Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-10-06
Conservative Nomination for Congress
HON. JOHN T. HARRIS.
THE ISSUE.

THE ISSUE.
The real issue of the election in Novem-
Der should account to the people of the
Union fer the intense anxiety of the South
regarding it. 1t is not with them the tariff
nor hard money, nor soft money it is the
vital question whether they shall be admit
ted to the government of the nation as
equals, as sharers in authority, as occupy
ing a place where they may be assured that
once more they have the confidence of the
American people. 1t is an almost super
fluous admission to say they feel that they
are without it and, if coming alone from
them, it would be a superfiuous assertion
to say that they deserveit. 1t is distrust
that amounts to oppression with them
They are permitted to vote, they are per-
mitted to pay heavy taxes, they are per-
mitted to have representatives, but the
moment they ask for themselves, or for
any political party friendly to them, the
privilege Of governing the country the old
cry of unworthiness is raised, and rung
from every platform in the North by the
party in power. They may select North
ern man of unimpeachable Union integri-
ty, or, as they have done in this election,
leave the selection entirely with the North
ern wing OF the Democratic party and still
the charge of unpatriotic motives is the
main one brought against them. And it is
repeated until it begets feeling of despair
as TO where this thing is to end, and rs to
whether it will ever end. We believe that
there is a feeling abroad in the South to-
day, that if the Democratic party was on
lynin power four years the Republicans
might have the government for decade
thereafter. The four years would have
accomplished all that as American citizens
we want to accomplish. We would have
shown the country that we were not only
part of the nation but that we were fit
to share in its government. A burden of
suspicion and distrust that has been car
ried for years by the South would roll from
it's shoulders and it would stand erect as a
part of the American people, to be tainted
by no political party. 1T would have proved
to the world what it can now only assert
it would have shown what it can now only
claim, and its moral influence would then
have a strength Of which it is now shorn
-Four years Of Democratic rule in America
would make this happy country no mat
ter what administration followed at it's
close.
Opportunity, as far as the South is con-
cerned is the issue Of this campaign-op-
portunitY to show the nation what it real
ly is. How can it, save by a Democratic
victory? From without and within it is
beset by the agents of the Republican par
ty, whose chief business is to place it in
Che light of q cOnspirator before the rest
of the country. From without, leading
orators Of the Republican party are to-day
SO showing it from the stump in the North,
and from within, even down to the coun-
try paper or the humble country orator.
addressing q score Of negroes and white
men in convention assembled they are pro-
claiming that the South can't be trusted
net Why not yet ? If not to-day When
can it be tTusEed Is it to be supposed that
the office holdefs in the South or the offic,
holders in the North will ever agree thai
tie day has come for the South to b.
trusted !? And as everybody else at the
South; except the negroes are "conspira-
tors,'r how is it to be ended q tall except
by a Democratic victory. If the whole
South were to turn Republicans tomorrow
and vote for HAYES and WHEELER, it
wouldn't be fit to be trusted get and it nev-
CT WILDE fit tosbe trusted in the eyes of
the men-not the party but the isaep who
have obtained possession of the govern
ment. M
g. Then taking this view of it, and we VIII
are here at the South can alone under
stand it, is it surprising that we are look
ing to November with intense longing, az
to day that brings release from the bond
age of distrust? The South wants to hold
up her head unsupported before the Ameri-
can people. Is that strange feeling either
with nation or man? Does not the
North wish that as we'll? And does not
the North wish that it could stand up be-
fore the world and proclaim that after a
great civil conflict its country was well
contented and well governed within all its
borders? Does it not wish that it could
point to hs44ay and prosperous Southern
states as a part of a fra5ernal union, and
to an honest and statesmanlike govern
ment, and does it not feel that the ivilized
world holds it responsible for the reverse |
ThisIswhole nation would be regenerated |
by Democratic victory next month.
The yearniIg of the South in this cam |
pajgn is to be set on its political feet along
side of, and equal with the other states of
the Union, is that an unworthy desire