The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-12-26
Sectional Politics

Sectional Politics
A friend writes us a long private letter III
which he cotrplans,,of the mildness 81 the
VIRaINIAN, in treating the Southern cleo
ton frauds, as indicated in an aliusion 10
the expected sectional dcbate'' IN Inc
United States Senate last week. While we
can appreciate the sentiments OF our cores
ponden. and the vigorous and foreibie SEN
fences in which he presents them. We think
the time has arrived for conservative memo
both parties to unite their efforts to bring,
about better understanding between Nthe'
sections and allay, as far as possible, section
al feeling and an;mcsit!es. The speech OF
Mr.. Blaine, in the Senate, recognized TINS
fact, for he fell far below popular expecta-
ton in the fervor Of his denunciation and
the inflammability of his appeals. His man
ner and style were emphatically senatorial,
and as different from llia terrible and I'M
passioned arraignmcnt OF the management
Of Ander: onville prison. two years ago, IN
the House, as the dec0rum and Conservatism
OF the Senate is from the boisterous and
uneuarded defamation OF the House. We
were agreeably surprised with Mr.. Blaiae's
speech on Monday OF last week. His state
ly presentation OF facts and mastery array
of arguments, will do more to impress upon
the country the disregard Of the election
laws, and the inhibition Of the rights OF citi
zenship, to which he referred, than any I'M
FASHIONED denunciation in which he might
have INDUCED.
As VIC stated last week. there are very
few fair men in the South, who Will not ac-
knowledge that wrongs were perpetrated in
some Of the Southern States and frauds
committed, and who will not agree. that all
such violations of law ought to be prompt
| ly punished. No impartial mind In the
South will object to the steps taken bY the
President and the law officers of the gov
ernment to ferret out these wrong-doers,
and see that the majesty of the law and the
Consti ution is vindicated. A calm, judicial
procedure cannot arouse sectional prejudice
and feeling, and to the degree that the out
RACES charged are upheld by party organiza-
ton and the political demagogues and mar
plots, who feed upon excitement, will the
| conse yatiye element Of the South be driv-
| en- from such association, and seek such re-
| dress and in the methods Us the institutions
Of our country prescribe. There may not
be 30 much fervor or fiery emphasis given to
| this manner of treating the matter, but IL
will be effective in the degree that reason IS
kept calm and passion is allayed. Indeed,
that is the only way to break up the "soild
| South'' in the interest OF partizan Democs
,acy. There are plenty Of men in the.Sous'l
who have exerted controlling Influence In
the Democratic party, who are utterly disgust
ed with the means employed to keep 1t IN
mower. and would address themselves to the
work of disntegrating Il organization
and the formation of more national asso-
citation, were the question of section and the
influence OF sectional feeling, inflamed by
appeals to passion, left out OF the question:
They are Southern men, however. and when
an issue Is presented in sectional aspect
they will identify themselves with their sec
ton. however much they might deprecate
such folly.
Tie principles OF the Republican party
are right. and there are many who acknowf'
edge this when calmly approached upon the
subject who have heretofore acted with the
Democratic party They know that the
Democracy have no governmental policy &c
sustain, in a national sense, and they know
that the administration OF State affairs I'M
der its auspices, is not what it should be-
The dissatisfaction existing manifested itsel1
in almost every Southern State during thu
November election, in the independent can
didates. defying the party caucus, and tlils
was but the advance of more formidable
protest which is certain to be developed, I
sectional feeling is not aroused and inde
pendent thought controlled by inf1amed pas
sion.
The country wants rest from the insan'
and harmful conflict of sections. and Will
this rect will eome the supremacy OF conser
vatism, the reign Of law and order and tn
progressive development OF the material in
terests of North and South. With the abb
SCncG Oh all CuusCS iO1 wy W.
pe,ration of wrongs upon any class Of ciii
zens, Or the denial Of the political and per
sonal rights guaranteed by the Constitution
will come demand from the conservative
clement Of the Sonth that all such right
y must be respected, aud a crushing rebuke b
administered to thse who would wiifull
= interpose brute fence 10 the exercise OF tn
:. privileges the law provides for. The NOR
conservative of tie Southern States, such a
Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. wi
become ALLEVIATE from communities wnic
are disposed TO instlgate tuim MOL and strife
because OF race and sectional prejudices,an
throw the weight OF their influence on III
a a side of the political organization which n
d CARDS the supremacy OF the laws as the saf'
~ uuar1 Of our institutions.