The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-02

affairs, which has thus far carried us safely
from the chaos that existed eleven years
ago. A 'schange," radical in the elements
that would direct and the desires that would
control it, could rot possibly operate other
wise than disastrous to all the material in
terests of the country, disturb national cred
it and vibrate through all the ramifcations
OF trade, the length and breadth of the land.
The average Virginia democrat will not
think about these things-with stolid indif-
which he says he is trying to escape, and
will blindly plunge headlong into the whirl
pool Of party prejudice, though his mind
may be convinced that he will embrace in
Vulnerable ills that he knows not OF.
A change would imply the control of
the government by Tilden, Tammany and
Twcedism. Corruption as vast as the filth
of the tabled Augean stables, would stalk
naked through the corridors and chambers
of the Capitol. The Treasury Of the coun-
try would be hidden beneath the piles OF
claims and jobs heaped up b. lobby agents
and hungry politicians, and all the revenues
of the government would be diverted from
the payment Of the nations honest debt to
the satisfaction Of the innumcrable subsidies
and frauds that the political vultures who
would hover about Washington would ma
nipulatc through Congress. A change, in
this respect. would not indeed be reform,
but would prove an assault upon the integ-
rity of the government that would shatter
national credit, and spread ruin through all
the avenues Of trade.
| Yet we'll meaning men, la every other re-
lation Of life, will assign as their reason for
voting the National Democratic ticket, that
they ''want change, "a change from safe
ty to doubt; from assured success to fearful
speculation; from settled, wise, progress
sive administrative policy, to the fiuctua-
| tons of adventure and the uncertainties OF
political gambling. They will look compla-
Gently upon the environments and ruin that
are hedged around their own Democratic
State administration, obey the party man.
date, ard raise no hand in defense of their
| imperiled rights and interests, because it is
a party command; and with eqdal stolidity
and Indifference rs to consequences. they
will follow the conspiring leaders of their
party in 4 warfare upon the Republican
party, simply because Of the name, and the
preiudices associated with it, banishing from
view the proud position to which it has ad-
vanced the nation in the eyes Of the civil
lied world, and the eminent and philan-
thropic craftsmanship that has distinguished
its notwithstanding change
1t is lamentable condition of the popular
mind, when it can be swayed in its dctermi-
nation of great and vital interests by the
clamor of the demagogue and the appeals Of
the miserable place-hunters, who would
gloat over the miseries of the country to at
tain their despicable, selfish ends. When
the ballot can be thus lightly esteemed,
when its power and dignity are so utterly
disregarded, and licensed passion recklessly
careers over reason and judgment, there is
surely danger to Republican, institutions.
The mad impulse that demands change,
when it is not reform-when both change
and reform are linked together to the better
delude the masses and lead them into the
reasonable schemes Of the conspirators, we
may well pause to consider whittier we are
drifting. Were the honest people to recur
to the scenes and agencies that made memo
orable the year 1860, and draw 4 lesson OF
instruction from the fearful consequence
that followed like thoughtless and passion
ate exercise of the elective franchise, they
would see in the deep plots and insane re-
solves Of the present leaders of the democra-
tic party, portents as fearful as those that
then went unheeded. We ask the people of
Virginia to think before they cast their bal
lots for change, what kind of reform is in
store for them, and to act like men capable
of rising to the dignity and the full appre-
citation of the high privileges of American
citizens.