The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-19
COMMUNICATIONS

November 20, 1873.
ysditoss Of Figgiaioi, In discussing the rela
lions and effects upon national politics OF the SOL
id South one very important feature OF the sub
ect seems 10 be uniformity ignored by writers
here at the South. refer to the erect upon the
political liberty OF our own race. OF the course
pursued during the last ten years TO make the
South solid.
fhe tyranny OF public opinion has been invoked
and has exerted its utmost Of baneful power TO
repress free thought and free speech, and as d
consequence free action al the baliot-boX.
No greater tyrant ever existed than public
opinion, and many man has bowed to it against
his convictions, who could and has marched
iinchingiytot The cannon's mouth in battle; Many
brave Confederate soldier has admitted this.
Directed i'll the cause Of justice and virtue il is
q mighty engine promoting the welfare Of sOcie-
ty While directed by passion and prejudice il is
Just as mighty in its power for evil. A hea lihy
public opinion is without doubt The true safe
guard OF constitutional government and public
Intelligence as well public morality can
alone assure healthy condition OF public 0pin-
ion. Blind zeal that refuses to see or admit that
there can be any truth or good other than that
advanced by It's own sect or party, is the cause Of
very many OF the ills that atliict society. TO the
ligot in politics as in religion the end sought to
be accomplished is thought to Justify the means,
which too often involve any and all means that
can be used to overthrow opposition.
The 1nquiSiton was justified Just as the ku-
klux-Klan and the white line have been by over
Jealous partzanshp and its evil work denied by
others, alike Jealous, in the one case rs i'll the
other.
There can be no denial of the fact that since the
Constitution was adopted by Virginia every eff
forth been made to prevent any accession OF
any native white element to the support OF the
Republican party. All the power Of social infu-
ence and all the relations Of trade and professional
support have been brought to bear to prevent
this and tc keep the color line intact
1t may be equally true that the same course
was pursued on the other side for the blacks are
an initiative race. We viii not enter into the
question Of the legitimacy OF such action by eth
side. Its effect has been evil, and only evil.
Evil and that only VIII be the effect upon the coun
try at large of arraying one section against the
other. A solid South will sooner or later be con-
fronted by a solid North.
As i'll State politics have seen questions Of
vital moment to the-people held in obeyance or
sat aside. less they.misht lead to division among
own race, JUST we see already wi lingneSS
to surrender convictions and truth on the part OF
many leaders, to party necessity in national pol
itcs. Earnest hard money men are ready to stand
on the widest imitation platform if the party may
triumph thereby. in a recent interview OF a re-
porter with three distinguished Senator's and
Representatives from the South, Richmond,
each expressed a Willingness TO follow the North
ern Democracy and support hard money or an
lnfatloniSt candidate
Just as a certain distinguished candidate for
Congress lately declared here that platform
could not be made that he could not stand upon.
Ii is III vain to say while such condltlon or al
fairs exists that theyoter who has not the cour-
age and manliness to declare his convictions
ought not to vote.
What we need is more manly Independence all
around and q Willingness to cut clear from party
ties when it is evident that such ties used only
by demagoguesf for their own advancement TO place
and power. Also broader charity toward those
who differ with one another on questions politi-
cal. Ii any objection to- heard. or remuneration
OF. the methods employed at the South to main
ain their political unity it is called 'hoisting the
bloody shirt Party zeal blinds the sight and re
fus1ng all evidence it persists IN a denial OF the
charges made without investigation, and con-
science is satisfied.
Can any fair man deny that Republicans OF the
North have right to protest against and TO resist
in the only lawful manner. by an appeal to the
people at large by means OF the printing press
and baot-boX, for correction of the evil or
counter action of its effect. They do not com
plain that the South is Democratic Far from 1t.
that
make it so, which shock the moral sense OF all
right thinking people; methods which if they are
allowed to become general Will sound the death
knell OF Republican Institutions. Interference
with the right of public meetings and free can
among the voters, and frauds at the ballot
box are the subjects of complaint.
And on top OF that, a repetition of Boss
ing to do about it," With largely increased
power in the Electoral College and in Congress
based upon colored suffrage, there conld be no
ground OF complaint if every mothers son voted
The Democratic ticket untPammelled and with
free ballot and q free canvass.
Has there been any such OF late any where i'll
the South. excepting where the work OF intinda-
lion had been SO thoroughly done not TO long
ser require violent methods or where maiorities
were SO large as to render them needless This
is very different from recognizing the fact stat
ed by West OF Staunton, that communities
must yield in political convictions TO their ma
terial INTERESTINGLY low plane of morality in
politics anything elSe--or being treason to
any section or interest because that interest, real
or supposed, leads them to vote with the Demo-
cratic party.
think West of Staunton will admit that it is
Dangerous for any community to endorse social
y political idea if such endorsatien is accom-
plished through fraud or violence. We have not
to so back far in our own history for evidence of
it surely. The question of the right is not in
volyed necessarily Of the citizen ignore solid
~ all who differ politically or religously; nor of
his right to restrict business relations to those
only who agree with him.
But if this be right and carried to its legiti
mate and ultimate sequence what spectacle
would our communities present?
Methodists only dealing with Methodists and
Baptists with Baptists, Greenbackers with Green
hackers, &C. 1t is not that right which here ques
TONED, however much its policy may be and is,
but the step beyond in coercion is and eoiU be
sailed until corrected. American citizenship in
wolves duties to the Commonwealth in return for
privileges enjoyed, and it will be a happy day
when all learn to perform the whole of that duty.