The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-28
Going to Gramercy Park.


The most attractive feature OF the political
complications which are now disturbing the
slumbers and inilaming the brains Of the
modern reformers is the pilgrimage to Gra-
mercy Park. How it is located, or what its
artificial embellishments, we are not INFORM
ed. There may be there IL pefehhiai 1ouht
OF knowledge inviting the exhausted and
perturbed faculties of the student OF party
lntricacies and the sinuous cohspifators
who are just now combining lheir ingenuity
to tramp.c upon the laws and the Constitu-
ton of their country. Some spirit medium
NAV hover about the enchanted spot, to pho
tograph events hidden i'll the womb OF the
future. and point out the agencies and meth.
DDS BY which to intercept the Natural cur
rent of things. and avert the tendency ofhis-
torical events. There must DC some peculiar
fascination about Creamery Park, to draw
from the theatre of political dsputation the
great head lights of the Democratic party,
once week. to catch inspiration from the
mysterious source that hides itself in mystic
seclusion among its amorous bowers.
.'Gone to Gramercy Park" is the an
nouncement every Saturday morning when
the names OF Thurman, Gordon, Hewitt, Ian
dali, and kindred spirits, are called. AS to
what passes there, the vulgar world is igno-
rant. Doubtless, sentinels are posted along
the winding paths that lead to the castle,
where the oracle is concealed. The mys-
FERROUS whisperings aud porfentous thoughts
which there find cautious utterance, never
escape the confines OF the gloomy walls, I'M
til they have been pruned and shaped. and
prepared for the insidious work to be accom-
plished. Each visit of the faithful disciples
of the mysterious seer who holds court in
this classic abode, is fruitful of some devil
ment and it requires no supernatural lntui-
ton to discover that mischief is atioat when
the conclaye has dispersed 1T was in this
way that the gambling pools were brought
into reuuisition to influence public opinion
before the election and give currency to the
belief that the student of the game OF chance
considered the advantages as two to one in
favor OF Tilden against Hayes. Here the
system Of falsehood and deception was ar
ranged by which the returns were to be de-
clared in favor OF Tilden long before it was
possible to learn them, and in this way lay
the foundation for a charge Of fraud, should
the actual result prove different from that
| declared The scheme OF solid South"
| was to be consummated first as pure fiction,
and then if the reality was not in conso-
nance, to flood the country with the prede-
termined allegations that Republican cor
ruption and rascality had cheated the Demo-
| Gratis out Of what they had fairly won. The
defects in this line Of policy were to be sup
piled by such transactions rs occurred in
Oregon, where q broad-daylight robbery
was attempted of an electoral vote; the con-
test in Vermont, Nebraska and Wisconsin
for tie wanting one vote, and the bribery
and corruption planned in South Carolina,
Louisiana and Florida, where the counts
were purchased and electors sought to be
captured by money. All these audacious
Park, to be followed by the clamor about
civil war should they miscarry.
The programme Of the reasonable tricks.
tiers has been faithfully carried out, but has
failed OF its object The result has only been
to disclose the agencies that the great "Re-
form" party has employed to seize the gov
eminent and dispense public patronage
No man can calmly and fairly retrospect
the past six months, without coming to the
conclusion that the Democratic party, as
now organized, is utterly untitled for public
trust, and that an organization which would
seek power by such Observation-Disclosures, SHOULD
ever hereafter be spurned from public conf
| uence.
The Republican party has elected its can
didates by the method prescribed by the
Constitution. The forms Of law are all will
them, and nothing but blind fanaticisn
could expect that result thus fortified
should fail of the final act to It's full reali
cation.
The tactics Of Gramercy Park, ramiiie(
and ingeniously devised rs they have been.
cannot stand before the honest sentiment O
the country, as the sequel will amply dem
onstrate. The legal verdict will be peace
fully declared; the formal consummation OF
the act it contemplates, will be accomplish
ed, and Rutherford B. Hayes be the presi-
dent Of the United States from the 4th o
March, 1877.