The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-12-15
TIE GREAT TRIUMPH IN MISSOURI
GOV. GRATZ BROWN.


The result of the recent election in Mis-
souri, is significant, and develops the fact that
the progress in popular, yet healthy, ideas
is beginning to take shape and substance
Two years ago, McClung, the extreme Radi-
cal candidate, defeated Hon. Jno. S. Phelps,
\ war democrat. statesman of national rep
utation, and before and during the war one
of the most popular politicians in that State,
by near 10000 majority. In the election in
November last, Gratz Brown, who two years
ago voted with the Republican party, trl-
,umphod over this same McClung-one OF
tho most vndictiye, proscriptive and rclent-
less Radicals that ever raised voice IN the
Congress Of the United States to denouncc,
misreprcsent aud belle the oppressed people
Of the South, whose shoe-latches he was never
worthy to unloosc-by 10000 majority !
In 1868 the great talisman, Of the party that
supported McCung, was the enfranchsemcnt
of the blacks, and the disfranchisement OF
the "rebel" whites. That people then who
were privileged to vote sustained the at1irnla-
tive of this issue, by 10000 majority. In
1870. these substantial issues were again
-, passed upon by that same people, and they re-
yersed their decision, made two years previous,
by 10000! That is they reversed it so far
as the disfranchisement of the whites is con-
cerned They not only did this but elected
Democratic, Or liberal, Legislature, and
every member of Congress, save one. The
extreme Radicals were lead in the two con.
tests by the same candidate for Governor.
One of the first duties of the new Legls-
lature will be, to call Convention, whose
primary and paramount duty will be, to expurge
from the Constitution all test oaths and dis
ability clauses, and incorporate into the fun
damental law of the State the mandate of
the people as recently expressed at the polls.
Then, indeed, will new era have dawned
upon that gallant State. Sixty thousand
people, heretofore held in chains by the Leg
islative, executive, municipal and even judi
cial cruelties of the extreme Radicals, will
have been emancipated- sixty thousand Of
!, the brains and the material wealth of the
State-wil be added to the $1,000 majority
of Liberal Republicans and Democrats Of
Missouri, who will forever, we trust, hold the
reins of government of that State, and start
and keep her upon the great line Of mate
rial and intellectual progress. The brave
and determined ninistry-both Protestant
and Catholc-will no longer be compelled
to take an unconstitutional oath, or be drag
ged, by the ukase of hireling judiciary
to the loathsome dens of county prison
The doors of the State will be thrown wide
open to every class Of emigrants. The young
and the middle aged and the old, who here
toforc have been loath to encounter, at such
great Odds Radical prescription, will fock tc
her genial climate, her kindly and afluent
soil, and to the mpanionship Of her warm
hearted and hosptable citizens. Another
decade will not only show three quarter mil
lion of increase III her population, but mil
lion and half, constituting her, at least, the
third State in the Union
Such is destined to be the result of the
recent grand tidal wave in politics which has
swept over this empire State of the Vest
And this is only the beginning of the end
1t is destined to Eeep on in its course uuti
every State and territory in the Union has
been purged of puritan-proscriptive ideas
save the soil whence they sprung and were
propagated, whose people will stand out as
did Ighmael of old, with every mans hane
against them and theirs against every man
a beacon warning to ianaticsm.
Very truly did Gov. Brown declare, in {
recent response given to a congratulatory
demonstration in St. Louis that the result o
the Missouri election dated new era in tn.
history of that State, Of the great Yves
and Of the country at large. That it wal
the initial step in the grand march of intel
lectua and material deyelopment-to thu
opening up Of new and enlarged channel
of thought-the fuller development of tn,
idea of mans capacity of selfgovernment
and the more thorough demonstration Of oul
Democratic theory Of government.
And what more fitting man to declare
these cheering truths than Gratz Brown
the young and triumphant leader in the grea
issue of Political and Civil Reform and Re
trenchment, initiated as distinct issue il
the growing West, where the arm Of empire i
destined to sway He is statesman. II
is no man of persifage, but an educated gen
tleman of ideas. philanthropy and courage
He is one of the most graceful and fuen
speakers to whom we have ever listened
Words conveying deep and matured though
roll from his tongue in almos. musical harmo
ny. His GESTURES are few, yet expressive
meeting Shakcspeare's idea of suting tn
word to the action aad che action to tn
word Being thinker, he is never COMPEL
el to recant expressed opinions, for want o
argument and nerve to sustain them. II
INDUCES in no rodomontade to please ant
ror,,I,r f,pa1 hut In lonio,1 :, ero