The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-07-18
THE BALTIMORE CONTENTION.


The surprise and bewildcrment incident to
the Nomination of Horace Greeley at Cincin-
nati, for President Of The Ucted States, over,
and our equilibrium attained, we were pre-
pared to receive almost anything anomalous
in politics and abnormal in convention tac
iics The same strange and unaccountable
impetus given to the public pulse which al
most startled popular contemplation at Cin-
cinauti, seems to have kept up its steady and
persistent throb, until it shook in pieces the
frame work of parties at Baltimore, and in
violation of all precedent and al! party logic.
The Democratic cavaliers deliberately selected
as their captain knight in the approaching
national tourney, full -fedged representa-
five Of the Radical Puritan. The houses Of
oIontasuc and Capulct, over the bloody tomb
of buried hopes, claspcd hands, and hence
forward the high-spirit aud proud individu-
atty, which distinguished the difference be-
tween parties, is to be melted into a com
mon sentiment Of concern for. our imperlled
institutions, aud resolve to save them from
further pcrversion, and destruction. With
the same zeal that has marked the adherence
Of each to the distinctive features Of its orgar-
szation-pow that the necessity for the exis-
tence of the two parties has cea sed-is the
ncw formation and the new crystai;zation to
be maintained.
We recognize the fact that both the De-
n:oeratic and Republican parties have lived
out their day, and that the purposes of their
creation have been consummated Indeed,
six months ago, We maintained through these
columns that the Democratic party as it once
existed, was no more. The vital elements
which gave it force and power, had long
since died out, and that nothing remained
But the hollow and meaningless name. We
were then arraigned as untrue to the Con.
servatige Democratic party. But carefully
cratic party, we could find none of the old
landmarks, none Of the ideas which entered
into its formation previous to the war. They
had been Joined in the issue of battle sub
mited to the arbitrament Of the sword, and
lost. There was no enduring, substantial
'Oasis, no clearly defined principle, to main
tain the organization. 1t was shadow
without the substances; framework, without
tho Orders and braces to keep it safe aud
steady. >,
The Republican party has accomplished
its Hissiou. Springiug into existence as the
Antagonist of the Democratic party on an is
~sue legitiaately resulting from cardinal
feature Of Democratic policy, State Rights,
and therefore the defender Of the right OF
the States under the Federal constitution, to
maintain slavery, it has accomplished its OBJ
.,ject, and there is nothing else for it to do,
no congenial food TO keep it alive. Slavery
has been abolished, tie negro invested with
civil aud political equality, these rights fully
guaranteed by enactments Incorporated into
and made part of the fundamental law Of
the country-acquiesced III, and recognized
as solid and permanent by bota parties and
all the States, with no disposition to disturb
them, or change the relations the former
:slave now holds to the political, civil systems
The two great parties having clearly and
definitely finished their work, it was meet that
there should be some broad, comprehensive
recognition Of that fact, and the prominent
dedication of the paramount idea that the
necessity for sectional parties, or parties
whose past history kept alive the jealousies
and passions Of sections, had ceased. No
event could have more grandiy demonstrated
the earnestness of the men of the two parties
than for the Democratic party to have nomi
mated Horace Greeley, aud for Horace Gree.
ley to have accepted nomination from the
Democratic party. It was grasping and solv
ing the problem at one swoop. 1t was th'
work of half century compressed into TWEEN
ty-four hours. Both of the old parties ma,
be considered dead or moribuad. If we ar
not mistaken in the magnitude Of the presen
movement, it is destined to sweep down al
opposition, and carry its accepted leaders in
to the Offices indicated in their nominations
New parties will necessarily spring into ez
istence. The safety of our government rest
upon the existence of parties, but parties no
formed out Of sectional hates and prejudices
but created by reason of dissenting views o
government policies, with adherents con6net
TO no particular localities. The action Of tn,
Baltimore Convention, is an earnest tina
there must and will be an end to sections
conflicts. prosecutions and dislikes. It il
really spanning the bloody chasm, by claspins
hands in friendship and brotherly love BY
the extremes Of the two great parties. These
certainly are strange things; they appea
alike, the ftful flashes Of fcversh dream =
we fought for Democratic organization ane
Democratic policy as long as the semblanc'
Of organization was maintained. We refused
to follow or to be carried away with an ex
element, meaningless spasm, because ne
reason had been vouchsafed to justify it
IVn nrotested aoainst Horace GreaInv nc