Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-04-13
The Situation.

Politics, says the Lynchburg Vlrginaan, are
in great muddle in this State We have a
sans cuzottes Radical party, composed of Wells,
the carpet baggers, and their sable allies;
respectable" Republican party, inspired by
Mr. Walker, the spirit of Rye, and ''two dol
lars a day with roast beef" and a Conserva-
tive party ocalled, that can hardly be consid
cred political party, since it ignores office and
looks only to the honor and welfare of the State.
For the first time in the history of parties in
this State, one, and perhaps the larger of the
three, is not "held together by the cohesive
power of the public plumber" It's members
do not ask for Office; they only want to see the
Government administered upon just and hon
orable principles, and with view to the COM
mon welfare. They are prepared to take the
sefdenying ordinance if need be; and GER
tainly their conduct is not such as to Justify
the imputation that they are influenced by con-
siderations of selfinterest. If they regarded
Office as the supreme good, their action would
be such as to commend them to those who dis
pense patronage and control the Offices Hence,
we say, that the men who are numbered with
this Conservative organization can hardly be
considered as identified with any political par
ty. They are not Wings; they are not Demo
Gratis; they are not Republicans, in a party
sense. They are simply Virginia patriots, de-
termined, as far as in them lies, to prevent the
permanent ascendancy, in this State, of par
ty that regards not Constitution or law, integ-
rity or truth, justice or virtue, when these con-
fict with their party shibboleth, or stand in
the way Of preferment, or interpose obstacles
to the consummation of their nefarious pur-
poses.
| But what is to be the issue of these compli-
cations? That is the question. Third parties,
as general thing, do not accomplish much
and it is the fate of the weaker, frequently, to
be absorbed by the stronger It is obvious
that the respectable" Republican party in
! Virginia can accomplish nothing without the
aid Of the Conservatives. Theirs is forlorr
hope so long as the Wells party can contro
the negro vote and is backed by the Fedora
Government, as it now seems to be- Thei1
chance of success consists in making such over
| 1
that were possible, an alliance against the com
mon foe AS we have said already, the Con
servatyes.are looking chiefly to the interest anG
honor of this State, and regard these as vastly
more important than the success Of any politi
cal tricksters They will not yield their con
victions on this subject at the behest of any
political party. What they might be willing
to concede on the score of policy, to insure the
ultimate triumph of great principles, we are
not prepared, at this time, to indicate. There
will be time enough for negotiations of THU
character, while events shall be moulding them
selves into such shape as will enable all to ap
prehend more clearly the contingencies of thu
future. But, for ourselves, we may say tina
we desire to see union of all the Conserva
tive elements Of the State, whether they stan6
now committed to Withers or Walker, in orde
to defeat the ends of Radicalisn, and the I'm
derwood Constitution, as it is now presented tt
us. And surely, men who love their State
and regard the interests of her people more
than they do the interests of party, may b.
able to find some ground of compromise where
on they can stand together, and cooperate il
the work Of defeating the most proscriptfve
intolerant, and venal political organization tina
ever existed in this country. This is a worl
that should fire the heart and tax the energ,
of every man worthy the name of Virginian O
patriot.
*P. Sit would seem now that the Well
party is not backed by the President, though
the reinstatement of Wells certainly had tina