The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-16
To the Editor of the Dispatch:


No election since the contest between
Jefferson and Adams at the beginning OF
this century involved the settlement OF
more important principles than the one
lust held In Virginia. No wonder the
piety. conservatism. properly. PATRIOTISM,
and intelligence OF our citizenship OF Doth
sexes, in all parts Of the State, contemplated
the result with the most profound concern.
II was struggle OF intelligence against
ignorance. OF patriotism against selhshness'
self-government ag0lst autocrailc ana IN
solent mastery, the Will and welfare OF the
people against Federal power ana SELL
seeking bossism. Human Imagination can
hardly conceive OF the evils which would
have come from our failure. The Oldest
and camest observers OF political contests
have never witnessed such deep Joy, sucD
sincere gratitude. such sense OF RELIEF rs
were occasioned by our dellverance,
through the peaceful ballot-DoX,. from pre-
sent degradation and future perllS.
Too much praise cannot be gwen 10 MI.
Barbour. the Moltkc who organized the
campaign and victory; to Tucker ana
Massey and Daniel and other speakers, to
the yigiant and able press; but all these
would have been impotent II tue people
had not grown fatigued with misrule, and
the prostitution OF the executive. leglsla-
tive, and judicial departments to lowest
partisanship. and had not felt that yigor-
Gus and united effort was necessary to save
constitutional liberty and local govern
meHt. Old men, with vivid recollectlons
OF an honored past. were keenly alive TO
the magnitude OF the conflict, but in an
exceptional manner were the young men
tireless and earnest in their labors.
Is the victory to be barren one? Is it
10 give occasion to hearty expressions OF
iov, TO bonfires and professions! or is 1t to
bear practical and permanent fruit! Our
enemy has sustained terrible defeat, but
ambition and revenge and prejudice and
have resources which
often surprise us.
Our organization, in tbOroughness and
compactness, should be maintained and
strengthened for next years battle and for
the establishment Of vital principles. All
citizens OF both races should have equal
and impartial justice. The negroes should
continue to have their full political and
civil rights. Our public schools and chart
table institutions should be freed from all
abuses and be sacredly separated from all
party machinery and partisan uses. Pub
lie officers should be held to the strictest
accountability. In filling offices the great
est caution should be used. No man has
right to he restored to nm Office because Ire
has once held it. SObriety, honesty. COM
potency, should be indispensable tests. II
is never safe to confer public trust upon
a drunkard or gambler. Besides the
positive disqualification resulting from
these vices, the Democratic party should
recognize its indebtedness to the good men
who have been Its chief supporters. No
party can safely ALLEVIATE the upright and
industrious by putting intemperate and
unsafe men In high places. The young
should be stimulated, by highest examples
OF civic and official virtue, to lives OF In
tegrity and nobleness.
The development OF our mineral re-
sources, the Improvement OF agriculture.
the stimulation of smaller and varied in
dustries, the construction OF good roads,
announcement OF immigration, 90 hand-in-
hand with the guaranty and enforcement
Of law and order. OF justice aud right and
truth. a DEMOCRAT