The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-05-15
A FATAL POLICY,

discussion Of principles and State policy
They hope by this means to inhame the pas
sions and prejudices of the white people
against the negro, and ride into power upon
false and fatal issue. They know that there
IS no danger Of the government of the State
falling under the control Of others than Vir.
ginians. They know that there is no party
IL this State that wishes to place the negro
10 official position, above the white man and
they further know that when the social
ed Conservative leaders are driven to fair
contest upon the merits of their own action
IN this State they will receive the unqualified
condemnation and reputation Of the great
body OF the rejecting voters In the last
Presidential campaign the same policy was
pursued In addition to the clap-trap Of ne
gro supremacy, they endeavored to excite the
Tears of the people by charging that Gen.
Grant aimed at despotic power, and if elected
he would declare himself Emperor We all
know the result. We have realized that all
this fustian and fury was for eAect-to de-
sude the people, and accomplish selfish parti-
zan purposes. The government of the Un;-
ted States was never farther from despotism-
1t was never SO prosperous, and presents the
wonderful anomaly oil power, emerging from
costly, desolating war, and almost Instantly
commencing to pay off the public debt, a. the
same time the taxes Of the people are being
reduced. The history of the world does not
present such an instance of financial states
manship and administrative ability. When
ever government can appeal to the record as
attesSation Of the healthy condition of its &.
nances, 1t may be assumed as incontroverti-
bic that all the other departments are wisely
managed, for that is the essence of good gov
ernment.
The cruel, wicked and desperate policy to
which the leaders of the so-caled Conserya-
tlVe party are resorting, and seeking to thrust
upon the people, is having its effect 1t
gives evidence Of bad faith in observing our
solemn pledges aud obligations to carry out
the reconstruction measures. The negro be-
gins to feel that if left to the mercy of the
unprlnclpled demagcgues and spollsmen,
there VIII be no peace or protection for him.
Consequently they are leaving the State III
great numbers. Within the last year there
have been five able bodied negro mea left the
State where one white man has come in. We
are thus driving from our already poverty
stricken Commonwealth the bone and sipew
That constitutes much of our withdrawing
them from their homes and their associations.
where they would gladly remain to help build
up the State, were it not for the prejudice
that is b5lng excited against them by the
desperate place hunters who would ruin all
the great interests of the State to attain pow
or. Every able bodied negro man that is
thus driven from Virginia is at least one
thousand dollars annually lost to her material
wealth.
These so-called leaders are not only doing
this, but the same spirit that arouses preiu-
thern men to stay where they are. They are
not only causing aa exodus of profitable and
familiar labor, but they are raising up Chi
n'se wall, to prevent Northern capital and en-
tsrprlse from coming in. What will be the
result! We tell them now, if this disastrous
policy and embittered spirit do not at once
cease, and catholic sentiment succeed, Vir-
GINA, in FIVE years time, will be the poorest
State that the sun Of heaven ever shone up
on. Her mineral wealth will lie buried in
the earth--her water power remain uhutili-
zed--her lands half cultivated-and stagna-
ton sit like gloomy hideous nightmare up
on her very vitals The so-called Conserva-
tive party of Virginia have done more 10 par
alyze the energies Of the State, to PROSTATE
enterprise to shut out capital, and to retard
all her great interests, than an invading hes
sile army ever did. We are calling for emf
grafton Justify in every form -organzing
emigration societies, and appealing to the
Legislature for assistance, and at the same |
time these pestiferous VAMPIRES, are seeking |
to inaugurate policy that will drive out of
sur limits the most profitable element Of la
Dor that ever a people had Driving away
from us the negro, and at the same time shut
ting the door upon the white man who hap
pened to be born the other side of an imagi-
nary line. Was there ever such folly and
madness perpetrated before by a sane people
AT time, o! all others, when we want labor,
when we are begging for capital, the leaders
of the Conservative party, are devising
plan, and making an issue that will as sure
as effect follows cause bar the doors to the
one and direct the lash that drives away the
other.
Suppose these chronic politicians and reck-
less demagogues succeed in carrying the State
upon such an issue as they propose Will
not that be the recorded verdict of the pso-
Pile, that they want no one to cross the State
lines to settle among u.s. who does not think
With them? Most assuredy. The wealth ;
and enterprise Of the North and West are