The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-09-17


aings of such MEN as Mr.. Hunter. Their day
# usefulness is over, unless they can accept
md grapple with the fruitful and suggestive
present. ~
4 III The Only Solution. Il i4
The Baltimore Sun quotes the declaration
Of the Alabama Republican Convention. that
I'VE want no special equality enforced by law,
we recognize sthat,every home Is sacred from
and that in 4 free country,every one
can dictate for; himself the line of social exclu-
sion; that society governs itself by laws more
inexorable than statute or common law, and
opens or closes its doors to whomsoever it will,
and that no civil law can OF should invade it,,
Whereupon the Sun remarks, 1--WE wish we
could believe that these sensible ntterances
we're dictated by principle instead ct policy"
Did it never occur to the Sun that the high
est principle in politics is public expediency or
policy, and there u really no other. The Ala
bama Republicans, after careful Deliberations !,
have formulated the idea, and presented it to
the country. The good sense that controlled
in their Deliberations is recognized, but the mo-
tine is questioned. 1t is thus not only with the
Sun, but every other Conservative paper and
speaker'in the country, that because men do
not act in concert with party whose princi-
pie is to antagonize the government, to falsify
their repeated pledgeSof acceptance OF the re-
suits of the war, they must be denounced as
insincere. The whole policy Of the Conserva-
alive or Democratic party is based upon an
abridgement OF denial of therights of thepeople.
The Richmond Dispatch truly represents the
party in Virginia, when it announces, in sub
stance, that there never will be any peace until
the negro is deprived of the elective franchise.
Robt. Toombs holds to the same view in Geor-
ga, and declares that he will never recognize
the 18th and 18th amendments to the constitu-
ton. Here lies the secret Of the existence OF
the Conservative party in the South. 1t is op
positionito accomplished facts as irreyersihe
as the DEGREES of fate. Negro suffrage is not a
debatable question. 1t is Incorporated into
the fundamental law Of the country. 1T is the
fixed and settled policy Of the goyernmeat,and
those who wish to get rid of it,. will have to
leave the country or institute another and sue
cessfuI civil war. And it is just here that all
the Southern disturbances find their source
The negro knows well enough that if that par
ty had the power, it would deprive him OF this
right. As a consequence, he votes constantly
against it. He votes to sustain the laws as
they are, and in doing SO votes with the Re.
publican party. This he has perfect right to
do. 1t is logical and natural that he should do
So But in doing so he provokes the hostility
OF the Conservative or Democratic party, just:
as the white man does who chooses to think diff
ger'' and 'scalawag''are terms confined alone
in their application to white people in the
South who sustain the government 1t matters
not what are their claims to good citizenship.
Enterprise, industry and public spirit go for
naught, If they. happen to believe it to be their
duty as citizens to cultivate friendly senti-
ment for the government and support nation.
al authority 1t is not because they are faithless
to the laws--not for the reason that their eft
forts are not directed to local and state improve
ments---the development Of the wealth of the
States, and adding to their physical strength.
No. But it is because they choose to exercise
the same rights that their Conservative neigh
cors exercise, and vote their sentiments at the
polls. This is the extent of their offending,
and nothing more. Is it supposed for mo-
ment that if the negroes, adopted citizens AMI
natives, all voted the Conservative and Demo
cratic ticket, there would ever be. the slightest
marmar of dissatisfaction in the South? Not
all 30 fbo 1,o; ~ tbo
the personal expressions and the
public outrages which distract Southern COM
munities? 1t is because deep down in their
hearts. party leaders repudiate what their lips
process. They announce in their party plat
forms, in State Constitutions and from the hust-
ngs, that they accept the siGuation-which
means the three amendments to the national !
Republicans do the same, and
only vote for men who openly proclaim their
with the party that put these amend
ments where they are. +. Bat il the practical
result of this acceptance be the local suprema- |
~ OF the Republican party, then it is that
,he opposition leaders commence the work of |
frying to defeat the popular will, and nullify
The very laws which they profess to have adop- |
ed. &. -
The only solution OF the difficulties in the !
South is an honest acceptance of the situation
1.-The recognition of the right of every man to |
,ote as he pleases, and exercise the privileges
ind immulities of citizenship in the manner
Jest suited to his Judgment. Equal laws for
III and equal rights under the laws, constitute
he basis OF the only government, and the only I
'olitcal system that can give quiet and peace
o the South. No people can successfully in
prejudice into their local administra-
ion as the ruling element. 1t must be found
d in recognized rights, honestly enforced. and
when that is done, there will be no more Ku
xlux organizations and bloedy carnivals, such
IS has recently crimsoned the history OF some
II the Southern States.
The Rev. DR.. Schafnes, OF New York. has
ecently donated $l5,0 900 for the erection of a
hurch, building on the Rappahannock Circuit
II. =. Church, South. DR.. S. is native Of
County,. and desires the cree
ion of this church as a monument to his
mother. ~5n' fs4.
Among the contributions to temperance
in E;,,oo cfJ - II