The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-11
A Warning.

OF tile oOutn nave Decn Qupeu ny tiie -soItn-
ern Democracy. We all remember their
valiant promises in 1850, and their vindictive
performances in falsifying their promises.
Yet the Southern Democracy, forgetting |
them, in 1872, took up Mr.. Greeley for the
Presidency, and in 1876, Mr.. Tilden. There is |
scarcely one of them now, who is not ashamed |
Of the support rendered to these two men
the one the author Of many of our woes, and |
the other the master political trickster of
the age-from neither of whom was there
any reason to hope for friendly acts CON-
mensurate with the wants Of the South.
The fact is. the Republicans have proven
themselves to be better friends to the South
than Northern Democrats. These latter
have never beer true to anything but the
smallest kind of selfishness, and only pro-
TESS Kindness to the South to deiude the
people of that section to coalesce with
them for the attainment Of their own sinister
purposes. General Chalmers, of Mississlp-
ri. seems to understand this, and on his re-
turn to his constituents from Congress, de-
liyered speech in which he said
II have loved the Democratic party from
my youth up, and what | said to Northern
Democrats was more in sorrow than in an
ger; but, sir, 1 believed what l said, and
usually say what believe. When a South
ern man remembers the gross inequality of
Government aid in the past, and when he
sees that inequality about to be re-enacted
when lie sees reduction of the tariff struck
downyin the Democratic House; when he
sees Democratic Senator from New York
opposing subsidy to Brazilian steamship
line for New Orleans after millions have
been expended for New York; when he
sees the Northern Pacific bill, granting
subsidy in lands equal to fifty millions in
money, passed by Northern Democratic
Senators, without a dissenting voice, while
they refuse even to fix time to consider the
Texas Pacific; and when he sees Democrats
in the House opposing the Texas Pacific,
and yet voting subsidy to the Northern
Pacific, he begins to ask himself why he has
suffered SO long and endured so much for
the Democratic party. II is true that North
ern Democrats have suffered many things
for US, and l honor them for it; but, sir,
we have done tenfold more for them. There
never was day nor an hour when all our
prosecutions would not have instantly
ceased, If we would have joined the Repab-
lican party. But we loved the name; we
loved the hallowed associations; we loved
the ancient glory OF the Democratic party,
and we have endured for it pains, penalties
and privations as great as those which St.
Paul suffered for the Christian religion. We
resisted every temptation and chung to the
Northern Democracy. They have, indeed,
helped us, but we have helped them as
much. We lifted them up from being de-
spised minority into majority in this House
and in the Union. And l warned them in
my Texas Pacific speech, and warn them
again, not to drive us from them by refusing
TO do justice to our section. We love the
party, but we cannot afford to be starved to
death by it,
Commenting OH the speech the Memphis
i :AnGLGsaehe has the following pertinent sen
fences
iiThe Northern Democratic leaders were
untrue to the North during the war, and
have proved themselves untrue to both sec
= Jtions since the war. This is their record,
aud it is question for every honest man in
the South TO decide for himself whether he
shall permit party names that no longer
mean anything to stand between him and
Justice to his people and section. General
Chalmers is right. By blind adherence to
the party, for che sake of old associations,
the South is beng starved to death. And in
commencing his speech the Vicksburg Her.
aid is rghtin saying of the Northern Dem
Ocrats, that If they continue to turn deaf
ear to the demands of the South for an equal
share In the benefits Of the Government, she
will be justified in ''solidifying' ii, another
direction and sacrificing sentiment to in
terest.''
Were the Southern people to forget the
war and the preiudices growing out Of it {;
to calmly consider the true interests of the
South, and identify themselves with the
national sentiment of the cou Try, in
been Iuntlue to both sections,'a new Or
der of things would be inauguratel- immi-
grafton and capital would flow in, our ma
taral wealth be developed, and political
and national power follow in degree that
it will be utterly impossible to realize SC
long as the Northern marpiots are engaged
in perpetuating sectional hates. The Pot
ter investigation was the offshoot OF the
Northern Democracy. The people of the
South would none of it, because they knew
their section would have to suffer for it
yet party association was stronger than con
Fiction OF uuCy, anu ny tnae agency ine9
we're driven and cajoled into the filthy plot
The honest judgment of the people of tho
South has no sympathy with the bad amb
ton that instigated it, and if that judgment
could find expression, it would immeasura-
bly, condemn the mischievous agitation.
The speech of Gen. Chalmers and the
! comments of the Memphis and Vcksburs
papers is a healthy sign, and we Eope other!
viii feel encouraged to follow their exam
pie.