National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-10-09
Didn't Mean What II Said.

The mysteries of bourbonism are deep,
dark, and labyrinthian. To suppose that
bourbon organ means what 1t says is to
get into trouble. Recently the Richmond
Dispatch said:
The election in Virginia In November will de.
eide whether the south shall be open to an inva.
sion of political Goths and vandals, led by such
moral traitors as the Shcrmans, the Blaincs,
the Logans the Reids, and the lIalsteads.
Thereupon THE REPUBLICAN, in mild
SURPRISE inquired, Why cannot these "moral
traitors go where they please in the south,
just as any and all of the public men Of the
south go into and through the northp Why
cannot "Moral Traitor Sherman 20 into
Mississippi and address Republicans as
freely and safely us Mr.. Lamar could 90
to Ohio and speak to the Democrats of that
state? Why is it that such men as Sher-
man, Blaine, Logan, and Reid are politi-
cally shut out of the southS BY what right
do the bourbons of any state deny freedom
of speech to any manY
II seemed to us that If q Democratic de-
feat in Virginia would open the south "to
an invasion of political Goths aud Van
dals,n led by those moral traitors, the south
must now be closed to such an invasion.
Why preach against the opening of that
which is openY But the Dispatch denies
that 1t lad any such meaning, and goes on
to remark ihat-
The Shermans, the Blaines the Iogans, ct i'd
omne genus, would be as safe In the south a3
they would be In their own beds. Nay, more.
Our Washington contemporary is aware that
we have frequently expressed the wish that
some Of the Republican speakers of the sher-
man stamp would make q canvass Of the
south. They would not only do great good for
| the cause Of Democracy, but would be objects
| Of pity after Our stump speakers hal gotten
| through with them.
THE REPUBLICAN has no doubt that In
most of the counties Of Virginia Republican
speakers from the north would be safe
| Virginia and North Carolina and Florida
are exceptional among the southern states,
| in that they are less intolerant than the rest.
But there is not absolute freedom of
| speech in the Old Dominion. John S. Wise
was howled and hooted down by bourbon
mob in Alexandria last Thursday evening.
Since then Republican speaker in the
Danville district has been pelted with rotten
eggs by the gallant bourbon Democracy Of
Franklin County. These are not the only
instances of bourbon suppression of free
speech since Fitz Lees campaign cavalry
began ''riding all over the state to stir up
the votcrs.n
The Dispatch concludes its unfair editorial
with the suggestion that THE REPUBLICAN
has slandered Virginia. If there has been
any slander 1t was the statement Of the Dis
patch in relation to opening up the south
to an invasion Of ''moral traitors'' from the
north
The world knows by heart the story OF
the putting down of the Republican party
in the south, 1t is susceptible Of proof thai
more than $500 Republicans were mur
dered In Louisiana alone before the bour
bons got on top in that state. Virginia 4
not Louisiana by long odds; but II any Vir
ginia Democrat has ever condemned TIN
political murders in Louisiana, Mississippi
South Carolina, or any other state, w
should be glad to print his name.