The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-09
ELECTION IN suuusg.l COUNTY.

ELECTION IN AUGUSTA COUNTY.
We give elsewhere she,, yots of Augusta
county, cast on the 9TH Inst. The election
was for a Senator and three representatives In
the lower House The vote cast is compare
lively small, but little over onc-half OF that
registered It will be seen that the Conscrva
tive nominees have heen elected by a decided
majority. notwithstanding there was an lnde-
pcndent ticket in the field, as we'll as regu-
lar Republican ticket. We do not think that
we will ever hear of another attempt to con-
travene the wishes Of the people, as express
cd through regularly chosen and fairly con
stituted convention. The stern rebuke ad-
miuistered by the people to the independent
candidates, is lesson they will not soon for
get, nor will the effect of the attempt to
break the conservative column, in the face Of
q we'll organized foe, be speedily effacod from
popular remembrance.
The issue of the Spectator, on the morning
of the election, was a transparent attempt to
weaken the conservative nominees, and to
.Aamn them with faint praise" Machia7eli
himself could not have devised more in
genius mode of inserting bitter animosity
into an apparent wish for the success Of the
nominees than was adopted by the Spectator.
While "urgiug' conservatives to vote for
the nominees, yet it naivey states that if
they will not vote for them, then the next
best thing is to vote for other conservatives
that is to say-it is not much harm to eul-
t;vatc feeling of Indifference for the regu-
aar nominees, because there is an independent
ticket that can be voted for In several SEN
tences,Ealusion is also made to the unpopu
lArity Of the regular nominees, bVt it Is off
sett hv the conclusion. that as last resort, it
is better to swallow that bitter pill than vote
for Radicals.
This mode of exhibiting the chagrin and
developing the animosity of the Spectator,
incideat to the fair defeat of its friends in
o Convention, does not contribute to ia
vorable estimate of its candor, or its sin
4sere desire for the success Of the regular
nominees, It's hesitating support was
more Aaaaaging than would have been a
declared opposition. While it held up the
eminent propriety of Convention, be-
fore one assembled, after it had convened
and the result Of its deliberations did not
exactly harmonic with its preconcelved
=Siews, then it gives it that kind of milk
and water support, which might be said tt
BE neither fish, flesh, fowl nor even gooe
red herring. Indeed, there has not beer
AN earnest line written in its editorial col
fumns, in presentation of the claims of the
nominees. ays whole course has tended
to bring into disfayor the nominees them
selves, as personally obnoxious, and onl.
to be takeu because they we're the nomi
a,es, placed in antagonism to the Repub
lican candidates.
While we do not wish to appear captlous
in ssiticisipg the conduct of the Spectator
during the canvass just closed, we will no
withhold the expression of our conviction
that if it had raised the black flag an(
marched under the banner of Republican
ism, It could not have done more than il
did to harm the nominees of the very same
Convention for whose assembling it so lus
.tily and earnestly plead. It would have
been much more to it's credit, had it I'M
shesitatingly refused it's support to thu
ticket, as it did to the nomination Of judge
Harris for Congress, (who likewise was the
nominee ola Convention earnestly advoca
ted by it) than to have sought to deal ;
blow under the fifth rib, whilst wearing
the robes of friend.