The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-08
State Affairs.

ioi warn rs INC heDuDlicail can0ldate fOr
Governor in the fall election. We are not
advised ut present AZ to the policy that will
most probably be adopted in reference to the
next GOyernorship by the Republicans. We
| incline to the belief now that it will be best
for the people OF Virginia, irrespective OF
| party, to take in hand the adjustment of their
financial complications, and so shape the
| canvass as to secure an expression OF opinion
on that important and vital question. The
| utter failure OF the Legislature to make any
provision TO meet the obligations OF the State,
| Or devise any means to avert impending
| bankruptcy. calls for the prompt inter-
ventlon Of the popular voice to mark
ont course that will put doubts at rests. II
the debt is 10 be paid, let 1t be SO determine
ed. Ii it is to be repudiated or compromised.
/ let it he so determined. The people cannot
| afford TO have tie principal of the debt aug
ment at the rate OF S., 900, 900 year. The
question is, can the property OF the State
bear an increase OF the rate OF taxation to
pay this Interest aud meet the current cx-
Il
postponed longer. It Is material death to
| do SO. Whisky, tobacco and oystess-al Of
them liiXaries- seem to be tGo powerful in
| their inauence 10 allow Of their subjec-
ton to any share in the ISOLATION OF the Diff
cutics which surround as. Representatives
! from the Valley have SO voted. THIS means
that tl'e real and personal property of the
| Valley must bear the increased burdens, or
reputation follows. How will the people
settle it? will they press still further TO the
ground the agricultural interests OF .hc Stale.
or will they demand another adjustment,
more in accordance with eGuity and jus
tice?
| PEOPLE Of Virginia. you mast meet this
question. You cannot longer eyadc it. How
will you doit? VIII you ALLOW the Caucus
trickslers 10 lind yoi, hand and foot so that
you cannot ge, M expression OF the popular
| will. or will you assert Your own right to
indicate a inc rf policy That will paint TO an
early settlement of this vial matter? The
| Republicans ot the State are willing. We be-
lieye, 10 join with the agricultural interests
| to naugurate policy TO dispose of the qncs-
titn. They are mainly laborrrs and are ider-
| titled with the farming interests. There is
no necessity for party lines to he drawn this
year. At lsast. The. interests Involved are
above party, aud affect all alike. Let the
caucus tie dispensed witt, OF il its agency is
invoked By the trading politicians, let the
| -.
aud defeat it. As We have heretofore said.
we will unite with the people of the State,
independent OF CAUCUS, for the purpose OF
meeting the iSsue OF the State tiebt and SET
ting it one way or the other. To do 90, will
require a defined policy, AMI <, candidate
outside OF the caucus
| We regret that VIC lia.c mislald the article
from the Day Book. While 1t suggests no
policy, particularly, that would Indicate any
advantage 10 be gained by drawing party
lines in the approaching canvass, it brings
Mr.. Lewis name forward because OF Repub-
lican identity. Ii VIC understand Mr.. Lewis
position correctly, he Is not in favor OF a
strict party conflict 10 the Gubernaturial Sc
lection. He admits the necessity that now
presses upon the people Of Virginia for an
| adjustment. in some way or other. of the
State debt. lie recognizes that the failure
to make some kind OF provision to satisfy
the creditors OF the State, Is damaging all
our material interests, and directing CAPT.
| tai and enterprise from our borders. He is
auxions to have al understanding all around,
| SD that the creditors may know what tc eS-
pect, and the people may know what they
have 10 do. He is satisfied that we cannot
afford to allow the Commonwealth to drift
on TO bankruptcy. There must be some.
thing done. and that speedily, and the peo-
pie mus: say what that something is. Wca
! not authorized 70 speak for Mr.. Lewis, how
ever.
Since writing the ADORE, we have received
another copy OF the Day Book containing the
article alluded to, which We publish as fol.
lows:
EX-SENATOR JNo. +. LEWIS. The conli-
ton Of political matters in this State Just at
| this time. when the National Democratic
party is split up in two great factions each
,
Gently bitter against the Republicans. and
one OF those factions likely to seek alliances
with, and TO build mp and become an integral
part oftle Republican party at the South
at this luncture it becomes important. we
Judge, for the Republican party to tax. act
ion in regard to their State elections in No
vember next. The prospect Is bright for
that party to become the popular and ruling
party in Virginia il it will shake Off lis letli-
argy and 60 in for what the people want.
net what the politicians and rings want
that is, nasive representation from Our most
respectable and Intelligent classes.
With this view. we bring forward for oar
candidate as Governor. cur sterling native
Republican fellow Citizen Senator John F. |
Lewis, Of Harrisonbarg, Virginia. whose
history is too well known to the people OF
Virginia to require repetition here. Demo- !
Gratis and Conservatives cheerfaly and So
gaciously accepted him for their NEW |
movement Senator, and he faithfully serv- |
cd the interests Of the State in the United |
States Senate, and The idea Of paciiication !
between the people OF the North and South, |
on which he was chosen for that exalted po- |
sition, was the idea that gave impulse 10 his |
every effort as the Senator of his State.
Without Virginia is to be brought into
harmony and accord with the people of the |
benefits to be derived from Northern capt. |
tai and immigration, and National assistance |
to her works OF internal improvement, she
had just as we'll remain under her present
un;hrifty Democtatic rule, but it is desirable |
to wake her up and PUT her on the broad |
road to progress and prosperity to keep step
60 her sister States OF the Union, a move
ment which will bring Il large part OF her
most intelligent, virtEous and leading citi-
zens in political accord with the ruling par
ty Of the country, is the movement. we should
make.
John +. Lewis is All honorable. higt-toned
native gentleman, moderate in his political
views, an influential granger, an old line
Wing. who. after the war accepted the stu
alton In true faith, and stuck to it; and il the
new formation of political influences is like.
" to rally under any one, he presents the
features which should attract the masses to
him in the contest for the Gorernorship OF
this honorable though much harriei old
State.
The report that President Hayes intends
o pursue changed policy in regard to the
South has brought to Washington number
u Conservative Democrats, who say il there {