The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-07-25
Duty of the pennle.

Duty Of the People.
The frantic appeals of several of mr. Vol.
ley cotemporaries for the preservation of the
organization OF the present dominant party
IN Virginia, indicate pretty plainly that the
work OF disintegration is going on, and that
before many moons, the fraud known as the
conservative party will be numbered with
the things OF the past. These implorations
come from the organs OF the little Court
House rings which have played uutocrat
over the people, and assumed and practical
~ enforced their authority in suborlinatino
all the great interests of the neonle to the
oeHesls OF The ring managers. The People,
however, have come to the conclusion that
Ihefe is no paramount necessity for the per
petuation OF an organization whose history
Is one continued series of blunders. mis-,
Arrangements and eXtrayagances. They are
now realizing the fruits of its existence in
the wrongs Of the Funding Bill, the squar.-
deritg OF six or eight millions of assets, the
accumulation Of about six millions of default
cd interest on the public debt, the injustice
OF the Road Law, the fragrant violation of
constitutional obligations in the poll.tax
and the general prostration OF all the inter
ests of the State that could be reached by
! the protligate and wicked abuse of authority
in directing the affairs of the State. Those
| who pay the taxes to support this kind OF
State management, have come to the coneu-
sion that they are paying too high price
ioE the perpetuatlon OF an organization. the
sole object OF which seems to be TO give pef
and profit to professional politicians,
While the people are groaning under the
taxes wrung from them to meet the eXorbi-
tant demands of the place hunters and place
holders.
1t is unaccountabe that the people have
submitted so long to the selfish control Of
the few who are constantly clamoring about
the ''great Conservative party" and under
this blind have been inflcting so much harm
upon the State. There is surely higher
aim for parties, and u more exalted ambi-
tion fof the people, than to prostitute organ
lzatiohs TO the selfish ends of professional.
poiielciahs. Virginia presents attractions
unsurpassed on the continent, and the abun-
dant elements of wealth which invite enter
prise IN every section OF the State, would
long since have been encountered by capital
ana Skilled energy, had greater wisdom and
stricter integrity controlled our State legisla-
tllre and administration. Until the people
give tangible assurance that they do not
intend longer to tolerate the miserable eau
Gus despotism that has heretofore pr essed
them down, and that they mean to assume
control and direction of their own affairs.
we cannot expect sagacious business men to
trust their means and energies in Il State
ruled and run as Virginia has been. The
| TeopIe-honestin their instincts and just and
generous in their conclusions, when unin-
huenced by appeals to passion and prejudice
must come to the front, and show to the
world that they mean to have just, impair
tial, liberal State government, directed by
servants in sympathy with their interests,
and alive to the great needs of the Common
wealth. 70 do this they must remove the
great obstruction to such consummation,
and that is the bigoted, Iyrannical party
which now rules with rod of iron this grand
Old Commonwealth. But for its despotic
enginery, the debt question would long since
have been settled active capital would pos
sess our mines of wealth, and the busy hum
OF industry gladden. and cheer the now de-
serted fields of material affluence.
We must have great political revolution
in this State which will sweep out of place
and power the hungry cormorants that have
been sucking the life blood Of the Common
wealth, to the end that a live, liberal, pro-
gressive State policy, in accord with the
spirit OF the age, and in consonance with the
grand destiny that awaits Virginia, may be
inaugurated. And this is the work of the
!. People, and the fidelity that directs in the
undertaking, will measure the happy results
which must follow
Partisan newspapers and political dema-
gogues will oppose this, for it means the va
cation of their occupation, and the more
fierce their opposition the more should the
people be encouraged, for the destruction of
, such is the salvation of the State.
They are having quite a lively contest in
the sth, or Gen. Hunton's Congressional