National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-12
our Friends in virginia.

The Republicans Of the Old Dominion
have no cause for prolonged discourage
mont over the result Of the recent election
in their state, and we feel quite sure that
their faith Is not Of the Kind that dies at
the touch Of disaster They have shown,
on more than ono occasion, q superb capac.
ity for the maintenance Of courage under
trying circumstances. Now, as heretofore,
they will decline to sit down In the gloom
Of defeat, but "girdng up the lons Of their
foith,n they will turn their eyes hopefully
to the future. Having good cause and
being inspired by worthy motives, they
will feel that they have right to look for
final and complete victory.
II were useless now TO discuss the means
10y which the Democratic victory of last No
ycmber was won. II was not the intention
Of the Democrats to submit TO defeat under
any circumstances. When they used revo-
mtionary methods to get control Of the last
general assembly, one of their principal OBJ
| iGcts was to take control Of the next clec-
ton in order TO render Republican success
impossible. No matter what might have
been the relative strength Of parties in the
last contest, no matter how large Repub-
licau majority might have stood in their
way, the Democrats would have come out
| ahead they would have overcome 10000 as
readily as they did the narrower margin.
| 1t was not an election to elect. II was
going through the forms of a trial after the
| verdict had been made up and sealed,
But such methods cannot be permanently
used to defeat the popular will in state
where there Is so much integrity and mo-
rality as is possessed by the people of Nir-
| Cina. There is vast difference between
Virginia and Mississippi. The mississippi
plan" cannot become acclimated In Nir-
ginia. There are thousands of Democrats
in the latter state who are the reverse of
proud at their recent victory because of the
means employed to secure It. The Repub-
licans have only to stand to their colors,
stick to their principles, work as If failure
were impossible, and they will succeed-for
truth is mighty; 1t IS invincible when
backed by such q party as faces the
Democracy Of Virginia,
Since the November election there has
been decided reaction in the party that
came out ahead The defeat Of Barbour for
the Senate-giying the fruits Of victory to
the man who did not win it-has had a most
dcmoralizing influence. This is frankly
conceded by leading Democrats all over the
state. Mr.. Barbour's friends point TO the
recent election in Fairfax county, to III O
vacancy in the Legislature, as illustrative OF
the general situation. In this contest the
Democrats were beaten in county where
they had almost four hundred majority in
November
The administration is weakening It's
friends in Virginia MS well rs in all the
southern and western states by its pro
nounced leaning toward Wall street, and by
its hostility to protective tariff. Not da,
passes but denunciation of the administra
tion is heard in Washington from the lip
of influential Democrats who were at th
front in the late campaign,
In the congressional elections Of this
year our Republican friends in NIrgInli
will take the field as cheerfully and hope
fully as If they had never known defeat
They will, In all probability, recover dis
tricts now held by the Democrats, and vii
show the country that a solid south IS no
an immutable fact.