The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-07
1.-THE Bloody Shirt. -

The Democrats North and South have q no.
ly horror at any alusion to the late war and
its results, by the Republicans. 1t is called the
sboody Shirt when it is claimed that the spirit
OF the Democratic party is adverse to the results,
and the appeal is made to the Northern people
to support the Republican party as the embod-
imcnt Of the accomplished facts of history
The Republican party is not ambitious to keep
fresh the painful memories of the war. 1t only
aspires to the incubation Of a sentiment Of 10y
atty to what the war accomplished and what
the South accepted. 1t wants the practical re-
cognition of these results as part of the econ
omy of our political system-irreversible, and
as fixed as the organic law of the Govern
ment itself. III
While Southern Democrats especially, hold
up their hands in an affected tremor OF horror
and despair at the bare mention OF the neces
sity Of these things, by the Republicans, they
do not observe the same antipatlY to the bloody
shirt, when seeking to arousefhe prejudices
and passions of their own people.
In the recent Congressional Convention in
this city, the 'tbloody Shirt was vigorously
waved by the various speakers, ard the claims
of O'Ferrall, Bumgardncr, and Southall were
pressed in eloquent and nervous appeals, be-
cause Of their record rs Confederate soldiers.
Each speaker thought it a sacred duty to ask
'wAere was Harris during the WARP" and to
institute a comparison between the soldiers
and the non-solders, designed to enlist the
sympathies OF the Confederatcs for the soldiers
and against such men rs Harris. TO have been
in the war, to have carried musket and flashed
a sabre were regarded as controlling, paramount
considerations. and urged as sufficient reasons
for the defeat of iIarris.
What vas this but the t'bloody shirt?" And
the more inappropriate inasmuch as the ideas
represented do not constitute practical qucs-
lions to be considered at this time, or any other.
They have been relegated to the past, buried in
tomb of secession, and will never constitute a
live issue so long as the progressive split OF
the civilization of the 10Th century holds sway
in this country.
With the Northern people the alusion to the
war means something. 1t represents IDEAS and
| trophies. 1t comprehends events affecting our
political system-it reflects organic principles,
w ittIiOhttA Pa esiiu Wv OeAoHs
If it is proper for the Democracy to haunt
the 'sbloody Shirt, in view of its history, is it
not equally pertinent that the Republ leans
should proclaim their devotion to the princi-
Piles established as the result of the war? Sure
| ly it cannet be regarded as any more unreasona-
BILE that they should do SO, than that the Dem
ocracy should.
| We should hail with gladness that condition
Of the popular mind of both sections, when
| it will avoid the contemplation of the pas.
sions and feelings growing out of The wal
when the arbitrament to which both sections
appealed, shall be accepted and adopted as the
fixed and settled basis of reconciliation and
hands of all tie people shall unite in, pushing
forward our country to the consllmmation of its
grand dcstiny-when the ''bloody shirt'' shall
only be conjurcd up in nurseries to Fighter
unruly children, and the wand of peace anl
prosperity shah wave over all the land.
The Alexandria Gaget knows tlrlt what is
called the Underwood Constitution contains
the clause establishing the free public
schools of Virginia, and that it cmphaticaly
provides for their full operation by 1876 The
action OF a Republican President and Repub.
lican Congress, allowing the tcst-oathf clause
in the Constitution to be voted Oil separately.
had nothing TO do with the free schools.
That clause was placed in the Constitution BY
Republicans, and it never would have been
there but for Republicans. They are entitled
to all the credit of the system in Virginia. as
they are for the provision in the Constitution
inhbting the credit of the State to works OF
internal improvements. Judging the. pres emf
By the past, bat for the Republicans the State
of Virginia would now have no public schools,
and the State debt would have been increased
ad ie5inaum, had the Democratic party had. its
way f... -.;z. =:
Mr.. L. C. Bristow h as been nominated for
Congress in the Fredericksburg district. by the
Republicans. Hon. B. B. Douglas, istlle Dem
ocratic nominee. '''l
Harris was very good man to whip the rings
with. We want the people now to whip him.
The Republicans will give them chance to do
this very thing.