The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-03
e Political Situation from a S
ViaVr

cf, gave 10 the puDlic ms views. aSslgnl ~
to the President honest motives, bnt .lffas
ing with him as to the probable effect. M. !
Butler stated thar the President believes,
by the course he is pursuing, there will come
from it a Republican party in the South.
Mr.. B. does not think so. The third essay
ist OH the political situation, is Hon. w. E.
Chandler, of New Hampshire, who very
sharply and severely crticises the President,
and charges him with having abandoned
the party which elected him, and forming
coalition with the Southern democrats.
These gentlemen have a right to speak in
the name Of the Republican party, to some
degree. for they are all three prominent Re-
publicans. They speak, however, from a
Northern standpoint, and draw their con-
illusions from theories, and past usages,
without reference to the practical results at.
tending such theories and usagcs heretofore.
All over the country, whether with refer
erenoe to national or State administration,
the people are aroused to the necessity for
the abatement Of mere partizan feeling in
the administration OF government. The
popular impulse is reaching for Il higher
plane OF official actor, more in harmony
with the material fire OF the nation and
conducive to the peace and prosperity OF
community. Those OF us in the South who
have been identified with the Republican
party. and who are capable OF nationally
considering cause and effect, know that par
tizan strfes as engaged and encouraged by
the Republican aud Democratic parties,
have inflicted upon the people grevoHs
wrongs. and afforded excuse for legislatiO n
which has done much to compromise the sa-
gacity aud good filth Of the Southern pee
pie. We are sure. but for the spirit aroused
| by partiZan feeling. the recent amendments
| to the Constitution OF Virginia. would never
have been adopted. Tue better judgment
| of the great mass OF the Conservative party
did not approve all of them, and had the
question of their adoption as Il whole been
submitted 10 the people apart from politi-
cal contest. they never would never have
been sanctioned. The prepayment Of the
poll-taX, as an essential precedent for the
exercise of the elective franchise, was par
tizan device to practically nullify a national
| law. 1t was the spawn of treaclery as base
as was ever conceived, and designed to sub
serve the corrupt purposes of professional
politicians. who desire position, it matters
not by What agency it is attained. 1t is a
nursery OF bribery and corruption, and opens
up an avenue for political crime that must
infect the entire body polite. AS an isola-
ted question it was obnoxious 10 public sen.
timeEt. bu. in the heat of 4 political cam.
paign, the politicians took advantage OF par
tizan excitement, and urged it as party
necessity.
The amendment adopted three years pre-
vious. by which the present onerous road
law was inflicted upon the pour. labor Of
the State, was another of the results of the
and Democrats. as now organized, the plot
ting leaders of the dominant party awaiting
themselves of the opportune contention to
have the amendment to the Constitution
adopted, by which the change was effected.
/ We mention these as prominent wrongs
Incorporated into the fundamental law OF
the State through partizan devices. to show
that the local organization Of parties as
heretofore has resulted in harm to the pco-
pie, by reason OF the favorable opportunity
presented for the designing politicians to
carry ont their selfish schemes under the
whip and spur of party. and by appealing
to race and sectional prejndces.
Throughout the entire South, the effects,
in more aggravated form, OF tue contentious
between parties. As heretofore existing,
have been fel.. Not only has legislation
been directed, when the power could be eX.
ercised. to the abridgmen5 of the legal
rights Of the co.ored people. but in some OF
the more Southern States, life itself has
been'he1 cheaper than party necessity. Sc
far as the Republican organization being
any protection to the colored people, it has
only served IS provocation or pletense FOL
the most cruel sacrifice of the lives Of per
sons whose only crime was their il entity
with that party.
These are facts. They admit Of no argu
ment. Not only has life been rendered iii.
secure, IN the extreme South, as the result
of present party organizations, but the
whole structure of society has been shaken.
business stagnated, values impaired Or de-
stroyed. and ruin and desolatior reigninn
ever naturally the most aillueut portion
! of the Ulion. The reflective results h We
been felt in every trade centre Of the nation
and thence radiating through all the ramifi-
I cations Of business.
| There has been a cause for this deplora
Bile condition Of things. What it is we will
not here undertake to say. The President
! has recognized the results. however. and
| has addressed himself to their redress. aud
in doing so has departed from past usages.
now exists. where strife and contention
prcvailed-that confidence and business
have revived, where apprehension and de-
spair existed. Whether parties retain their
former strength, in partizan sens, is an
other question. The object of government
is being reached. and il the peace OF soce-
ty. the revival of trade, aud the security OF
life have been promoted, the country can
we'll afford TO endure the impairment of
party organizations, when their existence
was held as an excuse for the perpetuation
of wrongs upon society.
No one questions the sincerity and homes
ty OF the purposes of the President in the
policy he has adopted. That, in every in
stance. his acts have been free from cen
sure, no one will pretend, not even himself.
The prevailing spirit however, has had a
most salutary effect upon thu country, ami
in nothing more than in removing all pre-
text for partizan hate and bitterness in the
South. One error he has fallen into, and
that is the appointment of democrats to Of
flee, where respectable republicans could be
found to fill them. The great mass of the
people did not expect or desire this. They
recognized the propriety of the patronage
Of the government being dispensed to those
who ale identified with the party organiza-
a..