The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-07-26
The Caucus Despotisln.

There mover has been a question agitated
in the State of Virginia SO deeply affecting
the interests of the people and the integrity
Of the Commonwealth as that which now
engages public attention. and demanding
solution. The State Debt is matter in
which all alike are interested, whether De-
mocrats or Republicans. and upon which
men are divided, with no reference to their
political proclivities. 1t is above party, and
above the ambitions Of politicians. In dis
cussing 1t, we have thought of no partizan
benefit, and no party policy has controlled
us, except to expose the wrongs that have
been inflicted upon the State through the
operation of the caucus system as rractised
in this State. Early in the canvass, we
urged upon Republicans the policy of pre-
senting no distractions to the free and full
discussion o9the financial affairs of the State,
and to more fully carry oat the suggestion,
to give no excuse for making 1t a party ques-
ton by the nomination Of candidates for the
various State offices. Many of the leading
men in the party willingly assented to it,
others reluctantly, and others still. have
never agreed with the policy. The general
conclusion, however, has been in conso
nance with the views we suggested, and
consequently the Republicans, as an organi-
cation, are making no contest, and will make
none, nor are they united in sentiment in
relation to the Debt question.
We v-oru tpA,,onoa1 IN +k;, oo,,r,o bx, .,
earnest desire to have the question settled
to relieve the people of an aggravating
source of agitation, and to place the State in
a position so that everybody could know pre-
cisely where she stood, what was expected of
the taxpayers, and the provision made to
meet their obligations. We felt the meces-
stty for this, because we had conversed with
a large number of persons from ether States
who had visited Virginia with view to in
vestments, but who have told us they would
never settle in State, where there was so
much uncertainty, as pertained to the public
affairs of Virginia.
We have, therefore, discussed the question
| which is now uppermost in the public mind
in no other sense than as Virginlans, devoted
to our native State, and directing our ener-
gies and efforts to the promotion of her well
fare. We have no party scheme to accom-
plish-no party interests to subserve. We
recognize the fact, as every impartial mind
must, that the caucus system, as practiced
by the Democratic party, has been disas-
| trous to the State. Ithas made the ends of
the ring politicians paramount to all other
| interests. Frauds have been c0ndoned, Off
cial integrity compromised, legislative an
thority perverted and abused by the man.
date Of the caucus, and in the interest OF
partizan necessities, regardless of the inter.
suggestions of wise public policy. We
have urged it as duty the people owed to
themselves to break the iron rule Of this pet
ty and corrupt despotism, and emancipate
themselves from the domination of the sell
| fish politicians who think OF nothing else
but their own selfish schemes, caring not
whether the people are crushed to the earth
by the burthens imposed upon them or not.
|
the wrongs that were being heaped upon
them. Our warnings have been silenced
and our appeals unheeded through the lnfiu-
ence of the specious tactics of the profess
sional politician, arousing the partizan pre-
JUDGES of the people and stimulating their
fears by the ergo party, while the great
question, in the solution of which the life of
the State is involved, was left out of sight
and removed from the forum of public dis
cussion. During this entire time the evils
which have been fastened upon the people
have been increasing. The public debt has
been augmented by millions in defanlted
interests. Tbo public revenues have been
aiasipated and squandered; the public Trea-
sury robbed; public faith compromised, and
all the important interests anectine the ,,An-
pie disregarded and overlooked.
The people have reco gnized the truth and
the force of the facts we presented and the
appeals we made. But when the time for ac-
ton came, the necessities of the caucus were
pressed with such vehemence and the party
lash used with such severity that the mate.
rial concerns of the State were made srbor-
dinate, and the rule Of wrong perpetuatcd.
Party, PARTY, was the shibooleth, and be-
cause we dared to defy the authority of the
ring managers, to question their purposes
and to warn the people as to the ruin that
was hedging about them, we were charged
with connecting a "radical - trick to dis
rupt the Democratic party. These misera-
bic little party pimps, and their no less con-
temptible mtmics, were never moved by
motive of disinterested regard for their State.
They are incapable of compromising the
fearful condition of things into which the
people are being driven, and the fearful
wrongs that have been perpetrated against
them. Their highest ambition has been to CEN
troll the rings and the caucuses, and, through
their machinery, the Offices, with authority
to appropriate the revenues drawn from the
sweat and toll Of the people. Year after
year the burthens Of the taxpayers have
been augmentingy- after session of
| the Legislature has failed to provide re-
medy-months have been consumed in doing
nothing, at heavy cost to the people. The
1
Treasury is now empty; the revenues arc
nearly all in; the Public Schools have re-
ceived but little over one third of their allow
ance; the appropriations for the Insane and
Deaf Mute Asylums are unpaid the interest
on the public debt defaulted the demands
for money loaned out Of the banks pressing,
with nothing to satisfy them. These things
are the fruits Of the caucus and the despotism
it has practiced upon the unrcsisting people,
TWAS to correct these evils that we wished
to remove all possible excuse for evading the
discussion of the financial condition of the
State, and which Influenced us to advise
against Republican ticket. 1t was to pro-
vide remedy against these things that we
gave cordial support to the Farmers Meet
ing held in this place on the 18th, and have
followed up the discussion of the question
with desire to impart as much information
to the people as was in our power. And they
have everywhere become aroused. They
feel the truth Of what we have so persistently
pressed upon them for the past five years
that they were the SLAVES OF the scheming
politicians, and to continue longer in that |
Hoo L-s--