The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-02
Preparing for 1880.

of thatSbody, and hence have commenced
the campaign by securing what purport to
be confessions from few carpet-bag Re-
publicans in the South, as to the votes of
Florida and Louisiana in the Presidential
election. Judge McIin, one of the Florida
Returning Beard, and Mr.. l.. G. Dennis, of
the same State, have published their pieces,
in which they both acknowledge to have
perjured themselves, and substantially as
sign as a reason for their present self-eXpo-
sure, that the administration has not given
them as much as they expected, and conse-
quently they adopt this method to get even
with the President. The whole scheme was
concocted in New York, and the object is to
manufacture campaign slang for the APP
preaching Congressional elections, and If
successful then, to carry it into the Presi-
dental contest. AS the cry OF g Reform -
served good purpose in 1876, it is hoped
that of ''Fraud' will serve equally as we'll in
1873 and 1880. The sincerity of the ''Re-
FORM pretense is attested in the subsequent
developments in the income tax trial of the
head and front of the Reform farce, Mr..
| TildeD, who it is shown sought to ge! ad-
vantage of the governmental the amount of
sl3s,00O; and the practical exemplifications
in the numerous Democratic door-keepers to
the House of Representatives, the present
Congress has had to select. Respectable
Democrats everywhere, and especially in
the South, are not only disguised with the
| record in the case of Mr.. Tiden, but openly
| declare that the ''crookedness" shown by
the Door-keepers Fitzhugh and Polk, both
of whom had to be repudiated and dismissed,
was a national disgrace. The cry of Fraud,
gotten up to divert attention from Demo-
cratic short comings in Congress, will not
deceive the people. 1t has already fallen
| fiat, and in the South especially is looked
upon as weak device OF trading politicians
to save themselves from the rebuke of the
people for their sins Of omission and COM
mission.
One object was TO throw suspicion upon the
title of President Hayes, but this met on all
sides the severest denunciation, and the as
sertlon that no President ever sat in the Ex-
ecutive chair with a clearer legal right. 1t
is proposed, however, to give the instigators
Of this plot something more than they bar
gained for, and that sagacious paper, the
Washington Republican, suggests the fol-
lowing method, not only to test the fact as
to who was really elected President, but to
locate any fraud which may have been COM
mitted where it properly belongs. The Re-
publican says:
eff this turmoil continues over the Prest
idency, there is one thing that Presiden-
Hayes might do that would make it both
interesting and lively for the multitude of
malcontents who are bounding him inces-
sanity with the cry of fraud land Fraud
ulency.' We have no idea that he cares to
do it, or will make a move in that direction,
for he is perfectly safe and secure without
it, but it would bring light to the people and
render his official position, if possible, more
strongly and firmly established in the eyes
Of all the world. In view Of all this camor,
let him demand of the Congress OF the
United States commission on election
frauds composed of fair, candid, and Just
men of both political parties, clothed with
full powers to compel the attendance of
witnesses, the procurement of documentary
evidence relating to the canvasses, and to
fully investigate the Presidential elections
in 1876 in the States of North and South
Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida,
Louisiana, Georgia, New York, New Jer-
sey, and Indiana, with view to unearthing
all frauds, intimidations, outrages, and as
sassinations that had affected the results in
either and all of those States. In that way
the bottom facts could be reached and the
it1cf ltcf iii Il Oh =
be ascertained beyond question that Presi-
dent Hayes was legally and rightfully
elected, as he undoubtedly should have been
declared to be, by majority of more than
thirty electoral votes, instead of eight to
seven, Mr.. Hayes would be both President
de Jdcto and de 1ure, the cry OF fraud would
be hushed, the Inaicontents would gravitate
into a state of quietude, and the, country
would be at peace over this veXed question.
In our humble judgment, this is President
Hayes opportunity, and it remains for him
to decide whether or not it is better for him
to suffer the ills he has, rather than seek re-
pose under more favorable circumstances
If agitation is to be kept up, and the bust
ness of the country disturbed by the Demo-
cratic marplots in the hope of escaping the
responsibility for the fearful record they
ldfO llltuC SttlCC GuCJ utVC l.du COlGEUl VI
the popular branch Of Congress, it would
be we'll enough to give them enough of it,
and secure results which will be matters of
history.
This new Democratic movement has de-
veloped two important facts: First, that
that party cannot 60 before the people with
any hope of success upon the record it has
made, nor will it dare to rest its approval
upon legitimate argument and a fair, square
presentation of its claims to popular conf
dence. Second, that the Republicans cannot
repose confidence in that class of persons who
came South as political adventurers, and
who have never been identified with any
other interests but those connected with
Office seeking and ofice-holding. They have
practically destroyed the Republican party Of
the South, and while majority of the people
would gladly array themselves against the
prof1igacy and corruption of the modern dem
ocratic party, they will meyer consent to be
politically identified with class of persons
who make politics a trade, and are ready to
sell themselves for a price.
Foreign News.
The rumors from the various European
capitals SO conflict with one another that
there is no telling the aspect Of affairs, or
predicting the future of the Eastern ques-
ton. While q Rome despatch contradicts
the statement that Italy has asked England
to state her views, a Berlin despatch reaf-