Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-01-23
Spettator.
Tuesday, January Is. 1872.
Radical Strategy.

Iuey are SeGllng trap Tor conservatives. And
what is worse, they are likely to catch them
in it.
Preparatory to the last canvass for election
Of members of the Legislature the Radicals
held State Convention and adopted plat
form. The broadcast, and We might almost say
the only plank in that platform, vas ''opposi-
ton to the Funding BILL
The contest came off, and large majority of
so-called Conservatives were elected. The Gen
eral Assembly met, and, forthwith, large ma
jority Of those elected as Conservatives, went
over, horse, foot and dragons, to the Radical
platform, and have been lighting side by side,
On the Funding question, with the whole body
of Radicals ever since.
This is certainly great triumph to the Rad
icals Conservative policy is derided, and the
Veto of the Conservative Governor is tramped
under foot
The majority of the so-called Conservatives,
are thus completely entangled in the meshes of
the Radical net
How are they to get out of it?
Will the Radicals be content with this par
tial triumph
We think not. We think they will carry their
adroit tactics little further. They viii not be
content until they secure complete ascendency
in the State, and then they will laugh at those
who have been their dupes
Can they do it? We fear that it is by no
means impossible, if shey are as shrewd in the
future as they have been in the past.
The Radicals are but a small minority in the
Legislature. They feel that they are in no wise
responsible for the policy of the General As
sembly. Ali responsibility attaches to the nom
ina Conservative majority. The Radicals feel.
therefore, that they are at liberty to maneuVre
as they please, to gain party advantages
They feel free to render the action Of the ma
;ority as 0dtoNs as possible, to all honest and
thinking people. Having accomplished this,
they will quietly bide their time. A year or
two will glide away 4 Few election vii come
on-presto change! A new Radical conven-
ton will be called, "a new platform will be put
forth, and the people will be called on, in
trumpet tones, to condemn, by their votes the
infamous and dishonest policy of the So-caled
Conservatives
Will it be said that the Radicals are too
deeply committed by their votes against the
Funding bill, &C., to attempt that line Of pol
icy? By no means. What do they care for
consistency? lid not the whole body of the
Radicals, with possibly two or three excep-
tons,-vote for the Funding JtH, in the last
Legislature? And yet, in the face of this re-
corded fact, did not the Radical convention de-
aomace the Funding bill as most iniquitous
measure? Aud are not almost the whole body
Of Radicals now, acting 10 solid column against
that bill?
What, then, is to prevent them from play
ing a similar game in future?
IF they could wheel to the right about in re-
gard to the Funding bill of last session, what
is to hinder them, when they have succeeded
in making the course Of the Legislature odlous-
from turning squarely around and denouncsng
its financial policy2
1t must be remembered that the people Of
Virginia are not now welded to party as they
were in former years. They go for measures,
rather than for party. The party that advo-
Gates honest measures, will be likely, ID the
eud, to gain popular support.
The great objection to Radicalism, hereto
fore, has been its destructive tendencies
Hence all Conservative men banded together
in opposition to it. But if parties are to re-
verse their principles and acton,-n Conserua-
tues become deStructiUes, and deStructiUeS Con-
servatiUes,-may not the people-the honest
contract. observing people, reverse their votes ?
The great need of the Radicals, in Virginia,
heretofore, has been a body of respectable, IT,
telligent citizens of Virginia. Who possess the
confidence of the people Of the State, to give
that weight and character to it, which carpet
baggers and veIal scalawags could not give.
Now, f tho so-caled Conservatives, persist
in their suicidal career, who will stand surety
that this need viii not be supplied? Vino will
undertake 10 say that a very large class Of the
best citizens Of Virginia will not ''repudiate'
the so-oaled Conservatives? Despairiug Of
wise, honest aud constitutional legislation, at
their hands, may they not be induced as g
desperate experiment, to support the Radical
candidates, who, at least will hold out hope
Of better things?
1t would be dreadful alternative to choose
between a repudidtor and radical How the
vote would &C, in such case, we will not IN
dertake to say. God forbid that such an issue
should eVer be presented to our people!
We still hope that our Legislature will pause
in their rash career, and vindicate their claim
to be called Conservatives.
Governor Walker was chosen as the stand
ard bearer Of the Conservatives He has borne
our nag calamity, and We beseech our brother
Conservatives to rally to his support.
Let us not be the victims of Radical STRAIT
egg. Let every honest man enquire of his own
heart. "What would Robert E. Lee, if be
were living, advise, under the trying crcum-
stances in which we are placed? What would
Stonewall Jackson say?" Having propounded
these enquiries in good faith, let his conduct
conform to the answer which will come to him
from that inner chamber, in which his con
science dwells!
In conclusion, We venture to put on record
the prediction, that in the next general politi
cal canvass, which may take place in Virginia
the State Journal and all the Radical champ
ons viii be loud in their denunciations of the
atrocity of the action of the General Assembly
in violating public faith. and sacrificing The
honor of Virginia, by shameful attempt t.
oander TO vicious sentiment il regard to th;