Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-17

That little affair or San Domingo and u
Klux" Bill. Tbs first has been ventilated
as a stock jobbing affair---a wild cat
scheme, and is so considered by the think
ing portion Of the people Of this country.
1t tbs, however, persisted in by the Preside 1t
with pertinacity that excites the ridicule
of all. One would think that it was the
grandest scheme ia the world. save that Of
acquiring the Alaska iee-ponds, were he to
read all that correspondents assert the Pres
ident thinks and says fit The fact is that
the President is not equal to matters of
grave import in the administration of affairs,
and, having bsstrided this hobby thinks he
has accomplished wonderful thing in diplo-
macy. and unwittingly calls upon the world
to look at the ludierous figure he cuts And
they are looking and laughing Sumner,
even, knew that San Domingo was not fast,
and venturing to assert that it was necessa-
ny to take him off the track to win the next
Presidential race, has been robbed Of his
jockey cap, whip and spurs, and told to
stand aside, as not light enough in weight
to ride on the next Presidential course He
has been deposed as chairman Of the Senate
committee on Foreign relations for merely
asserting that the Presidents hebby-horse,
San Domingo didn't trot worth cent-not
worth that in good money. Whether Sum-
ner or the President will come out best in
this little affair, we care very little, but we
rather think Sumner will win, as he has
"head' the start.
The 'Ku Klux programme Of the Pres
ident is on par with San Domingo. The
South has been held under the sway Of the
bayonet, has had irresponsible governments
thrust upon her, and parties foisted into office,
in many places, whose only qualification was
blindly following the behests of party, and
whose aim was not to render as light as
possible enerous laws, but rather to make
them more burdensome, and not only to in
fict penalties where proper, but to search
for chances Of peeulation Is. &c. This has
caused some restless spirits to take lawless
measures to rid communities of such evil
designing persons, which has given rise to
"Ku Klux' outrages, so-ealled. In some
cases, probably, outrages have been COM
mitted But that the large majority-nine
hundred and ninty nine out of every thou
sand in the Seuth-depreeate all lawless
means, we boldly assert, and that if the
officials in the South had pursued the prop
er course there would have been nothing of
the kind, and if they were now to pursue a
different course, the cause being removed
the effect would necessarily vanish.
We, in Virginia, have been but very little
annoyed with such officials, and consequent
ly have been most quiet and orderly people.
What burdens we had, we could bear and
have borne with patience. On the contrary,
South and.North Carolina, which have been
over-run with m such as we have men
toned above, have been the scenes of riotous
disturbances .e
II is, therefore. plain to every one, that
all that is necessary is that bad men hold
ing Offices should be deposed, and good men
-.men who will make the burdens of gov
eminent as light as possible on the people,
and who will not endeaver to irritate them
and provoke them to riotous acts for politi-
cal effect should supplant them. As this
is or will be acknowledged by the candid of
all parties, how ridiculous is the Ptesi-
dents request for "Ku Klux," bill, backed
by the aid of his 'bettled' hero ! Oh our
country, kingdom, centralized despotism,
or whatever you may call it, for President
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