Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-08-03
The Bifarcated Democracy.

as indicated by the speeches Of some Of their
orators, and among them u. S. Senator
Mason, and Attorney General Tucker, is
such as to almost preclude the possibility Of
compromise being effected in this State.
Mr.. Mason has declared that the Democrats
who support Douglas in Virginia consti-
'tute ''leprous spot upon the party which
must be "sloughed off," Mr.. Tucker de-
clared at Berryville that the difference was
upon principle, and that there could be no
compromise. He considerable the friends Of
Douglas as "outside Of the Democratic
party" and net to be recognized in the or
.ganization. Such sentiments, coming from
persons occupying the position they do
given to them, it is true, by the very men
whom they are abusing pretty clearly FORE
shadow the spirit that will animate the pecu-
liar friends of Breckenridge in the Char
lottesville Convention We hope that wiser
counsel may prevail in that assemblage than
will come from this class of men, who at
heart desire severance of the Union, and
whose sympathies have never accorded with
the honest and patriotic outgushings of the
popular heart Educated in political cate
chism whose metaphysical dogmas are in dr.
rect antagonism to the practical results Of
the operations Of our system of government,
they have never condescended to adapt their
views and reasons to the common under
standing. or reconcile their speculative theo-
ries to the plain, practical, self-evident
truths Of actual experience. A transcenden-
tai idealism, foreign to the facts Of history
and inimical to the governmental tenets de-
veloped and established in the experience of
every political community which boasts the
patronage of our republican creed, COM
mands their homage. They seek to substi-
tute the abstract theories Of political ethics
and economy, derived from college associa-
tieas for the stern teachings of the frontiers
man who fells the forest, cultivates the
soil aud makes society. The attempt must
prove failure. Theories and speculations
must give way before the resistless march of
facts. Experience is a safer teacher than
speculative philosophy, and the history Of
countries and parties is pregnant of incidents
where sentimentalism and idealism have
been forced to retire before the determined
attack Of stubborn, pr actical truth. The
class Of men to whom we refer, may for a
short time succeed in befogging the popu-
lar mind by impassioned appeals to preju-
dice and sectional pride, but their triumph
must be of short duration, for reason will
resume her sway and assert her supremacy
as naturally as do the sparks Fly upward
The common sense Of the people will not
fail to control where their interests are in
volved, and their feelings enlisted. A stern
declaration of practical truth will break
through the cobweb devices of the hair
splitting theorists as certain as the morning
sun dispels the mist and fog that hang over
our hills and vallies.
The two Conventions which meet in this
State on the 10th inst, will clearly indicate
the line Of division in the Democratic party.
In the one at Charlottesville will be found
professional politicians-dreamers and job
bers in politics-scheming and plotting to
deceive and entrap the people by nicely ar
ranged plans, which will wither before the
touch of the hard sense Of the practical think
err. There will be an excessive eutburst Of
devotion to the rights of the South-the e.
quality Of the South, land extravaganza decla-
rations of abstract theories as to the means to
secure those rights-theories ''full Of sound
and fury, signifying nothing"-which never
can be reduced to practice, bat will exist
only upon paper, as evidence Of the attain
ment of some Alumnus in the fashionable
accomplishment Of concealing ideas with
words.
In the Staunton Convention, tile poop lie
will be representative muscle, the bone
and sinew of the State-men who look at
the affairs Of the country ,as we'll as individ-
uals, through practical medium, and draw
their conclusions from the lights of every
day experience. The one will be convo-
cation of the politicians and the other an as
semblage of the people.
The results Of the deliberations of the two
bodies will harmonic with the classification
we have here given them. The first will
be contest Of experienced political trick
sters and wirepullers to delude the people
by specious pleas and sectional clap-trap.-
The ether will be free, out-spoken, honest
confession of Democratic principles, and a
cordial endorsement of Democratic precedent
and usage.
Page County.
The friends of Breckenridge and Lane 10
Page county, have placed themselves in
rather an awkward predicament. At meet