The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-08-03
The Claws Exposed.

OF turning everybody else OUT OF OF
flee and placing themselves in, in order 10 purify
the government. The eXhuberant imag ination
OF OUR Court street contemporary is already
reveling in the vacant post Offices and revenue
offices, and sees marshalled in imposing array
the retiring Browns, Jones, Smiths, ct i'd onaase
ge'aas to make way for the immaculate crew
who arc now splitting their Threats with the
cry OF t'reform, reform" They are not will
ling TO be satisfied with the official heads OF
their pocical opponents, but seem to be thirst
ing after the blood of their own household so
that as many vacancies may be created as pos
sible to crafty the Insatate nav OF these
modern reformers.
We had no idea that we could so easily draw
from the VinGicator an exposition of the tao
ties by which the new reform movement for
this district is to be managed. We had very
clear understanding OF it ourself, but we did
not think that the purterbaton of our cotempo-
rary would be revealed in such excess, as to be
uncomfortable, and that the plan of operations
against Harris would be so plainly made
known. 1t is all out now, however. The
claws of the cat protrude from the meal, and
traces OF the footprints are to be seen. The
ViadicGtor, in its simplicity aud unaffected
earnestness, gives the whole programme. The
Rockingham Register, it asserts, ''says that
John Echols, OF Augusta, and S. V. Southall,
of Alhemarle, will oppose Judge Harris for the
nomination, and from Shenandoah we hear
that the dashing Harry Rddlebarger will be
put in the field by his friends A contributor
in the editorial correspondence of the Page
Courier, urges COL O'Eerral's claims on the
convention. All of these gentlemen would
go into a convention with the backing of their
own and other counties, and the Judge would
have to keep his shoes tied very tight if he
didn't want to have tnem slipped off. If they
should combine in the Convention on the
strongest man, the Judges shoes are gone"
That is the game-to stir up a following from
the various counties in the district for some one
Of each county, with no hope of either succeed
ing in the convention, but to unite the friends
of every body else against the strongest man,
Harris, and then thrust in the ''great TN
known" That is, Riddleberger, Paul. Bum
gardner, southall, MsMullen, and O'Fer.all, to
be used as catspaws 10 pull the chesnuts out
for the 'great unknown to swallow! This is
a very nice little game, but we are afraid it
has been flushed. We have already heard a
little mnttcring from Goochlaud, where two
thirds OF the county have dec Jared for Harris.
Riddleberger. it is understood, will stand by
Harris. Wadlell, of the Charlottesville Chron-
ic5e, is not disposed to fall into the curbstone
4o,fo
duccd into the tortuous paths of these modern
disciples of ''reform.'' Nor, indeed is there
any assurance that any of the flaming head
lights OF the party, as reflected in the news
papers III the district, will directly irterpose to
confuse the campaign, except, perhaps, the
indicator.
1t is, however, al interesting family fight,
and we do not care to lneddle with it, except
to keep our readers posted. All we wish is to
have the contest as warm as it is possible for a
parcel of greedy office seekers to make it. We
are not at all concerned about the post-ofHce,
nor arc the internal revenue officers trembling
in their boots, ut the prospect before them. Al
though there are at least twenty five disinter-
ested reform patriots, who would present
UllClf pUSU-OlilCC, We Nv liOC CtsiO
at this time to exchange chances with them.
And so far as the influence Of the member of
Congress is concerned who may represent this
district, it will not be much in determining the
tenurc OF any officer under the Federal gov
eminent. The curbstoners might as well dis
pense with this deusion. They have been ex-
cited over the assumption that the control of
the government was virtually in Tide ms
hands, and all they had to do was to arrange
for the distribution of the patronage. Hence
the animated movements in reference to Con-
gress All we have to say is, keep cool gen
tlemen, you have little prospect CT realizing
your hopes; and as the matter stands now,
there will be little change in the bankrupt
printing! or the post-officu to benefit the hum
cry :'reformers,'' who are now drawing upon
their latent patriotism to stimulate their zeal
for the successor of Harris.
The last conference between Tilden and
Hendricks resulted in the determination to
abandon the western States and concentrate
all the efforts and influence of the Democratic
pal ty to carrying N. York, and the other States
East regarded as doubtful, and a solid South.
In accordance with their understanding Con-
gress has refused to repeal the Resumption
act, aud Hendricks has surrendered to Til
den on the currency question. The Democ-
racy seem to be in sea Of troubles.
MORE RECRUITS -Ex-Gov. Curtin, of
Pennsylvania, and Gen. N. P. Banks, of Mas
sachusetts, both earnest supporters of Greeley,
in 1872, have declared for Hayes and Wheeler.
reinstatement that Robert Lincoln, son Of Pres
ident Lincoln, had declared for Tilden, is posi-
lively denied by the Chicago Tribune. Both the
sons OF Stephen A. Douglass are earnest work
ers Tor Hayes and Wheeler, and will largely
aid in carrying North Carolina, where they re-
side, for the Republican ticket.
Congressman Leayenworth, of New York,
is OF the opinion that a single Massachusetts
member of Congress has influenced legislation
for fifteen years past more than New York's
entire thirty-three. Reason, too much rota-
ton in Office. Massachusetts, keeps sending
her members back again.
This paragraph is copied for Harris benefit,
and to make the curbstoners mad.
Preparations have been made for an active
against the Indians. General Sher-
idan will take command in person, and estab-
lish his headquarters in the Indian country.