The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-07
FIRST LOVE.

We have mislaid the letter addressed by Gov !
J. tc e: of Virginia to the Ma4h titan Demo- /
cratic Club OF New Yo.k, on the recent oeca-
sion of its celebration Of the Democratic victo-
~ III that State. We intended to give some
extracts from it. As it is, we can only alildc
t prominent view expressed in tn t letter.
1t is that in the contest of 1876, the opposition
t, the Republican party should recognize o''t
one name and that Democrat. Conservative
and Liberal Republican are not sufficiently
definite for the able and honest author OF the
letter. He desires to act under NO false colors,
and argues at length and with force thatths true
policy IS to recognize the Democratic party as
tn. only organization now i'll the llala against
the Republican party.
This suggestion raises the question whether
there is suchan organization as the Democrat
ic party, rs Gov. Letcher understands 1t. Ger
tainly all the distinctive IDEAS OF that party
have become obsolete. That OF State high's'
60 strict in their construction rs to comprehend
secession, was made the issue OF war, and welt
under. The question OF internal improvements
BY the government, is as much a democratic
policy as it is Republican,. MIR. lllitef, Ihe
recoouzed leader of the Democratic party OF
Virginia. has abandoned opposition to it, and
favors aid to the canal by the national govern
mcut. The present interests OF Virginia are
opposed to a tariff for revenue only, anu III
harmony with one for protection, SO as to ell
courage the development OF our minerals and
the utilization of our water power i'll the es-
Enlistment of manufactures
These were the cardinal ideas OF the ante
bcllum Democratic party. They have peeh
declared of noll-cffcct by the march OF events,
and the Democratic party is left with no DIS
tinctive principles or policy to distinguish 1t:
except opposition to the government.
Wits ,similar inappositeness is the prayer OF
Governor ] ,etcher to return to the Constitution
asit was. Wars bloody burrows have torn up
the old landmarks guards to the peculiar
institntiep'' have been swept away with the
institution itself, and a nsw page turned over
IN the histoxysaf American progress anu ehe
intellectual ansIsmorai elevation OF all the peo-
pie.
The true spirit If Representative Demoera'
cy is foundt;netlse Republican organization. II
Is the party Of the people and stor tile people
It reaches dowsa. to elevate the masses-to rec
oyuize the equal birtIeriglrtsof ail-and to lrni
together all conditions of mankind by na'le
OF common sympathy. Its the party OF pro
gross, of development, by which the peopit
can be advanced in the material and SOFA
scale, and maids to comprehend the grand dei
tiny that awaits the Free Republic OF America
We should be pleased to see the experiment
tried of dispensing with the party nomencla
turc of Conservatixesin Virginia, and substitu
ting therefor Democrat" 1t would be ith'
signal for nice little family nllsss, and al
amusing amount of sq,irming enu Kicking
Our neighbor of the Spectator wot'lu .openi.
revolt, we fear, and then where would he &C.
The Richmond Whig and Dispatch woul'
haadlin their passes, and decline the "TRIP
Stuart, Early, W itfers, and men OF like dee
rooted hatred to the old Democratic part
would openly protest and raise the banner
the old Wing party as it aaunted i'll the DAY
Of the Great Harry Of the West.
But we like tae-sas question Of pv. Letcher
and are anxious te=seeit pat into practice II
is evidently sick and taaisszasted with the mega
tive character of the Conservative p arty OF Vii
xinia-its receptions and false teac hings, an
its want Of defined principle and olicy-an
is lesirous of returning to iaisst principles all
first loye.