The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-12
Vain Roasting.

to be interviewed, and the substance OF what
he said is given elsewhere, as taken from the
New York World. We suspect that the
correspondent has been rather free in the
use of the conversation, for we car hardly
think that Mr.. Tucker would give expression
to the conclusions imputed to him. lie is we'll
aware that il the people to whom he re-
fers had had any serious purpose to violent
revolt against the President, they would have
| availed themselves OF the opportune occasion
presented before the Inauguration, and when
! the formal announcement of the result OF the
He cannot seriously entertain the belief
| that the 'speople"-tliat is, the Democratic
party-contem plate any resistance to Federal
authority, even should tae President not do
what the Democrats think he should. Mr.
| Tucker little understands the mood of the
Southern people, if he presumes they are
ready, upon slight provocation, to re-enact
the folly Of 1861, and he certainly must have
an exaggerated opinion Of the Nothern DEM
ocracy if he concludes that, under any circum-
stances, they could be tolled into anything
more serions than vapid bluster and pre-
tense.
| As to the President carrying olt the plat
form of the Democracy, that is not very
strange, for the Democratic party has inya-
| riably, ever since the late war, planted it
| self squarey upon Republican principles for
the purpose OF preaching what it naver tho't
| of practicing, if unluckily for the country it
should be advanced to power. In 1872 it even
went further that the Republicans in dec,ar
| ing its devotion to the Union, the Constitu
| ton and laws, in adopting Il resolution thank
| ing the Union soldiers for killing Confeder
ate soldiers, and swallowing Mr.. Greeley, with
his unrepented and unretractel denuncation
Of the Southern people. In 1873, in the State
canvass, it accepted the amendments to the
National Constitution, coquetted with the
administration Of Gen. Grant, and declared
that it was the purpose of the Democracy of
Virginia to raise no captious objection to the
Republican party, asa national organization.
| In 1876, the platform adopted at st. Louis,
| was merely a reprint, substantially, of the
Republican platform and professions. So,
throughout the history Of the Democratic
party, since 1865, its professions have been
but repetition of Republican principles,
but where it has obtained power, its prac-
.tices have been in direct conflict with its pro-
tical notification of the laws it has profess
ed to sustain. It would be difficult for Re-
publican administration to be true to the
| Republican party without carrying out the
principles declared in the platforms OF the
Democracy, but belied in Democratic prac-
| tees.
| President Hayes, III his Southern policy,
has simply put into practice the declarations
of his letter Of acceptance and inaugural adj
dress, and for Mr.. Tucker to arrogantly
assume that this has followed because of APP
prehension of Democratic displeasure, is
| drawing upon the credulity of the people to
an extent that does not reflect favorably upon
his penetration or sagacity. Doubtless Mr..
Hayes does not wish needlessy to offend
| Democrats, or to violate his own sense Of
| right or the teachings of his party creed,
simply because the Democratic party has
seen proper to incorporate Republican prin-
ciples into Democratic platforms. Itwould,
| indeed afford him pleasure to believe that
such extreme ard impracticable men as
even Mr.. Tucker, endorse his policy, and
the manner in which he is carrying out the
| principles he declared would be the rule OF
his official conduct. 1t only goes to show
that if Mr. Tucker and others who act with
! him had had a little more sincerity and a
| little more courage, they might have instituted
apolicy of Cancellation long ago, by applying
| to State legislation the tcnets of faith they
assumed in their platforms, and to-day might
be in harmony with the Republican party
and worthy to be admitted to its aflilia-
! ton. Wade Hampton has courageously de-
| clared his purpose to stand fast to Republican
principles in the administration of public af-
fairs in South Carolina, and in this has CIV
en- bright example which Mr. Tucker would
do well to iInmitate, as far rs the sphere of
his duties will allow.
The confidence with which Mr.. Tucker as
| sumes that the Democratic party of Virginia
| was never more united than now, is not
| shared by many of his active party friends
in this State, nor by the Chairman of the
| State Committee, Gen. Taliaferro, himself.
That gentleman, in an official document, has
expressed his fears that the policy of the
| President may operate to weaken the organ
i1af of ho iyf
to counterfeit such an effect he precipitately
called his committee together for the pur
pose of inaugurating the gubernatorial cam
paign, and thus drilling the party. Bat even
this precaution will be Intellectual to change
the current now setting against Bourbon
Democracy and in favor Of national senti-
ment and fraternization. The progress of
the canvass will develop that the people are
tired of machine politics and caucus 6lespo-
tism, and that pronunciamentoes and re-
solves by assumed leaders and organs will be
nothing more than sounding brass and tink-
ling cymbal. 'Pride goeth before fall,''
is saying that Mr.. Tucker should not dis
regard. for his vain boasting. will, in all
probability, be followed, in no very long
time, by fearful collapse, that will cause
the dissolution of the Wanted Virginia Dem
ocracy.
The President will soon adoet rule which
will rid him of the continuous flow of Office
seekers to the Executive Mansion. He will
require them to submit their app lications to
the heads of departments in which they seek
position, and will not hear the petitions in
person Of the applicant. He will admit
friends OF the applicants, to learn the charac-
ter and qualifications of those asking posi-
tiens, the better to enable him to decide up
on the recommendations when they come to
him from the respective Secretaries.
The liquor dealers OF Richmond held a
meeting on Monday last, to consult as to
the propriety of contesting the constitution
atty of the ''Moffett punch bill.'' 1t was
determined to appoints committee to confer
with counsel on the subject, and if deemed
70 rs