The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-05
Party Disintegration.

Ii peace is ever again to return to these
United States, and material develop pro-
gress in proportion to the resources of the
nation, the Democratic party, as now organ
lied, must be dissolved. 1t is held together
and controlled in the South by sectional
hates, and nothing else. The elements which
compose it are so homogeneous and antago-
nistic, that they must of necessity bound off
from each other so soon as the influence of
prejudice is broken, and reason asserts SILL
premacy. Without discussing the question
whether this extreme sectional feeling is
the result of corresponding provocation,
we are compelled to recognize the fact that
the result has been detrimental to the best
interests of the people and the country. It
is this which has to be corrected, if possible,
and the first step to its accomplishment is
the removal of the causes that have brought
it about.
1t would be profitless to enter into re-
sumo of the events and influences which
have contributed to a state of public affairs
so inimical to local and national prosperity,
and so foreign to the legitimate ends OF gov
eminent. Provocations, doubtless, have
been furnished by both parties, each acting
upon what it believed to he right. and Meth
er willing for concessions, which once in
augurated, might long since have restored
quiet and peace. The fact stands before us,
and has to be dealt with, that some of the
Southern States are not prosperous, they are
not peaceful, the State governments and the
people are at war with each other, and that
there is deep underlying cause for this
condition of things. 1t is with this state of
disorder distrust and Of strife, that the Pres
ident and the people OF the South, have to
contend and to rectify. 1t requires change
somewhere, and by somebody. There is
defect somewhere that has to be remedied.
The President has made the advance, which
evidently contemplates modification OF
party and government policy, on the one
side, that must be met by corresponding
concession on the other. 1t implies, by log
ical sequence, the disruption of the Demo-
cratic party as at present organized, the
abatement of It's hates and prescription, a
more catholic and fraternal spirit, and lib
eral tolerance of diverse views of public pol
icy. Whenever the Democratic party shall
lift itself above the passions and prejudices
of section, and enter into the spirit of gen.
uine nationality, the process Of disintegra-
ton will have commenced. the re-adjust-
ment OF its antagonizing elements instituted,
and the hope encouraged that the conserva-
tive portion of it, will gravitate to the sup
port of the administration.
1t is only by thus liberalizing the political
sentiment OF the South that material pros
peri.y can be effected. The feelings and
convictions Of the people must harmonic
with the national impulse of the country,
and the assurance given that the rights OF
all will be respected and secured under local
laws, as we'll as by the more expressive agen-
cies of social and commercial determination
and tolerance.
1t is in this way the people of the country
ests may dictate, and the rich fields Of en-
terprise in the South become the theatres OF
active business progress under the stimulus
of Northern capital and energy.
The people themselves would willingly
divorce themselves from the baneful inf1u-
ences of sectional feeling and prejudice,
were the politicians muzzled, and all occa-
sion for appealing to passion removed. 1t is
the duty of all to contribute their efforts to
move obstacles to the attainment of an end
so conducive to the general welfare.