Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-12-01
SATURDAY EVENING DEC. l. l'o0

WEE HAVE already pointed out That
the Governor of Virginia bias given DIS
consen, for a regiment Of Virginia mil
tis to 90 TO Washington on the IL
ip.f. 20 fyuse ia the parade TO take
place there. The regiment will have
TO "psy The piper" and although lie
members hear much OF MCKINLEY
prosperity" they should save their
money, unless 1t can be shown that 10
some way they are to be benefited oy
the proceeding. But every man OF
sense knows that they will not derive
the SLIGHTEST advantage from the ceie-
bration. Whatever benefit is to be OBJ
tanned out of the business will be reap
al bv the people of Washington city.
Now. who and what are these people OF
Wa ahington? Long ago the residents
of Washjngton were drawn mainly from
Virginia and Maryland. They had not
only he blood, but the traditions, the
svmDsthies. and the political and social
caste otthe peopls of these two common
wealths There was society there
tina, could compare with that OF any
CITY 10 the world for refinement, high
breeding and hospitality. That day
has long since passed away. With the
oufbresk Of the war between the States
and the influx of strangers that has fol-
lowed. the whole aspect of the place
has changed, and changed for the
wore. There is no longer a 60
oie,y founded on merit, Intelligence
aDd culture, but a snobocrecy based
on money. Then, you have the
bureau rats aud the department
-rks, many of them bitter, veno-
nous and vulgar South haters, who
paDder TO whatever admin stration may
be ia power. at present they are re-
pu0licans and shout for Mckinley.
IL all these classes there is very little
love or respect ior the Southern people
o. The contrary, there is large
disposition to slandsr and Willy the
South. Alexandria Is a constant object
of ridcule in their thea ers. In the
proceedings for this celebration this
spirit of sectional malice has cropped
out, and it is even alleged that the
growth of the city is entirely due to the
substitution of new notions and new
"progress" for the more quiet and de-
cent Southern element who made the
city what it was In its best days.
The Governor of Virginia is greatly
mistaken if be supposes that he will 60
to this cele bration s5 a really honored
guest. 10 Virginia his Office is regard
ed as one very high and honorable. 10
the federal capital the feeling is other
wise. Such is the forcs OF party ma
Lightly and falsehood in portion of the
press that many persons there would
probably be surprised to hear that his
election Yves accomplished without o
fraud upon the ballot box. In short,
the Governor would be 10 danger OF
playing the part Of the "poor boy at
the frolic." lie might have score Of
aids ell gotten up 10 blue, regardless oil
expense, and regiment of Virginians
to escort him, but he would he very
Ear from being honored as much as his
fancy might imagine. The Governor
would do we'll to stay away altogether.
Let him give us little Of the quiet,
simple dignity that would serve to call
back the good old days when the post
of Governor of Virginia was filed by
grand men and all the people were
proud of them. II the Governor would
only stop TO consider, he would see that
there lie q moral grandeur 10 the per.
formance of his executive functions at
Richmond that beats ell the new Wash
ington shows in the world Robert
Lse once said that duty was the
sublimest word in the language Who
supposes that, il alive, he would be
seen rushing to Washington to figure in
"A republican processionp His post OF
duty at Lexington was good enough for
him. He did not rup after the men
who had helped TO desolate Virginia
and who paid back her generosity with
malice and Injury.