National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-14
Virginia and Her Future.

The Lynchburg Nc,rs in a recent issue,
said: "Virginia wants many thousands Of
new settlers to cultivate her surplus lands
but fails to get them" The Ne,CS suggested
as a remedy the cutting of large farms into
smaller ones, but entirely neglected to eX-
plain how this process would bring immi
grants into the state. There has been no
difficulty in obtaining lands in lots to suit
purchasers, and at astonishingly low prices.
Indeed, Virginia offers magnificent induce
ments TO immigration from the crowded
north so far as relates to the cost OF lands
and their proximity to railroads and to
towns which, but for bourbon hostility to
the elements of substantial progress, would
soon be large cities, afrording ready and
ample markets for agricultural products of
all kinds and thus greatly enhancing the
value Of farms.
The I'di,y I'Hgiidn, published at staun-
ton, and addicted to the employment Of
plain truth and hard sense, notes the COM
plant Of the Lynchburg paper and proceeds
TO explain why "new settlers'' are not ar
riving to take up the surplus lands. 1t
says, ''the bitter abuse heaped upon all
who happen to differ from the ways and
methods of bourbonism is the central rea-
son why we do not get the new settlers
so much needed.n 1t adds the results Of
personal observation;
We know II to be fact that intelligent gen.
tlemcn Of wealth have come and gone and
others have been prevented from coming by
the bitter, reckless defamation of political op.
poncnts INDUCED in by the bourbon press. 1t
m mi a. ~ rnl Of IN mn T1a au
be TO business, his public spirit and active en-.
cTgy, If ne should elect to support the Republl
| can party and participate in elections here as he
| had been in the habit of doing in one OF the
| northern OF western states, would share in the
abuse which is directed against Virginians
who believe that the Democratic party, as now
constituted and managed, has been and is q
| positive curse to the state. If there were tole.
rance ofpolitical conviction generosity in the
discussion Of questions with two sides to them,
amany forbearance in the assertions ofbellefs,
1t would make n wonderful difference with
those who come into the state with party views
in sympathy with the Republicans.
1t is good time now, in the lull be-
tween campaigns when the public mind is
comparatively calm, to take up and frankly
discuss the momentous question started by
the Lynchburg NcWS-the reason why the
surplus lands of Virglnia-good lands, ad-
mirably located, and offered at merely
nominal pices-do not find purchasers
The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has no doubt
at all that, If political tolerance were the
rule in Virginia, If social and business os-
tracism on political grounds were unknown
in that state, she would now be enjoying
all the benefits of the most active and
healthful immigration. Many facts, of the
most authentic character, have come to the
knowledge of this paper which confirm,
in general and detail the candid assertion
Of the l'dHcy Tirginida. Good citizens,
possessed of capital and energy, have left
Virginia after residing there for some
years, and have gone back to their north
ern homes or out into the northwest,
BECAUSE of political prescription in the
Old Dominion. The NATIONAL REPUBLI.
CAN has taken pains to investigate cases OF
this kind, aud has gotten at the facts, so
that 1t knows the IaHcy I'HgiaiaR speaks
the truth when it says; "Gentlemen have
come and gone, and others have been pre-
vented from comingn reckless defamation.
Our Staunton contemporary Is right when 1t
bHOb llluJ llslllld VIII ltNtI BGI ntN stJ-
tiers, such as will help build up our waste
places, until the proscrlptlve spirit OF par
tisanism which dominates In every canvass Is
abated, and men are accorded the liberty
to think, and speak, and vote as they may
deem right, without let or hlnderance
and with that charity which thinketh no
evil
In later issue of the Lynchburg Nc'ri
than the one from which we have quoted
elsewhere, the editor attempts to reply to
an article in the I0Ncy I'igiaid0, but in
doing so practically pleads guilty to the
charge of prescription. lie says;
No man Is abused for his politics, or abused
at all If lie Is the right sort Of man. But when
lie has come rs an incendiary to inclte and
band together the negroes against the whites
and make mischief, aud when he has Joined
in the false cry of murder" fraud" ter
rorism," Nc raised against the white people
of Virginia, then he has been abused, and dc.
served to be lynchcd The carpet,bag gang
who iocked to Virginia. like carrlon birds
were lashGd with whips Of scorpions. The Ma.
hone gang who joined in calumues Of their
own state and people-who sided with the
northern slandereH of Nirginia-were pillorlod
for their pcrhdy
Making lun allowance for the prondiIn