Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1873-10-23
WHY YOU sEouLp VOTE.


and, as reason for their indecision,
say they cannot see that matters are
getting any better, but on the contrary
politics are every day becoming more
corrupt and politicians more venal. We
grant that there is much truth in what
these men say. Political parties do be-
come corrupt and many men have been
elevated 20 positions of honor, who
have proved recreant to the trusts i'm
posed in them; but, the very fact that
this is true, is to our mind the strongest
reason why these men should now,
when an opportunity is given them to
stay this flood of corruption which is
breathing Virginia, by elevating to
Office, the highest in their gift, men
who have the best interest of the State
at heart and who have in the darkest
hours been true to the Old Common.
wealth.
Go back with us if you please and
compare our condition at the close of
the war with our condition to day.
When the war closed spectacles of ruin
and desolation were seen all over the
State Our fields were desolate; our
towns and cities were in ruins; our
capital was all absorbed and the fruits
Of the toll of generations were swept
into chaos of destruction. Despon-
dency and gloom like u heavy pail,
which for time seemed to enshrond
the whole heavens in a portentious
darkness, settled upon US.
To day you scarcely see trace of
ssthe ravages Of war Military govern
alent has been superseded by gov
eminent administered by our own
people. Negro supremacy has thus far
been ayerted with all its attending
evils and to-day you are enjoying the
blessings Of free government. But,
the blessings you enjoy and the ills
you have escaped can only be appre
ciated when contrasted with the suffer-
ings Of those who have been less
favored
IF you think matters are not getting
better and can get no aoorse, and you
are still in doubt as to your duty in the
coming election, let us ask, Have you
paused to compare your condition I'M
der Conservative rule with that of the
Southern people? You complain of
your taxes and they are probably as
high as you can pay and support your
wife and little ones; but, have you
thought Of your brethren Of the South
who 10 day pay ten times as much tax
as you do, although their lands are ly-
ing waste and their homesteads are fast
going TO ruins! Have you thought that
while your children 60 to free schools
from three to five months in the year.
children of poor Southern parents are
denied these privileges and are growing
up in ignorance, having no free schools
because corrupt officials steal the school
fund.- As you sit around your Preside
surfounled by your family, none daring
to n9lest you or make you afraid, have
you thought Of the helpless heads of
families who are ruthlessly torn from
the bosoms oftheir wives and children
by Federal soldiers, tried before negro
juries and incarcerated in Northern
prisons? Have you thought that these
evils always attend Radicalism and
that unless you and every Conservative
vote for Kemper on the 4th of Novem-
Der next, the black waves of Radical
ism will sweep over and desolate Vir-
ginia ?
We tell you in all earnestness that
our State is in peril. A fearful tempest
is about to burst upon us: Black masses
of clouds can now be seen in the
horizon surcharged with all the hellish
clements of Southern Radicalism, and
nothing can save us from their bowling
fury, but the triumph of the Conser
gs.Ive cause.
The strength of the Radical party
should not be underestimate. We
AZ aontending with a strong and I'M
es0putous adversary and we can only
s@zsfe his defeat by unremitting efforts
f.es.lain undecided, stay away from the
polls aud Virginia is lost, lost, lost
Tnraw away this indecision and apathy.
Not only vote for our Standard bearers,
but use your influence to get your
apathetic neighbor to 60 with you to
the polls. Work. yeu owe it to your
state; you owe it 10 your friends, who
are now working for the cause; You
owe i 70 youx own flesb and blood I'll
sa. m ~ goss IN fail u discharge
6 1Ilisen1 ri, you !