The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-14

=
- D ttorney General Taft, to U.
81 Mafshals, advised resistance. to the ex-
Ierntion Of the orders Of the government. and
urged the formation Of minute men, to
"mcct the bayonet with the bayonet'' It
stated, in substance, that one shot fred in
Maryland would electrify the nation, and
rally hosts OF armed men to overcome the
small army of the United. States and thus
rescue the government from the clutch Of
lespotism.
OF course well-balallccd minds gave no sig
n!cance to the wild ranting of this lunatic;
but there are inflammable tcmperamcnts, cs-
pccially in the excitement of a great polite
al contest, which can be easily worked upon
by such insane appeals, as was painfully de-
monstratcd in the city where the Gazette is
published, on Saturday night last. At that
time, a Republican Club meeting was being
held at Cross Street, and an address deliver
ed by Mr.. c. Irving Dirty. While the meet
ing was progressing, it was br oxen into by
the Democratic roughs, several shots were
fired, one man shot in the hip, and Mr.. Dit
ty severely beaten. This, OF course was
an appropriate response to the inccndiary ar
ticle of the Gazette. 1t was the legitimate
sequence.
We do not pretend to hold the Conserva-
tive element OF the Democratic party respon-
sblc for either the article or the riot. But
there is one very suspicious fact to be
considered in connection with the circum-
stances we have related, and that is,
we have seen no reproof offered to the
Gazette from the Southern preserve
have heard no open dissent to the policy it
suggested, and we have observed no DISPOSE
ton to rebuke the paper by repudiating its
association. 1t is more voracously read than
any publication circulated in the South; it is
more frequently quoted and generally ap-
proved and relied upon than any other pub
LEGATION of the Democratic party. These
things will have an unfortunate tendency,
and show chat either party devotion is reck-
less and blind, or there is a secret under-cur-
rent of feeling in consonacne with the wick
ell sentiments uttered.
The people OF the South certainly cannot
be aware of the effect of such incendiary
publications upon the Northern mind-they
cannot certainly understand that they are
sowing to the wind to reap the whirlwind,
and that every sentence OF such articles as
that in the Gazette but crystalizes the senti-
ment OF the North and West into firm re-
solve to rebuke it in every conceivable manner
it can be reached. We are no alarmists, but
we are in a position, We think. to take
calm and impartial view Of the situaton.-
We already see growing feeling OF resent
ment, and an aroused apprehension as to the
consequence. Here in Virginia, the propo-
sition is before the people to amend the or
ganic law in such manner as to partially.
compromise the amendments to the Con-
stitution Of the United States-an insidious
effort is being put forth to practically nullify
the conditions upon which the State was
restored to its relations in the Union-and a
spirit of intolerance and prescription is be-
ing encouraged against those whose only sin
is that they openly proclaim their purpose
to support the Republican party as the most
effective way in which to show their earnest
is it forgotten that but a short time since the
committee on Constitutional Amendments
recommended changes in the fundamental
law of the State, striking out those clauses in
the Bill OF Rights which recognize the SUI
prcmacy of national authority, the perpetu-,
al union of the States, and the inviolability Of
the adjustments of the war. 1t Is true the
propositions were not acted upon by the Leg
islature, for the reason chat the punic faith |
they announced was too glaring and mon
strous. But they were not dissented from.
There was not q hostile voice raised against |
them-therc was not a sentence uttered |
averse to them-thc Democratic press was |
silent in relation to them. They may be res
directed at any time.
Take these suggestive facts in connection
with the bitter denunciation of the Republic |
can party, President Grant and every office |
holder Of the government, which consti- |
tutes the burden. of all the speeches and wri-
tngs of the political leaders of the South
remember the magnanimity of that party,
when the government, in allits departments,
was in its unchallenged control, in removing
political disabilities and restoring to full cit
izenshp almost every man who had raised
an arm to strike down that government, let
the history of the country for the past fifteen
years be brought in review, and then deter.
mine whether the course of the political lead
ers OF the South is net the veriest madness
that ever influenced the brain of the most
enthusiastic fanatic that ever the sun shone
upon. 5sa fts sa
If persisted in, this spirit will work out its
inevitable and logical results. =, What they
will be it requires no prophetic wisdom to di-
vine. The warning may be disrcgarded. If so,
the sequences will not be avertcd, for as GER
tain as night follows the day, the Constitu-
tional Amendments, with the laws for their
enforcement in the fullest Interpretation,
will be maintained at all hazards, and to the
last extremity n,., f,.,, FAX IA .s.Iss,l