The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-04-08
The Issues Of 1875.

!
atty of the Enforeementact. Wcpublish to-day
a synopsis Of each of these able enunciations.-
They comprehend the two thoughts that will
the more prominently be presented for the
and determination of the people
at the ballot-box in November 1S76-the main-
tenance OF the adjustment effected by the re-
suit of the late civil conflict, and the enforce
ment of the laws. Mr.. Blaine tersely put the
case when hes1sventured to say to the people
of Connecticut that it was safe thing for the
people of this country not to place the demo-
cratic party i'll the way of obtaining controi
of the national government. Such result
would be the beginning Of y policy OF reaction
of which no man could see the end-a policy SO,
violent that under the impetus acquired from
victory and the confidence growing out OF pow
er, it would rush PROBABLY to the wildness Ola I
counter revolution, overturning or setting aside,
or at least unsettling many of the now accep-
ted and most important points OF public pol |
icy.''
Those who haye watched the tendency OF
legislation in the Southern States under con-
troll of the Democratic or Conservative party, |
and the proclaimed views of the representatives
of that party in the South, cannot be ignorant |
of the fact, that they all lean towards rever-
sal of the adjustments of the war, the re-asscr-
ton Of the pernicious and dangerous doctrine |
on State Sovereignty. and the subordination OF
national authority. To effect the practical OPP
Grafton OF this theory, implies what Mr.. Blaine
defines as a ''policy of eaction''-s'counter
revolution, :" OF in palmer and more emphatic
language, war of the sections upon the
very ideas which confronted each other in the
bloody strife of ten years ago.
It is not that we believe there is or will be a
preconcerted scheme to bring about civil war.
The people who are following the lead OF the
reckless spirits of the opposition would rcceil
with shalder from the contemplation Of such
reality. The fearful truth of 1851 did not
!, flash upon them, until it cleaned from the
saber and bayonet. Ideas are at the bottom of
all physical conflicts, and it is to establish ideas
and theories that nations and peoples rush in
| to the coils and strifes OF battle. The doctrine
OF State Sovereignty can never be established in
this country. 1t is in conflict with the grand
end of ''more perpetual Union,' and to at
tempt to restrain the instincts and control the
national convictions of the people, is to invite
and precipitate the very condition OF things
that eliminated in the surrender at Appomat-
tox in 1865. AS MIR. Blaine forcibiy says,
s'when the name and the authority of the I'm
ion shall beg everywhere respected; when the
majesty of the laws is everywhere recognized !;
when the rights of the hu,nblest are every
where conceded; when freedom of speech is no
where denied; when Wendell Phillips and
General Logan can speak as freely in Georgia
as Gordon and Lamar can in New Hampshire,
and when every man entitled to suffrage shall
be freely accorded the privilege of voting, the
necessity for further appeals to the loyalty of
the nation will have passed away
And i'll the same SPIRIT although on differ
ent theatre and before different audience,
Attorney General Williams spoke, standing be-
fore the most august tribunal OF this country,
the Supreme Court of the United States, say
ing he twas here also to speak of e PturlbMS
IMAM, and in speaking Of it, he looked for
ward to that day when we can consider our
n selves not nation of inharmonious and war
Il ring soyereigns, but Unien whose broad shield
shall protect in all and every right of a free
man and a citizen her people from one end to
the otller.''
It is the ''Union, the Constitution and the
!, enforcement of the laws: which stand as the
foun lation of the Republican party. Not on
ly this, but ills mission of freedom, of emanci-
patingrthe oppressed, in elevating and instruc-
, ting the weak and helpless, and advancing the
great cause of mans Civilization and snlight-
enment-of confronting and overcoming pref
, udice, and charging the sphere Of human use
, fulness, appeals to the sympathies, the yearn
ings of the popular heart and understanding
and must therefore prove irresistible.
J We have no fears for the future of the Re
| publican party, SO long as it proves true tt
these-s7ezst principles of its political faith. Il
is the true Democratic party of the country
the party of the people and for the people, and
, is destined to work out the grand destiny o.
the American Republic, in developing the
capacities and charging the aspirations and
the usefulness Of the masses Of mankind.
Look at the questions we have referred to-
The practical assertion of the doctrine OF State
: Sovereignty resulted in the secession of the
, Southern States-that brought on war--and
war resulted in the maintenance of the Nation
atty OF the government. This idea Of Nation
atty was incorporated into the Constitutions Of
the several seeded States as a condition Of
their restoration to co-equality withtlle other
States and the resumption of all the rights and
r privileges consistent with this Nationality
Scarcely have the forms OF government become
: matured-the machinery of State autonomy
l commenced to work harmoniously, before
through the Legislatures of several of these res
tored States, they began the work Of ''rcac
ton,' ''counter revolutions "a in divesting thu
organic law of all yestige of recognition of ha-
: tional suprcmacy, rtually repudiatng the
: great principle that was established by the war
t AID upon which alone Nationality can bt
e maintained Cotemporaneous with these evi
, dences OF a reactionary purpose, came the dec
5 laratiols in the United States Senate OF tho
Representatives Of the Democratic party-Eaton
Norwood, Randolph, Withers, anu others that
the States are Sovereign-that the laws made
in pursuance OF the amendments to the Consti
tuition, and to carry them out to their practical
i logical results, are unconsti utienal, and that
the seeded states have the t,ntloubted right te
change their organic law, when and in what