The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-18
The Conservative Party"

If the Commonwealth. Partizan considera-
ions have prevented the settlement of this
yexed question heretofore. Whenever the
Importance of its adjustment was urged, the
leaders of the party instantly sprang to the
front with protest, declaring that it would
be fatal to Conservative harmony, were it
made an issue before the people, and that
the interests OF party were paramount to
every consideration affecting the people and
the prosperity of the State. The people al
lowed this partizan device to control them
until last year, when they determined to
have the question disposed of, or at least
commence and keep up its agitation until
some understanding was reached which
would arrest the annual default in interest
and the policy that must finally result in re-
pudiatiorl, if not changed. Had there been
an honest desire to serve the State and main
tain its credit, party would have been regard
ed as secondary and the question met and
settled years ago. If the Conservative or
ganization is an obstruction to this consum-
nation, it should be broken up. When
party dare not take position upon issues so
vital to the welfare Of the Commonwealth
and is incapable of dealing with and con-
trolling question of such paramount i'm
portance, its usefulness has ceased and its
disintegration becomes a popular necessity.
1t is an insult to the intelligence OF the peo-
pie to assume that there is an overshadow
ing necessity for the perpetuatlon OF party
organization, when its leaders admit it is
incapable of graphing with essential ques-
lions of State policy. When such is the case,
it has already degenerated into mere ma
chine to subserve the selfish purposes OF UNI
scrupulous place-hunters, and prostituted
that which was designed for public good
to an engnery to Cypress and rob tho peo-
pie.
There is not such Il rich SAVIOR OF virtue
about this Conservative party that its perpet-
uaton should be desired above everything
else affecting the State, when it Is remem-
bered that the people are indebted to it for
the Funding Bill, and the ills growing out
of it, as well as the squandering OF millions
of the States assets, without even the pre-
tense OF having secured an equivalent. Its
profligate management Of the affairs OF the
Commonwealth, has caused the annual aug
mentation of the burthens Of the people, I'M
til they have become unbearable. Its vim
dictiye and proscriptive policy has driven
away immigration and capital, by which i'm
,,o~+orE ouo,,o;ac Of p,otariol 1avnl hmm ant
and consequent relief have been lost. 1t has
trifed with all the great interests OF the peo-
pie, and subordinated the progress and pros
perity OF the State to the sinister and selfish
ends of those who have directed and con-
troled it; and has persisted in cowardly
policy in regard to this very debt question
which has brought the name of Virginia into
discredit and marred her traditional fame.
We cannot see or understand why the peo-
pie should regret its disruption and destruc-
ton when these facts are considered.
The history OF the Conservative party can
not be presented to vindicate the necessity
for the preservation of its organization. No
legitimate argument can be adduced in its
defence. 1t has been scourge to the State,
and whatever may have been the faults OF
the Republican party, it would have been
utterly impossible for more disastrous
management OF State affairs to follow its
ascendency. But for Republicans, indeed,
the people would be without protection
against the designs Of the pro1igate politi-
clans, for the constitutional provision inhib-
ting tie use of the credit OF the State to
works of internal improvement, by which
the policy that piled up the huge debt now
crushing down the people was arrested, is of
their creation. This, OF itself, is sufficient
evidence that their aim was for the good of
the State, to say nothing of that other great
benefit secured to the people in the estab-
lishment of the public schools. These two
fundamental enactments, of Republican Or
igin, certainly bear favorable contrast with
authority-such as the Funding Bill-the
squandered assets-the Road Tax, and the
unconstitutional restriction OF the right of
suffrage. But it is not in the hope OF build
it as essential that the present organization
of the Conservative party should be shatter-
ed. We encourage no such expectation. 1t
is to save the State from utter ruin that it
becomes essential to break the power Of this
party, and destroy its tyrannical machinery,
and let the people, under whatever name
they may deem best, assume control OF their
own affairs, inaugurate just, wise and
liberal State policy, and thus invite immi-
grafton, restore State credit and prosperity,
and give hope for the future. There is no
excuse that can be possibly offered in de-
fence OF the Conservative party as it now ex
lists, or predicated upon what it has DONE
The cheap clap-trap about having saved Vir-
ginia from the fate of South Carolina and
Louisiana, deceives no one who does not
want to be deceived. We have not nor never
had the elements in Virginia to make such
political conglomeration rs they had in those
States. We do not think it is possible for
any party that could have been formed in
Virginia to have administered the affairs Of
the State, with less credit, or more injurious
results, than has characterized the ascend
ency of the Conservative party. But, how
ever this may be, it is not with the past we
have to deal. We have 70 confront the pres
ent, and the question for the People to de-
tcrmine is whether the organization of that
party is looking toan great good to the con-
stituent body, outstanding the resources of the
State, building up its credit, developing its
resources, inducing immigration and capt.
tai, and accomplishing for the people that
which should be the object of parties. 1t is
doing nothing of the kind, but the reverse.
Its machinery is prostituted to carry out the
selfish purposes Of trading politicians with
out a thought for the good OF the people,
No great State benefit directs its policy or
controls its purposes. 1t is used by profess
sional politicians and scheming place-hunt-
ers for their own ends, without reference to
those who pay the taxes, and bear the bur-
dens of government, ana for this reason its
usefulness. if it ever had any, has ceased,
and its dissolution becomes one of the very
highest duties of the people.