The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-11-04
The Lesson of the Canvass.


the petty Tyranny that has characterized its his
tory. There could not be Il more transparent
exhibition OF the insincerity of that party III
its past proclamations and practices than Is
showR by the expetlients that the different
factions were compelled to resort to in the
election just over. 1t has been pllnlal
thought heretofore presented to the people OF
Virginia, by the leaders of that party. that the
negro was not a fit element iii our political liz
and that his 'enfrlnchiseMent was in
contraventon Of wise public policy, andin con-
flct with q healthy condition of the body polite.
We have had, as the outgrowth of this senti-
ment, the race issue distinctly made-tlle color
line prominently drawll-in the political con-
tests in this State ever since the amendments
to the national Constitution were adopted
The imprisoned appeals to the prejudces OF
race had so inflamed the passions Of the mas
ses, that it was next thing to social nonentity
for man to openly announce his adhesion to
the Republican party, and defend the political
and legal rights OF the coiored race. 70 vote
the way tile negro yoted-to support the gov
ernmcnt of the United States and insist upon
y faithful observance of the laws of Congress.
in spirit rs we'll us in word. was to be assigned
to the negro party" as the Republican party
has been felicitously denominated, and to be
pointed and jeered at in all the relations Of
life. 1t might have naturally been supposed
that the active members OF the Conservative
organization would have regarded nothing more
calculated TO stliltify sclf-respect and degrade
individal character than TO seek a coalition
with the coiored voter for political ends
From the temper and tone of the inflamma
tory harangucs that have greeted the ears of tht
people from the mouths of the acknowledged
exponents OF the Conservative party, agains
the negro race. when in the exercise of its con
elusion would be irresistible, that no emergency
could ever induce them to tolerate political as
ISOLATION with that element.
But what do we witness? In Richmond
we find that John s. Wise and John D. limbo
den, representing one wing of the Conserya
tive party, are found addressing an audience o
colored voters from tile same stand and OH tht
same occasion with Lewis Lindsey, and plead
ing for the colored vote to assist in pllrifyin;
Conservative politics in that city. These pro
scribed people are courted, and fondled, ant
coaXed to join hands and votes with one wins
of the Conservative party to purify and purge
the ether wing of its corytlptions, by defeating
the regular nominees Of the convention; ant
the other wing equally as anxious and solici
| tons for the same ma.igned and slandered PEG
pie to assist it in preventing the ''bolters'
from crushing out the Conservative organiza
tiion
| We find here in Augusta county and, in
deed. Immediately in the city Of Staunton
! active agencies employed by each wing OF TIN
| Conservative party to secure the negro vote t,
defeat the other. The full and complete citi
zenship Of the negro is acknowledged in tn
dire necessity that eonfronts the politica
! fraud known as The Conservative party. an
its bifurcated parts resort to every device ant
deception to enlist in their behalf the vel,
class Of voters which they have prescribed an
for recognizing whose rights the white Reput
licans OF Virginia have been viitied and ira
luced as were never men before.
Surely, in no future campaign in Virgin
will the Conservative party have the effront
cry to raise the race issue. They have bee
committed to the political equality of the nc
| gro to such a degree, and in SO distinct all
prominent a..manner, that it would be nothin
short of treachery. aye, even constructive pei
jury, for the effort ever again to be made t.
excite the unthinklng masses against the Re
publican party, because OF the negro vote
The political rights of the negro have beel
vndicated from a source least expected, an,
the boosted exclusive 'decency" and ''respec
liability" of the Conservative party brought t.
q recognition OF the political franchise of tn
colored people, ia q manner that shuts th
mouths of the blatant demagogues OF that or
ganzation,ever hereafter.
| These things only prove what we have tint
and again charged, that the Conservative or
ganization is simply piece Of machinery ,iset
by the leaders to drive The people into tl,ei
support and elevation to office. This could bt
better effected by infaming the passions of tn,
white man against the negro, and by thi
means drawing the color line, and thus carry
| ing the elections without reference to any
principle or policy OF national or State adj
ministlation.
Thanks to the greed for office, and the inso
lent presumption of few intolerant would-b,
leaders the spell has been broken, the shall
| low pretense of the harlequins and blatan
declaimefs OF tlat party have been exposed
| and it now CLEANS out as clear as a sunbeam
that it has been alone for the spells OF office
that the persecution OF the negroes and tin
white Republicans, has been the shibboeth 0
these greedy, unprincipled place hunters.
/ Is it not time for the fair minded, iustic
loving men Of the Conservative fraud Of Viz
gina to forsake its tottering. decaying carcass
! and unite with q party that at least has tn
merit OF frankness III the declaration of it
| principles, and bravery in their advocacy un
Ter the most trying circumstances? All tht
obi. ,:tions that could be urged against the Re
publcs. rs have been met by the action of tlI
two wings of the Conservative party in Vir
ginis in the ,aavass just closed. The negro
it is true, in many instances, has turned ava,
in disgust from bhe fair promises and Ioniet
w,oaals and plaintive h'eadings. Some of then
have consented to co-opt ate with the boltin!
element as a means OF efttcting the disinte
grafton ard overthrow Of tile Conservative or
ganizatiell, and by this result rid the State o
its most oppressive and fatal incubus. Hu
xv.I,o