between the races
in the South in their peculiar and trying
relations in the past, Virginia accepts
the "inexorable logic of facts" and ten
dcrs the c0l0rcd man the complete jus
ticc which his conduct MS q citizen chal-
l.,,, N , pnn
flied with what we are doing for the col
orcd man and what he is doing for him
self lie vindlcates himself aud iustilies
us in our determined efforts for his moral
aud intellectual advancement. In Nir-
ginia he IL at last IN The full panoply of
acknowledged citizenship. Conscious Of
the settlement in his favor Of the qucs-
icn of his right to pursue the duties aud
privileges Of citizenship, his conduct
commands tile approval of even his So
vercst critics. Our treatment OF ihe col
orcd people elcvates them as citizens,
and promotes their productive capacity.
They are indefinitely with us, and no
substitute for their labor, which Is pecu-
liarly fitted to the Southern section of
the Union, has yet been found. Our
purpose Is to make the colorcd man feel
his Identification with us, aud to stimu-
late In him the feeling of contcntmont,
by wise aud generous care nnd c0nsidcra-
ton, that there may be prevented the Gu
lamity to the South Of heavy cmigra-
tion of the cOlored people. We invoke
inquiry MS 10 the present status of the
colorcl people of Virginia, with conf
deuce IN the judgement of policy
which guarantees them all that Amcri-
eau poiiy and Christian civilization de-
mand for them.
In fact, the Virginia of to-day Is abreast
of the most adynnced common wealths IN
promoting that Americanlzation and lib
cralzatiOn OF sentiment which In the
near future will thoroughly unity our
country aud make successful the only at-
tempt ever made TO show the capacity Of
a people when free and enlightened to
| govern themselves. For these results In
the present, and for such aspirations In
the future we invoke the fervid sympa-
thy of the men OF Massachusetts,, and we
do not appeal Ia vain. The spirit OF
caste, of race prejudice, Of intolerance,
of prescription for opinions sake, has
as little respectable rocognitionin Massa-
chusetts as IN Virginia. Your soil, con-
secratcd to liberty without license, Is as
unfriendly as that of Virginia to the
growth Of political doctrines nurtured
| by mere prejudic5 of section, caste or
rncc. The genius Of Massachusetts, Ike
the genius Of Virginia, abhors all politi-
cal distinctions and privileges that would
bar the way TO aspiring merit and honor
able labor, and reprcss the sense of pa
trlotlc duty IN any class worthy Of Citi'
zenshlp. NNW
Tho Virginia of the present hopes for
| the Virginia of the future the prosperity
of leading American Common wealths,
and we purpose TO attain that condition
by the ngclicles which modern ClvilizN-
ton has made available for our use Ms
well ms for yours. We court immlgru-
tlon; our soil and climate lempt prolltN-
bic industry, aud never In the history OF
tho Stnte has capital sought Investment
In Virginia as during the brief period
which has followed her formal dcclala-
ton that her territory Is cordially open
10 all grades Of honest industry; that
upon her soil residence carries with Itself
the fullest recognltlons due 10 honorable
manhood without reference % consldcrn-
tions of nativity, creed or occupation -
! We claim to unfettcr thought; especially
10 nnChaln the mind aud heart OF the
rising generation from the debasing In
tluencc Of prejudice which precludcs the
mental processes essential to the attain
ment Of truth. Forgetful OF exploded
dogmas, avoiding the "sluggish bays Of
dead thought" Virginia IL welded IN
tlssolnbly to broad Amelicanlsm,
which rcpcls sccIlonalsm In politics oI
In tho vocntlons Of men, and yet con
serves community Independence. As IN
the night OF the struggle for American
Independence, Virginia offers the frater-
nal countcrsgn 10 Massachusetts,, and no.
ocpts her generous sympathy with the
performances of her sister State In the