Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-26
Which is the Conservative Party,

WAich Is inc C0nscfSatlvo rafty!
Which is the Conservative party is
question to be determined. The re-
representatives. of the people, their legis-
lators, are divided two caucus parties
are assembled at intervals to discuss
and conclude upon party questions,
nominations &c., each claiming to be
the Conservative party. This state of
things should not, and cannot, exist
Conservative voters can no more serve
two political masters than man can
can serve God and mammon. The on
ly solution is to accept that the Con-
servatives are divided upon an issue para
mount, and upon that issue cannot
and will not unite. If this be treason
make the most of it ....
The little coterie Of forty eight have
departed from the usages and customs of
the party in demanding the ostracism
of Conservatives for the ofense of run
ming against nominees of conventions.
Independents never were excluded be-
fore, and certainly should not be now,
when, with no enemy in front, the Con-
sentative convention deemed it safe to
remit the whole debt question to the
people and nominated a governor with
no pronounced views except to stand to
and abide by ''the will of the people as
expressed through their chosen repre-
sentatlves." Accepting this situation,
the people respectfully declined the
manacles which little city and town
cliques and caucuses have periodically
forged for them, and voted squarely Cd
the issue within their party. Three
fourths OF the Conservatives of the State
voted for readjustment of the debt,
and that three -fourths are the conserva-
tive party. The forty-eight are boilers,
and the members of the State commit
tee who countenance and encourage
them are boilers.
They are boilers by their own conces-
sions since assembling in Richmond,
where they accepted the wager of eau
Gus. were beaten on the motion to ex-
clude Conservatives, and on the subse.
quent nomination of Speaker. 1t was
after joining issue and being beaten that
they retired to pass upon the creden-
tiaIs Of gentlemen elected by conserva-
tive constituencies who happened to be
the choice of those they represent rather
than the accidental or pre-conceived
offspring ola town meeting.
1t is plain to us what the forty-eight
mean by their affected party allegiance.
They would prostitute the conservative
organization to the infamous purpose of
perpetuating the funding fraud which
the bride agents of Yankee security
gamblers have fastened like leach up
on the taxable property of this State,
mlstakingly presumlng upon their au-
thority to flourish the party lash, eyre
giously Understanding the courage,
purpose and determination of the great
majority of the people and their repre-
sentatives in the General Assembly.
The remedy for this gangrene in the
party organization and the punishment
for this piece fefrontery are easy ofap-
plication. by bold ane vigorous action.
The Conservatives of the Legislature
should at once proceed to reorganize the
whole machinery. Let them organize a
committee excluding the boilers, and
send to the people an address explain
ing the necessity. If they court an
independents funding bill party let
them have it. Let them have a MAORI
~ty Of the press; the party will still
have majority of the people. The
press was arrayed against the organiza-
ton Of the Conservative party; a ma
iority of the people organized it, and a
majority can and will maintain it.
If the forty-eight have done anything
it lis to offer the grand opportunity for a
complete and final solution of the
troublesome and annoying debt ques-
ton. If the opportunity is not awaited
Of it will be for the want of penetration
and manhood. No sickly talk now
about convention to reorganize, but
steady and well nerved hands at the
helm is the demand Of the hour. One
s'Little Corporal" among the readjusters
may efectuate the whole purpose of the
people. No hesitating. Now is the
accepted time. Young men, if you
have not leaders among your older col
leagues, take the lead yourselves.
Upon your shoulders will rest the
burden Of s16, 100000 war and recon-
struetion interest doubly compounded,
and to you will attach the odium of
failure. Remember that success never
gives any account of itself or rises to
explanations, while lost opportunities
and failures are seldom, if ever, recov-
cred from. Remember your, promises
ON the hustings, pursue your opportu-
mites as becomes men schooled in
adversely for seventeen long years and
the plaudit will be, "Well done good and
faithful servants" Let us know by
decisive action nor which is the Con.
sentative party and who constitute it.
Readjustment, as the Shenandoah
resolutions expound it, means the pay
ment Of every dollar Of the money the
State borrowed, and all of its just debts,