The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-23
Where is the Reform?

Does anybody remember what the Demo-
Gratis were talking about at the beginning of
the campaign, or last month, or last week.
1t was reform, an uprising OF the people. q
rebuke to incapacity. protest against mis-
government, that We were going to see; it was
all going to be done by the Democratic partc,
aud its meaning was going to be written so
clearly in the election returns that no mnn
could fail to see it.
Well. the election has been held, the gen
eral result is before us, and what is its mean
ing? We do not speak OF the Presidency,
which may be won or lost by a few fraudulent
votes in an obscure corner OF Louisiana or
Florida. The Republican party can afford to
lose the Presidency, and yet claim victory
worth more than all the Offices and all the
patronage in the United States. We have
only to point to the names of the States that
have given Republi ean maiorities, and con-
| trast them with the States that have gone
! Democratic, to realize q consciousness Of
strength that no temporary victory can weak
en-, to disperse forever the foolish boasting
which has been made the basis OF this whole
campaign.
! Is that an uprising OF an Indignant and
righteous people which sweeps across the
country from Texas to Virginia, and stops
palsied and abject at the Inc where freedom
formerly marked its boundary: Do all the
reforming maiorities live under the fcryent
sun of the cotton-feld and the canc-brakc,
and are the granite hills and the prairics OF
waving grain the homes Of corruption: Is
Georgia or Arkansas the stronghold Of patri-
otisn, and are the enemies OF the country
who live in Iowa and Massachusetts? Nay,
even is the political honesty of New York to
be found south Of the Harlem River among
the clans Of Tammany, and is the whole broad
area outside inhabited By three and half
millions Of public plnndercrs. or sharers OF
the spoils9
Step out and answer, ye eloquent orators,
who inyeigh against corruption in Office, and
against all the manifold iniquitics Of the Adj
ministration. If you have won victory,
step ont and reward to whom you owe it.
Reward your friends. and do not spare your
enemies. You have won Missouri and lost
Illinois. Contrast the two States in point OF
energy, intelligence, education, and social
and political progress. You have carried
Arkansas and lost Kansas, carried Georgia
and lost Rhode Island. Set the two lists Of
States side by side, and then get up and say
that the States which have voted the Repub-
lcan ticket are ignorant, dishonest and ret
Progressive States, while the Democratic States
are the strongholds OF Reform.
Reform! Is there any pretensc OF reform
in movement which has bulled and terror
lied over thousands Of voters in the South
without gaining single State in the North?
Is that reform which sends Ben Hill and
Proctor Knott to disgrace the Congress OF
the United States? Is that q popular move |
ment which increases the Democratic major
ity in New York City and leaves the State
unchanged Is that step towards good
government which elects such 4 man as |
Phelps TO the Governorship CT Missouri. but
fails to command the confidence OF the peo-
pie OF Illinois ?-jSt. Louis Globe-Demoer0t. |