The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-04-10

out, lHas Tue parry, IN the aggregate, ~ .
negro party, aud they can, aud will, II they
should secure power, rule it, Shendndoa"
-EaNey. --.-..-4.-..
We have great respect personally tor the
editor Of the Wiley. not only for his charao-
ter as gentleman, but for his requirements
and intellectual culture. And therefore We
cannot refrain from expressing our surprise
that he should have given utserauce to such
aa coptandum rulgus IS the above sen
tencc. 4 similar expression was given III
the editorial columns Of the indicator OF this
place during the last Presidential caaIpaigh.
That had 10 other effect with Seifsible Men
in this community that to create feeling OF
commiseration for the author Of it, and the
presumption Mat lead him to believe that he
could excite the prejud:ces Of the people, at
tho expense Of their common sense, into the
same superficial channel of thought The
fallacy WAS quietly abandoned. to the. damage
Of the philosophy Of the writer Of it. lu
this county large number Of our most intel
ligent citizens-the representatives of much
Of the unembarressed wealth OF the county,
truly conservative by reason Of their mental
organisms, and their interests, do not believe
in the Conservatism of what is called the
Conservative party, and SO believing, did not
act with them last year, aud will not act with
them this fall. They are Us fully alive to
the absolute necessity Of good legislation as
men possibly can be, yet they have no appre-
hension of the dire results flowing from the
defeat Of the Conservative party, as is fore-
Swallowed By our contemporary. There is
nothing to justify the assumption that the
negro element of Virginia is opposed to
the interest, Of Virginia. The negro is
legal voter. lie is entitled to suffrage and
it is not sound policy or an evidence of state
attachment to assign to him an inimical
sentiment, in the face of the steady record of
his fealty to the interest Of the people of the
State, when it was In his power to do harm
| with impunity. We assume that it will be
the ambition of both parties to put forth their
best men in the coming contest for official
position. We may further assume, that on
both sides the manifest purpose and para
mount consideration will be 20 better the
condition of the State Ia this contest the
negro will have vote, and we venture the
assertion that it will, in general be cast for
men whose Virginia feeling aud State pride
will be beyond the reach Of suspicion, and
challenge the respect, while they may not
command the support, CT all fair minded
men.
DISTINGUISHED demagoguerJ which has
been used by the press aud the politicians Of
the State, of NEGRO party and ''scalawag
and carpet-bag party to arouse the passions
and inhaue the prejudices OF the people, has
had its day. The people sec the deception,
the insidious and wicked selfshness. and. we
had almost said, cowardice CT it. Il betrays
the absence of that manly candor which al
ways attaches to the truth. It reveals fla
grant littleness in party politics, that must
sooner or later concentrate the contempt Of
the courageous and the just. 1t is the ar
gunent of vi,uperative and malignant pas
sion and not the logic Of the fearless mind
seeking for the truth and controlled by an
4 elevated sense cf right. There is no party
or combination Of mea in Virginia, call them
by whatever name you may, who are interes-
ted in the despoilment the State, aud it is
the grossest perversion Of the truth To assume
that there is. We do not remelnbef ever to
have seen body of men more iosanely and
recklessly controlled by party ends thau the
last legislature; but We are NOT wiling to be-
Iievc that they did NOT think they were doing
what they did do, for the good Of the State.
| We much prefer to assign as the reason for
this a want Of Judgment, instead Of charging
bad motive. We cannot agree with many
Of their conclusions, nor we do believe
the great mass Of the people vii do So
/ But at the same time WE are not willing to
arraign their intentions as to the effect Of the
policy they pursued. We will only say that
in most cases, they should not be entrusted
with power again, because we do not think
the majority of them are capable Of rising TO
and comprehending the great demands Of the
times.
We notice that several Of the Richmond
dailies are flashing themselves into an extrem-
ity of fear 10 anticipation of the defeat OF
the Conservative party at the November cleo
ton and are wildly warning the people of
the terrible fate that awaits them, should
such be the result Look at the condition
of Louisiana is the sterreotyped exclama-
ton, land then decide your destiny" They
take good care; however, to withhold the fact,
that Louisiana has been visited with her
troubles, through the agency Of cue of the
very men who was the main iastr,mentaity
in robhing the people and prcsti,utipg the
functions Of government, they are now supper .
ing. Up to the time Of the C'ucin-
natl Convention, Gov Yarmouth was the
object of universal denunciation and execra-
| ton by the Conservative press. He then
became "libcra|," supported Greeley, and
has ever since been the instigator of feuds.
dissensions and broils in that State. lie is
now the controlling power in the opposition
party, ard BY reason of that, must De defen-
ded, and is defended BY the very men who
were bitterest in their attacks upon him !.
When passion is sought to be excited and
Louisiana is referred to to justify it, let it be
remembered that all her woes have been pre-
cipitated upon her by the Vaccinations of
this man, who is now in accord with those