The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-11-21

With q solid South on one side and a solid
North on the other, it will be a long time
before the Democratic party will be able to
elect President. The sooner we drop this
solic business the better for both sections,
but especially for our own interest.-jStdfe.
The folly of their course is gradually
dawning on the minds of Democratic polite
ians. As long as troops were stationed in
the South, the cry of military interference
was powerful appeal to the better class of
men of the Northern States, to whom the
idea of bayonet rule was as obnoXious as its
realization could have been to people who
were uniustly afflicted with it. When, how
ever, the President withdrew the troops,
one of the wisest acts of his administration,
the eyes OF those who had been blinded by
the appeal were opened. They saw then
that the Constitution had been violated, that
the elective franchise, to a large majority of
the voters in the South, was an absolute
mccllery, and that the rights of men whom
the law invests with the full dignity OF man
hood, whether they deserve it or not, were
wiped ont of existence. They saw districts
! in South Carolina and Alabama with known
Republican majorities of from $1,000 to TO-
900 returning Democratic Congressman,
whilst in Louisiana the strongly Republican
districts were afraid to make nominations.
! When these facts were made manifest and
they were called upon to confront the condi
ton of affairs resulting therefrom, the an
swer they gave was "a solid North against a
Solid South, and that answer will stand
without amendment until the political right
of every man is recognized and his protec-
ton in the exercise OF the elective franchise
assured
Tint and color as you may, these stubborn
facts stand forth and demand explanation,
and the sooner the Democratic politicians OF
the South realize their full significance the
sooner may they expect to receive assistance
from the North and West.
As pertinent to the subject we copy the
following from the Baltimore Americdn. Al
ter citing number OF instances in which
overwhelming Republican maiorties lave
been reversed, it says:
These are but few of the instances going
to show how the Republican party has been
| suppressed in the South, and 30 matter
what sophstry may be employed TO eXplaiE
away the plain facts of the case, there Is
nothing more certain than that they have
made deep impression upon the voters OF
the North All Democrats not partisan
blind must understand this much, for ii is as
clear as sunlight. The Way that the Repub
licau voters look at it is that hall a million
of Republicans in the South are virtually
DISTINGUISHED. by making citizens Il the
negroes twenty-five additional members OF
Congress were added to the Southern repre-
sentation, but this very class Of voters, and
the white Republicans of that section, are
! denied the power of their numbers in choOs-
ing Congressman from the districts in which
their numerical majority is beyond a doubt.
1t cannot be LOO frequently reiterated that
this condition of affairs sodiiies the Repub-
| licans everywhere that voting is free, and if
continued will surely enable them to elect a
| President in 1880, for the solid South casts
but l3S electoral votes out of the whole 36S.
No Democratic candidate can reach the Pres
! idential office without procuring AZ addition
| al votes from the North and West. and the
| solid South will stand as barrier in the
way of his obtaining them. There is a ven
cradle axiom to the effect that the Democratic
party cali always be relied upon to defeat it.
self in a crisis by committing some fatal
/ blunder. The blunder of these times is the
/ solid South. and the manner in which it has
been unified. -