The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-11-14
Thursday, November Ii, sS72
POLITICAL EXPERIMENTS

PJtEElCAL EAPEEiENlS
A resort to cxpedients either in business
or politics is sure to " ,rk disaster Ia the end.
It is a-yiolaiion Of moral principle COM
Iremise7of the fight-and must therefore
IN Get the condemnation of that violated prin
ciple. The history of the'old Wing party
was succcssionsof expcdieuts, and couse-
quently failsrcs. It,was based upon compro-
mises and had syitlin itself the seeds OF dis
solution. =
ssThe compromises Of 1920 aud 1850 only
postponed the day Of evil, and in creased the
intensity Of TIE struggle in 1850 to the pres
eLt.
The Committee of Nine in Virginia lie
1869 rssorted to an expedicnt, which an
swered the purpose then, but has yielded its
fruit now. The policy of exrediency in be-
coming True Republicans theu--in orgsni-
sirg apathy party, the constituent elements
of which had never agreed in Their views of
what was best for the national interest-was
q shift, an abandonment Of principle for ephe
merai. success, that sooner or later had to-
prove disastrous. The application of this
expediency policy upon a broader theatre in
the nomination Of Mr.. Greeley mas alike ac-
complished fatal results to those who inaugu-
rated and carried tout. e
Indeed, all the harmful contentious to
which this country has unfortunately fallen
heir have been the result Of comp promises and
oxpedients. Henry Clay, in his day, with
his wonderful genius aud his upquestioned
= patriotism wae, unluckly for the nation, full
Of cxpedients, and by reason thereof, full Of
defeats.
1t is this objection We have always had to
Hon. A H. Fl. Stuart as a politician. He
was one Of tho Henry Clay class Of public
inen:l Well informed and plausible, his in
fuence and acute Intellect have been directed
to the devisement of expedients, rathe than
.asiherencestoa principle Of government. Tn
til the adoption Of an expediency policy, Vir-
ginia had always proved stcadfast aud immove
able. Under very peculiar and anomalous
circumstances this policy won in 1869, bu
the Democratic party lost its identity, became
True. Republican, then Conservative, from
the,aiSii ,,mcnt Of Mr Stuart's style of public
men. Having no substantial, inherent bono
vfunion, no enduring basis Of existence, n
magnetic sympathy in the personnel of tn
organization, it could not endure the shock
of time, AID fell to pieces III 1872. We fore
teld this result as early as May last. W
then stated ihat The electoral vote Of Virgin
Ia could never be cast for Horace Greeley
We argued from the very same hypothesl
Ahat is here presented. A coaiitica based sole
.ly upon expedcucy, and engineered by am
bilious, and in the majority OF cases, unprin
cipled politicians, can never command tn
con6dcace Of the paople. s.
We lay it down now as principle, that til
controlling party in Virginia hereafter, wi
have to be founded IN the confidence of tt
people by reason Of its identity with the int
rests eff haLor The people .hemte!ves wi
see tosit, that political adventures and exp
-diency men are driven from the managemel
Of the successful political organization l.
Dor must be protcc ed. The Industries of Il
State must be fostered and the material weal1
developed. Manufactures, by this mean
will spring up our water power be utilize
our timber become source of wealth, bla
furnaces and rolling mills established, and
these means, furnish remunerative emplo
meut to laborers, home market for product
thus Keeping with us the money of our fars
crs, instead of sending it abroad to purchas
at triple profits, the very manufactured art
cles that we furnish the raw material for
= The progress and wealth of State al
measured by the encouragement given to i
Dor. tt is as certain as the night folos
the day. that the principle of Cover nmel
shat protects this element, is destined to rul
.HThe people themselves are having their ely
opened TO this fact. There is not brant
Ct mechanism CIR an avocation OF toll that
pO6f directly interested III u.
I'D Whatever parry name mag be attached
this fundamental principle in the economy
government it matters not whether it is cal
ed Republican, Democrat, or Conservative
will be supported by the people, and Will ru
Virginia. The manufacturers ef political e
pedients have had their day in this State
Their doom is fixed, as unaltcrable as fat
The substantial interests Of the people vi
constit lite the basis Of the future goveruif
power Of The Commonwealth.
Presidential Election
Al The returns of the Presidential election al
still incomplete. Enough has been lcarDe
to show that Gen. Grant has been elected b
ga tpopular majority OF over 100000 -twic
as large as that ever given 10 any candida
l,oforo bi.n Ia. hoe r,iaA 1ooet N,