The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-06
Help Casslus, or I Sink

GILMAN, because of its advocacy OF the cause
of the People VS.. the Ring Politicians. II
the truth were known, we have no doubt it
would be found that both articles were sug-
gested in Staunton. The disposition every
where in the South, since the Inauguration
of the wise and conciliatory policy of Presi-
dent Hayes, is manifested by the People to
revolt against Ring domination, and vindi-
cate their manhood rights in the exercises OF
the ballot, Independent of caucus dictation.
This spirit is particularly demonstrative in
the Valley Of Virginia, where there is ro-
bust honesty aud individuality which do not
pertain to all sections of the State. The
people feel that they have endured enough
oppression and wrong from the scleming
politicians, and they know continuance OF
their rule is to complicate them in still
further difficulties and impose upon them
still more onerous burdens. Hence their de-
termination to think and act for themselves,
and the frantic appeals of the ring mana
gers who realize their impending doom. 1t
is legitimate to conclude, from the simulta-
neous appearance of the articles in the two
Richmond papers, and the line of criticism
of both of them, that outside influence had
something to do with them, and that the
frightened and desperate managers here
were cognizant of it.
The affected concern Of both these papers,
for the consistency Of Republicans in rela-
ton TO public obligations and the integrity
Of that party would be amusing, were the
pretensc not so transparent. 1t is sufficient
for them to know that the administration
will take care OF tile national credit, and
that the people of Virginia will see to it in
the election of the next Legislature that the
present policy OF trifling with the creditors
of Virginia, and the honor OF the State, will
be improved. They do not intend that one
third of the assumed debt, held by widows
and orphans, shall be practically repudiated,
nor will they longer tolerate the robbery OF
the School fund to sustain reckless legisia-
ton, Which leaves the burdens Of the people
at the close of each fiscal year augmented
nearly million of dollars. The clamor Of
ssrepudiation'' will brighten no one, nor will
it mislead those who are sensitive about
public faith, when they understand that the
parties who use it would continue policy
that must necessarily force reputation
eventually, and subvert- and destroy the
Public School system. The Administration
nor the Republicans need no lessons OF pub :
lie propriety and virtue from such false
teachers, nor will their sinister threats in
the least disturb the equilibrium OF the edi-
tor OF the VIRGINIAN.
1t is rather anomalous that these papers
which have been so clamorous for ''local
self-government,' and denunciatory of Fed
eral interference in State affairs, should ap-
peal, by indirection, to Federal authority to
suppress the s'only Republican paper OF any
influence in Virginia, because its editor,
who is Il native of the State. with all his in-
| terests here, deems its his duty as a citizen,
to discuss important questions of State poll
| CIV, having no connection with Federal poll
tics, nor influenced in the least by Fedora
position. 1t is the more remarkable, too
that such extraordinary means should be III
| yokcl when there are at least one hundred
and fifty democratic papers ready to do the
bidding of the RiEgs-two of them righ
here in Staunton-and follow the instruc
lions received from the head lights IN Rich
mond. "Error ceases tn be dangerous whef
truth is left free to combat it, and surely i
the VIRGINIAN is in error. there are ample
avenues through which TO INFORM the people
and thus destroy its influence by Legitimate
agencies, rather than ask for Fedora! inter
ference in matter pertaining exclusivel,
to State polity. 1t magnifies the import
ance of the ''only Republican paper in Vir
giuia of influence when two of the leadin!
organs of the opposition in Richmond, aide
by 'sScalawag'' in the Dispatch-doubt
less an appropriate designation-call upo
the. National Administration to assist ther
in an effort to destroy the influence of thi
solitary Republican paper, with one hun
dred and fifty democratic papers to oppos
| it. This is State Rights and Local self-go'
: eminent with vengeance
: The fact is the VIRGINIAN reflects til
voice OF the People in this contest. IL dare
to assault the Rings and the trading Polit
clans. and it is because of this that it has b'
come dangerous to caucus despotism, an
! not because its editor happens to be a s'pos
master.'' Surely one postmaster" ougl
: not frighten the whole ring power Of vi
: gina, where rings have run the State ar
l. rioted in her ruin. Not that. 1t is not ii
postmaster, for he as such has not the lea
:, the People VS.. the Politicians, Which Il
y VALLEY VIRGINIAN represents, that cor
ii pels these ring agencies, to call out to r
publican dministration-"Help,C assius,
1 sink.'' Let them sink. They deserve
sink. They have tyrannized over the pc
pie, trampled and spit upon their right
:. cuffad and knocked them about, as thou!
~ they were the veriest slaves, robbed them
the sweat of their brow, brought shame up
the State, and piled upon them burdens tn
are crushing the very life out of them, a
all to perpctuate the supremacy Of Rim
and Professional Politicians foisted into |
-. stion by the mandate Of the caucus, a
held there by the thongs OF what they C
party discipline.
The following are the articles to which
i'll have above advcrted. They speak for the
selves as well as expose the motives viii
prompted them:
REPUBLICAN HELP PA very active partisan e
! tor is our contemporary of the Valley Virgimi
AS well as we can make out his vaccinations,
family means "repudiation." The national
pnblcan party in all its declarations places
q seal ofreprobation on everything that savors
y fnidelity to public credit. That party CONSTR
the Western Democratic affection for greenbat
as a;means OF curtailing the interest on the pull
RS debt, as alien to public credit and honor and
=, the last presidential campaign figured it forth
F IT,. II there is one thing particularly clear ,
definite in the Republican platform, it is the
votion to public selvency and the inviolability
e, the public solvency.
le Therefore we put an Interrogation to the he
I'd ing of this article to indicate doubt as to whe
er the Valley Virginiam, in endeavorng to ass
Ions nIaf mo-