Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-14
Staumto1t Spettator.
Tuesday, November. II, 1871.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Result.

MISUNDERSTANDING Result
The result of the election in this county, is
gratifying to those who approved the plan of
organization of the Conservative party and
who advocated the holding of convention, in
accordance with that plan, to make nomina-
tons of candidates for the Legislature, for it
has indicated the wisdom of that policy #
the policy advocated by those who denounced
the organization of the Conservative party, and
opposed the holding Of copEention, had been
adopted, there is but little doubt that there
would have been az many as dozen Conserve
tive candidates, and the probability is that the
Republicans would have elected their ticket,
for then there would not have been any recog-
nized Conservative Ticket upon which the Con-
servati7es could have been rallied, for there
would have existed no party obligations to vote
for one in preference to another. Personal
preferences would have controlled the votes,
which might have been nearly equally divided
between the Conservative candidates, and the
result would probably have been the success of
the Republican ticket
As there was, by the action of the conven-
ton, a regular Conservative Ticket in the field
the recognized standard-bearers of the party
there was no difficulty in rallying to its support
those who recognized their party obligations as
soon as it was made known that Republican
ticket was in the field. The unfurling of the
Republican banner was the signal for the rally
ing of Conservatives, irrespective of individual
choice and personal preference, to the support
of the recognized standard bearers of their par
ty-chosen in conformity with the plan of its
organization.
The danger which threatened the success of
the Conservative Ticket consisted in the fact
that many had. been prejudiced against the
plan of organization, and the holding of con-
ventiop<s part of that plan, and for that
reason refused to connect themselves with the
organization, and to assume the obligations it
imposes and as a consequence felt that they
were under no obligations to vote for the nom
inees of the convention, but were free to vote
for or against them as their personal prefer
ences might dictate, or not to vote at ALL if they
had no decided personal choice. Its fortunate
that this feeling did cot exist to any greater
degree, and that the opposition to the holding
of the convention did not prevail.
Those who advocated the holding Of the con-
vention without regard to the nomination of
any particular individuals, but because it was
omplying with the organization of the Con-
sentative party, deserve credit. Those on the
contrary, if any, who favored the holding of
the convention simply because they considered
it the means of securing the nominations of
particular individuals, or opposed it because
they feared that particular individuals would
not get the nomination, deserve not credit, but
apprehension, for they subordinated the organ
ization and interests Of the party to individual
preferences.
The who supported the nominees Of the con-
vention, if there were such, simply because
they happened to be their personal choice, de-
serve but little, if any, credit. Those, On the
contrary, who supported them, not because Of
personal preference, but from sense of party
or patriotic duty, deserve much credit, for they
performed virtous act.
The election, under the circumstances, Of the
Conservative Ticket by such handsome ma
jority is specially gratifying, as it demonstrates
that but few of the white citizens of this coun-
ty can be induced to vote for Republicans, how
ever much they may be opposed to the noni-
nees of the Conservative party. That there
was considerable opposition to the Ticket nom
mated by the Conservative convention is pat
ent. Whether it proceeded from the feeling
of opposition to the holding of convention,
and that those governed by that feeling op-
posed it because nominated by the convention,
Or whether it proceeded from opposition to the
individuals nominated, or from both Of these
sources, it is bootless to inquire That such
opposition existed is an undeniable fact, and
that the Republican Ticket-though headed by
q citizen Of character and qualifications, who
possesses many personal friends in the county
was but very little, if at all, benefited there
by, is also fact equally palpable, and these
facts establish that but few, if any, Conserve
tives in this county can be constrained by any
stress Of circumstances to vote for Republican
candidates.
The Conservatives Of this county will not, as
they should not, vote for Republicans; but
WILL as they should, when they vote, cast their
votes for Conservatives, and if, for reasons sat
isfactory to them selves, they should be unwil-
ling to vote for the nominees, they will vote
for some other Conservatives, for they know
that each vote cast for Republicans is equiva-
lent to the loss Of two votes to the Conserva-
tive party, and that it is better that those who
will not vote for the regular nominees should
vote for Conservatives, even though not candi-
dates, than to vote for the Republicans, for
then the vote is not lost to the Conservative
party in the comparison Of the numerical
strength of the two parties, whereas, if they
do not vote at all, their votes are;slost, and if
they vote for the Republicans each vote SO
cast counts two against the Conservative party.
The corporation of the University of Yer
mont, Burlington, on Thursday last, decided
that ladies should be admitted to the academic
and scientific courses Of the University, in &C
cordance with the vote of the corporation last
commencement, from and after the beginning
Of the next spring term. Young women will
be required to room and board in private fami-
lies approved by the faculty.
Some Of our taxation items are startlng.-
For instance, the taxes collected for the year
1871, from whisky and tobacco amounted to
$50, 100000. In 1860, before the war, under
a Democratic Administration, this would have
paid the whole expenses Of the Government,
and allnWnn uc ahrnlufa fcoa +roJo III IL