Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-09-10
AZ ASTONISHING ELECTION.

We suppose if anybody had said on the
streets of Staunton during the Governors
el~ctrn last fall that a Conservative coun-
Gil OF the city would eyer have dared to
electa prominent Republican as Mayor of
the city, over competent Conservative |
candidate, he would have been regarded
as lnsine. And yet on Tuesday night |
eight members of the Conservative Coun-
Gil of Staunton did offer that very insult
to the intelligence of the Conservative peo-
pie of the city. 1t is one of those acts that
simply amaze every beholder. Mr.. Chas.
Grattan who is a lawyer of experience, a
gentleman of high standing, q man in
every way fitted for the position, and Il
prominent member of the political party
that controls Staunton, received one vote,
and Mr.. Bickle, who is a prominent Re-
publican, received eight votes, of whom
at least seven are certainly members of
the Conservative party. The pitiful plea
| that there is no politics in the government
of the city is too contemplate to need an
answer. Is it possible that the Conserva-
tive party of Virginia does not want the
seventh city in the State? Is it possible
that Staunton stands so low in the opinion
of the Conservative people of Virginia
that they do not care whether her chief
municipal officer is a Republican or not?
that city, two OF whose citizens received
received large votes from the Conservative
party in the legislature for q. S. Senator
J last winter, is Indifferent to the Conserva-
! tive party of the State? Do these gentle
} men in the Council know what they are
about? Can they know the effect of it
abroad? Why has Richmond made IL
desperate struggle every year for Con-
sentative Mayor? Why has Petersburg
fought year after year until she could Oh
tain her freedom and stand abreast OF her
l sister cities with u Conservative head?
: Has all that been done for no reason?' Is
7 there nothing in being Conservative OF
, Republican? Do not the Republicans
understand this and do they ever depart
: from it except where. some indirect adj
? vantage may be obtained? Who is the
Postmaster here? Who are the u. S. Com
missioners, GaugerS and Inspectors? Who
is the Mayor of Lynchburg, where the Re
? publicans are in the ascendant and who
? Petersburg and Alexandria while they
2 had the power? No politics in city
government! No politics in a city OF
3 nearly 900 inhabitants where the taxation
amounts to nearly $4,000 year! Are
( men children that they should be told this
l sort of stuff.
I We are told that Mr. Bickle is a man
with great interests in the city and would
rot do anything against it's interests
/ which is true. We don't suppose he would
if he could, and we are quite certain he
: couldn't if he would, but that isn't the
office is what is complained OF, not what
he will do while in it. The presence of a
Republican in the chief office of our city
is an advertisement to the world that it is
Republican city, which, in the case of
: Staunton, is not true. We well know
what sort Of an advertisement that is for
a city in the Southern States. We can
keep standing counter advertisement to
5 the effect that Nj Bickle is not like many
! other Mayors in the South, and would not
be likely to make up corrupt rings, OF aid
in the oppression of citizens of different
T political opinions, which might he said
g with truth: but the fact that of Republi
, can, in the Office. is all the people abroad
2 will know, and We all know the conclu.
5 sionS our Southern brethren draw from it,
2 This carOming as it were over a public
: office and not by the direct shot CT an
4 election by the people. will, we sincerely
e hope, show the people the necessity of 4
Y political organization for the next election
$ Let the line be drawn close, and then il
! the Republicans carry the city let then
A have it. But don't let us have any mort
{ Of this election of a Republican Mayor 10y
, a Conservative Council. A