The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-04-17

Thursday, April, ~, 1873.
The Editor of the Valley Nrgnian correctly APP
pretended that we had no design, in considering
individual political action, to impugn motives or
call in question patriotic intent We have long
ago lesl ned that the same goal is attempted by
separate roads, by those inspired with similar
ho pes and controlled by like desires.
Meior Yost will pardon us. though, when we
~ thsB no effort Of fancy even have we exerted to
.oss any human beng into the Eddtcat Camp
If gentlemen happen to be found in that portion
of the ..moral vineyard" it surely has been by
no act of ours, and we would gladly realize the
fact that we have committed mistake, and be
able to say. that once again the pens of Hughes
and the Editor of the Nrgiaian, have been nibbed
in behalf of the old party in which they were
once prominent members. But if not in the Rad
ical camp, they surely have been lettering about
the Zines; for in the campaign between Grant and
Greeley pronunciamento on pronunciamento was
sent out by Col. Hughes, TO the truly loli, and
of all others. in the whole State, we elieve no
one carried more votes for Grant than Major fost
If it is matter for ngratulation with these gen.
tlemen, we will say we believe their efforts gave
the State away to Grant ''And it is o pity It's
true.''
Butsthe Greeley and Grant struggle has ended;
Greeley is decentralization the Editor of the
Virginian having opposed him because he was
the chiefest sinner of Radicals before the conclu,
sion of the war, he should again rally around the
. flag which bears the ancient notices and is car
lied in good faith.-Od Commonwealth, Harrison
burg.
1t may not be amiss--in fact, a proper un-
Outstanding of it requires, that, in again re-
ferripg to the question Of Conservatism and
Radtcalisns, we bring up a few historical
facts, which seem to have faded from the
remembrance of many of those who are now
singing poeans to the redolent virtues OF the
one, and Illuminating their anathemas against
the hideous crimes Of the other In doing So
it is with no purpose to attach to fragrant in-
consistency, the sin Of premeditated wrong
doing, nor to strip from self-assumed conserv-
atism, the attraction of patriotic intention
Tits not our province, and certainly not our
inclination, to go behind the bald, naked ar
ray of facts, into the recesses where the mo-
tives and moral convictions have their abode,
but to present to the mind and the ready
comprehension of every reader, and group
upon the foreground such political transpi-
RANGES, as will enable every reasoning man
to draw his own conclusions.
In 1869 the Democratic or Conservative
party met in Richmond, and after profound
deliberation, determined to nominate ticket
and present representative men for the posi-
tious of Go.ernor, Lieutenant Governor, &c
Col. R Z. Withers and G. q. James Walker
both gallant soldiers and heightened Virgin
ia gentlemen, were chosen as the STANDARD
bearers for the State contest. They accepted
the positions, and actively engaged in thu
canvass, stamping the State from one extreme
to the other. The warmth and animation o
the canvass had scarcely been aroused, before
there were evident indications of distrust ant
apprehension, which speedily ripened into
conviction that square contest on the idea
these gentlemen represented would result dis
astrously. Regarding personal success a
paramount to poIH cal integrity, e Q partie
in the movement that presented the names
Withers, Walker, &c., abandoned their cho
sen standard bearers, withdrew them from thu
field, and identified themselves with what wa
denominated the True Republican party, ant
:. brought forward the names Of Gilbert G
Walker, Northern man, war democrat
and at that time an avowed Republican, ant
John F. Lewis, an uncompromisipg Uniol
man during the war and distin and unques
toned Republican after the war. The issue
was made up merely as to men-each part.
protesting Republican doctrines, and seeking
to convince the people that it was sounc
State policy to place themselves in harmony
with the Federal government. 1t was con.
test as to which Of the. two wings was the
best Republicans or Radicals, as they are
now called-the True Republicans, or the
straight, plain, unhandled Repnblioans-th'
former represented by Gilbert G.. Walker
and the latter by H. II. Wells-both. North
ern men-both connected with the Fedora
army-both having fought against the Con
fsderacy, and assisted in its subjugation.-
The people decided that the True Republi
cans were preferable to the straight Republi
cans, and Walker was elected Governor.
In this election, the question of the adop
ton of the Underwood constitution-the chill
Of largely Republican Constitutional Con
vention, was also involved 1t was adopted
BY 10000 majority--both parties voting 70
it-both parties adopting7it, and claiming i
as representing their ideas Of what the fun
damental law Of the State should be.
. So elated were the new converts to Repub
slicanism what is now called Radicalism-
so enthusiastic over the triumphant demon
stration of their identity with the Republican
party, and Republican national admins
tration that Raleigh T. Daniel, as the chair
man of the Exc utive Committee, then as now
not content with the slow method of steam tt
communicate the joy Of his over-burdenee
heart, resorted to the electric current t.
transmit message Of congratulation to the
Republican President, Gen. Grant, upon thu
success of his po'i:y in Virginia, in the name