National Republican., 1883-12-26
ARRIaHT PRopnECY.
Tho Vision OF the Future Seen by a Loyal
Citizen OF the Old Dominion.

To inc Editor.
ylrzinia's fair name and fame must and shall be
saved. That cruel and unjustihabe war in which
she took SO conspicuous part is now thing Of the
past, leaving nothing but sad memories. In that
great struggle for the salvation Of the union, and
the freedom and enlightenment of mankind, God
himself directed the result Virginia was the
great battlefield on which we Two great armies ,S
other for the perpetuaton of slavery. After the
lapse OF twenty years, and when the sad memories
Of those four years OF cruel and bloody war are
fading away, can truly say Thanks be TO God,
for the result--a union saved and millions freed
from The & thtsdom ,o ad q ss ssIaEe,S N 80 o., =,
reproach would give; instead, revere their
memories and their deeds OF yalor, for they were
Americans and their deeds should forever live in
American history; but let us be watohiul over our
rights as citizens of common country, and stamp
out every vestigc lof seotionalsm and opposition
to the laws of our country, no matter from what
quarter 1t comes so that every American citizen,
be he white or be he black, may feel that he is
his country, no matter in what portion of this
great country he may be. was formerly q demo
crat of the deepest dye my hrst vote was cast
against the know-nothing candidate for mayor OF
Washington city
At the breaking out OF the war was sent for to
come to Richmond TO organize and superintend
the state laboratory. l continued in the service
of the confederacy until the war ended, In 1865,
and did all In my power to insure Its success
After the war earnestly acted with the bourbon
democratic party until that great aud liberal
hearted man. Wm. Malone, sprang to the front
uuu luuuguthteu anu OT8unlEeu the llDerhl rehu-
juser party for the purpose of saving Virginia
from everlasting shame and degradation.
Under the rule of that party, whose platform Is
broad enough for every liberal minded man to
stand upon. our financial system has become
healthy, our public schools built up and increased
our agricultural and manufacturing interests fOs.
tered In fact new lease of life given to the old
state by that party whose conception and origin
sprang from the brain ofWilliam Malone. Vir-
ginia had almost taken her old sand among the
leading states OF the nation when the rule or ruin
party, the bourbon democratic, determined to
thrust the old state back in that darkness and
poverty from which, she had but just
emerged II resorted TO the "shot-gun
| policy and murder and intimidation
stalked through the length and breadth of the
| commonwealth. Committees were appointed by
| the intimldationists and murderers from among
themselves to deny or to justify their own mis-
| deeds. From such wrongs as these-from such a
policy as this-Virginia must and shall be saved.
| A reaction has already set in. Men stand aghast
| at the consequences they now SEQ staring them in
| the face of the policy pursued by them immedi-
| atey preceding the late election and now say
| that the course as pursued by them has lost them
| the state in 1881. The defeat of Nov. 6 is only
temporary. and will result in a greater victory
for us hereafter Our lines will be drawn closer,
| our weak points strengthened, and In November,
1884. the eagles of victory will again perch upon
our banners. w. n. SMITH.
RICHMOND, Dec, 4, 1884,