The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-14
VIRGINIA or TO-DAY.
what Is Seen and Heard In Riding over
the Old state.
lFor The Times.

a quarter of century has passed since
the memorable conclusion at Appomattox
Of the saddest. the most disastrous, and the
NEST decisive of modern wars. A quarter
Of century j. long time-the boys OF %
are the active men Of business now. The
hattle-scarred and taitered "J0hnny Reb,'
who was forced to yield to overwhelming
numbers and resources IN 90, has grown
grey with care and busy toll. our state
then. everywhere stricken and desolate
waste. is reyiying. and her fields are again
green and fertile.
Dire were the affections OF the Virginia
Of -. Although her people reluctantly
yielded To the inevitable result of 80 I'M
equal a contest. yet they sincerely pledged
their hearty allegiance to the restored
Union. Their pledges were distrusted.
The oath Of the soldier had been demanded
and given in exchange for the parole which,
in ali honesty. ought to have secured ex-
empiiOn from further annoyance or
moipstatinn. Not sol His motives
were constantly misunderstood. his
conduct misreprescnted, his charac-
ter maliciously slandered and on his
almost every action were placed constitute
tions which were prompted only by malice
and hate, most persistent and unyielding
were the efforts 10 brand as traitors the brave
men who fought nObly for principles dear
b. them as life itself. Distrusting the oaths
Of honorable men, our people were put
under the rule Of military tyrants. For
years our energies as people were para
lived by severe policies of cruel proscrip-
ton and Ostracism that were unmeritod and
unjust. Ahd even i'm TINS day, when men
may calmly review the dire destruction Of
%. how much Of mere twadde and yeritabe
nonsense is written and spoken as TO the
true situation then. Why has Virginia
been 50 long rallying from the war! Alas.
the loss she suffered was infinitely greater
than dollars and cents can tell. Her best
capital was i'm the beating hearts,
noble aspirations, the tireless ener-
gies Of her sons who fell on the fields
OF battle. During all these twenty-five
years that have passed she has been de-
priyed Of the results of the productive labor
Of these thousands. Then the sud
den emancipation Of her thousands
Of slaves, and the consequent para
lyzaiion Of her industrial system,
the complete extinction of millions Of dol
lars Of her property, the fearful upheayal of
her society, her once fertile hills ana valleys
stripped of every Nestige OF Their former
glory, dc. But, bitterest trial Ofall, the con-
ferring the right Of suffrage upon the newly
cmancipated slaves. and thus forcing upon
her people the solution Of the grave prob
lem how 10 compete at the ballOt-bOX with
thousands Of grossly ignorant, though
LEGAL voters. whose voting is ycritable
sham. because they are the tool Of political
hunters the purchase of corrupt
political party. This was the worst Of
AN her Affections, That men with no claim
toan intelligent understanding OF the duties
OF citizenship. unable 10 read and write,
without the least training in political az
fairs. wholly ignorant Of the commonest
matters relating to our states affairs, SUI
s;lperstitious. the easy victims of tricky
impOst0r-- that such a. these should be
placed side by side at the ballOt-boX and
have there equal privileges with intelligent
noble. and patriotic sons Of Virginia, j. an
onense so foul as to cry for the direst retri-
button,
And what muledction is strong enough
10 heap upon those traitors 10 Virginia.
best interest who. selling their birthrlght
for the bare mess of potage offered by the
Republican party. have spent years in ale
glance with the instigatOrs Of this helnous
crime 4 vehement citizen once remarked
i'm commenting ON the now defunct leader
of these cOnsciencclcss traitors "Nhy, sir
YOU MIGHT put a ton OF tartar emetic in hell
ana Won could not belch upa bigger scoun-
draI,' Don QUILL.