National Republican., 1885-10-15

cooperating army on the cuemy's flank |
L there was any question rs to the result Of |
he Virginia campaign that doubt Is now |
resolved. Nothing but steady, well directed
work from low till the votes are pollcd and
counted is required to swing the Old Do
minlon into the Republican column.
This will break the solidty Of the south
and open 1t up, not "for an incursion OF
Cloths and Nandals," as the bourbon press
puts It, Tut for the operation Of natural
laws, the prevalence of wholesome political
conditions the ahrogation Of the color line,
the demise Of sCctionalisn, aud the rcstora-
tion Of the federal government to It's only
Legitimate hasis-thc will of the governed,
freely and fairly expressed and recorded.
The Virginia Republicans were not unap-
prcciatvc of the importance Of the Ohio re-
suit as a factor in determining the issue of
their long and arduous struggle. On the
morning Of the 18th instant the Richmond
Wing, IN an editorial on "Ohio and Vir-
ginia," said:
Ohio votes to-day on an issue which is more
directly and practically Nlrgnia's than hers,
II Is that which var.ously presents itself in dc
mands for free politics, free elections free bal.
lots full votes aud fair counts for civil and
political equality for individuals, states and
sections; for freedom Of opiuion-soul liberty
whether in political or religious matters.
The editor Of the Whig then procccl led to
show that, by reason Of the complication Of
this leading issue with prohibition and other
questions and because Of Democratic mis-.
representation, Ohio might 90 Democratic
"But," he added, "our case "a different
We cannot he deceived as the people Of
Ohio may be, or may have been, as to our
situation. None Of us are ignorant of that
situation. We are all It's victims, more or
less. Not bourbon thrall but feels the
gives AID hears the whip The matter Is
ours, too, Immediately and not that Of the
people Of another state or section. Here
and now the issue is upon us, direct, for
liberty or slavery, for veal or woe. II
Others fail us (as herctoforc), shall we there
fore abandon ourselves and our own cause?
Neyer--by all the gods at once-nevcr!"
Far better than any and all other results
Of the Ohio verdict, many and great as they
are, is the impetus it gives to the cause for
which the Virginia Republicans are making
their magnificent campaign.
Northern men who have not resided in
the south can have no adequate conception
Of what Il Republican campaign in that Sec
tion involves. They fail to comprehend
the meaning Of the fervid rhetoric employed
by southern writer's and speakers. because
they know little of the causes which excite
Il ipt. t.
to northern politicians.
The liberty enjoyed in the south under
bourbon rule is but a sham. The Democrat
who crosses the party line and casts his lot
with the Republicans is thenceforth socially
ostracized. BY every possible means the
idea is fostered that all the respectabllity is
on the Democratic sde-On the 'whtte
mans side In u thousand ways impossi-
bic of description, but inevitably and keenly
operative, the white man who joins the
"niggers' is made to feel the crushing force
of social condemnation, is branded as d
"scalawag,n is cut of from old Friendship.
and old ASSOCIATIONS as If he had committed
sope degrading crime which could not b,
reached by the law, but must be punished
| by public opinion.
1t is conceded that there is less OF this IN
Virginia than in many other states. The
bourbons of Virginia and North Clrolina
could not, If they would, be as bitterly and
diabolically proscrptive as their brethren in
South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, Ala
bama, and Mississippi, They are made o
better stuff and have more Of manliness II
their character.
But there is a great deal Of this hideou
spirit in Virginia, and there are countie
in that state where majority of tn
white men are intolerant of rolit
ical opposition, and bitterly malignan
toward Republicans. When the Richmont
Whig says the issue of the campaign I
freedom Of opinion-soul libertyn-th
editor knows what he is talking about
knows IL by observation, knows 1t by eXpe
rience.
\ better day is coming for Virginia, fo
the south, for the north, for our commo
country, and the verdict Of Ohio speeds II
progress hitherward. 1t Is not In angcl
not with any vindictive feeling or reveng,
ful motive that the great Republican part
of the nation looks hopefully forward
the time when the solid south shall hav
passed into history and all the inhabitant
of the land shall be freeman in deed an
fellow-citizens OF the republic in fact.
Given fair chance, the Republican part
will draw to its ranks by conversion to II
principles thousands of white Democrat
in every southern state. Under the fai
| nucrotion pf natural fnrrps thn DnmorrotI
party IN each and all Of these states ca
divide the colored vote with its rival.
the bourbons, turning from their idolatr
Of dead and buried past, looking to III
urgent demands Of the present and tn
splendid possibilities Of the future, will
good faith accept the accomplished facts
history us facts, will checrfully accord ''a
rights to all,n the "bloody shirt" will b
heard Of no more.
But Just so long as there is in any part
the country suppression Of the votes
any portion Of the qualified electors
long will the federal government be taintC
by fraud, and so long will the Repubica
party cry aloud and spare not-cry alou
for the inalienable rights Of man and spaI
not those who deny those rights.
Our brethren in Virginia will fight Il
good fight and keep the faith, They ha,
the sympathies of the Republicans in ever
other state, They will win victory, IN
the time is not far off when the bourbon
looking back to 1885, will be thankful tn
they were defeated.
The Issue Sustained.