The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-05-15
Old Parties and Onr Duties,

as well as of principle, should make thes|
Southern people avoid parties at present,
those, whose mission accomplish. !
ed. are certain to pass away. The old
Democratic and Wing parties Went down.
in the South, during the war, and the Re
publican or Radical, having nearly run its
race of ::rule and ruin, ]" is rapidly travel
ing the same road in the North. This is
shown by every indication which reaches
US, as well as by the eagcrness with which
they seek support, for their waning pow
er. among the hated arebels" South. The
Southern people. white and black, are now
anxiously looked to by the dead and dy-
ing political organizations North, as the
'.cats" whose paws shall draw out lew
more sschesnuts" from the public toasting
house for them. Havethe hard lessons OF
the past beeu learned to SO little purpose.
and was the searching our fingers receiv-
ed, at this little game, so pleasant, that we
should again crafty the Unsuitable apetites
of these political .moukies' at SO great a
cost?
Parties in the South, with the excep
ton of a minority in favor Of the enforced
Union. too small to effect the result or ex
ert any great influence, good Or bad, died
during the war. Wing and Democrat.
original Union men and Secessionists, union
men and fighters in the Union, stood should
or to shoulder in defense Of their rights,
and buried all political differences, forever
in the Graves Of their comrades. The sur
render found all true Southern men, espe-
cially the soldiery. standing together, with
saddened and almost broken hearts, but
hopeful of the future regeneration Of their
country, by hard labor. Who were their
friends; who their enemies. what purity
deserved credit for the deep damliatlon OF
our t4king off, they never asked, for they
had made prisoners Of soldiers belonging
to every party North. and had found all
united in fighting for our overthrow
With this knowledge, gained by no roy
al or loyal road, they went to work, re-
lying principally on their paroles aud the
honor of the soldiers of the U. S. Army
to protect them. And nobly have they
stuck to it, regardless Of parties OR poli'ls
clans. promises, threats or brides. What
has been done is only an earnest OF the fu-
ture material prosperity ofthe South, when
her people, prosperous and happy IS IN
the halcyon days Of past, will bless the
hands that worked and the heads and hearts
that avoided parties and politics.
And what have these parties don't that
we should aid either? President John
son tried his hand at 'reconstructlng' Us,
beginning by orderingthe Southern people
to do certain things. Old politicians look
ed cheerful, visions Of the good old days
OF fat offices and nothing to do, enspired
them to emulate the fulsome eloquence OF
other DAYS, in heralding his :magnaplm-
ty" He was the great reconstructor =
the .'secoud Washington '--.'our noble
friend. Andy Of Tennessee" and all that
/ What if he did ask us to do rough things
1t was all for the best-Andrew Jack
son johnson would surely win The
South accepted his plan, as matter OF
course, nearly every body being busy work
ing and desiring peace. And it didn't
take US long to fix matters up according
ly. WeEad Congressman, Senators, Cow
ernors and Legislators, but 'swhere are
they?" Mr.. johnson, with the best. IN
tentions, no doubt, failedto carry the North
for his policy and. alas Congress succeeds
to come in with Constitutional A
mendment," asking the South to unite in
her own degradation. 1t was rejected, as
it should have been by an honest people.
Then Congress concluded to force matters.
and hence the military bill of abomina
tions, we are now forced to act under. 1t
leaves US, as people, no option-but it
leaves us our honor and a hope Of saving
our local governments, all that is left
With devilish ingenuity it is contrived SO
as to make it appear that powerless PEG
pie approve OF its measures. and to aid in
forcing a Radical party into existence in
our midst. The Democrats, or Conserva
tivcs, or whatever you call them, North,
headed by johnson, are powerless to help
us, if they would-they are looking to us
for help. He is enforcing this very law
the s.seeoud Washington" places a mill
tary. Governor over the mother and child
rem of the aFather Of his Country" In
short one party North can't help US and
the other uoat, while both wisht to use US
in the next Presidential election. Be
tween their experiments we have had a
hard time, recovering from the wreck and
ruin. inflicted by both, aud we can see but
one path to follow.
The Richmond Riot; the natural result
ofrecent incendiary appeals to the negroes,
should teach us useful lesson. This riot
NAV be but the beyinninp of the end OF