The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-02
Practical Wisdom in Politics.

The Charlottesville Chronicle OF the 2Gth
inst, has the following significant article in
its leading editorial column. The truth that
is asserted must be admitted by all impartial
thinkers. The Conservative party has long
since finished its miss ion, and to attempt
longer to preserve its organization, is to de-
liberately plan for the injury OF the State.
Had the policy the Chronicle marks out been
adopted months ago, the contes. now going
on would have been much simplitied, and
the success Of the McCulloch bill assured
No question can be considered npon its
merits SO long as the race issue divides par
ties, and no healthy condition Of public
sentiment or liberality OF thought can be
hoped for until prejudice becomes schooled
into subordnation to reason. We accept the
article from the Chronicle as a wise and
manly. departure from the narrow channel
in which political thought has heretofore
been directed, anG regard it as the advance
declaration of new dispensation in Vir-
ginia politics. There is practical wisdom in
what is presented by our cotemporary-an
independence and sagacity which will find a
sincere and earnest response with the INTEL
.igent thinkers OF the State, who regard
mere party as subordinate to the public well
fare.
The following Is the article to which ref
erence is made above:
WHAT'S IN A NAME.-In the absence of
the editor, we shall take the opportunity of
saying that, in our opinion, the Conservative
party organization ought to have been aban-
doned as soon as the debt question became
prominent one in the State. 1t is the Ma
tional Republican party of the country which
has been pledged to good faith in the observ-
ance of contracts made by the Federal gov
eminent, and the members of the old Con-
sentative party of Virginia, who are in favor
of dealing fairly with the public creditor,
have to that extent enlisted with the Repub
licans. Many of the most intelligent Re-
publicans Of Virginia were, from the begin
ming of the controversy, opposed utterly to
any,readjustmen Of the public debt which
was not to be made with the consent OF the
creditor, and were in favor of any increase
of taxes which might be necessary to satisfy
them. Many members OF the Conservative
party occupied the same position. On the
other hand, many in both these parties were
in favor Of a readjustment,a satisfactory one
to the creditors, if possible, but readjust-
ment, whether satisfactory or not.
Now mode of readjustment has been
adopted which seems to be satisfactory to
the creditors, and the most intelligent and
reputable members of both political parties
are in favor of it. II there is any credit in
favoring this satisfactory settlement, Repub.
licans and Conservatives are alike entitled
to this credit and 1t is just as preposterous
for the old Conservative party to claim
soundness on the debt question in Virginia
as their own party shibboleth, as it would be
for the Republicans of Virginia to make
such claim. 1t IS question that had not
doomed up when the Conservative party was
organized in the State. 1t was not then an
issue in politics. Those old issues are now
passed away, or have lost their prominence,
and this has become the paramount question
for the people to consider. The old party
lines should, therefore, now be obliterated
and the debt payers, those who are willing
to deal honestly and fairly with the creditors
of the State, should fall in together, shoulder
to shoulder. in defense of the honor and
credit of Virginia.
The citizens of Virginia " no expect to re-
main in her borders, ARE all interested deeply
is this matter. Every man, Conservative, or
Republican, or Democrat, who expects and
hopes to own property in the State, is decid-
edly interested in every measure which is
calculated to induce immigration into her
borders and to preserve her credit and good
name.
We think, therefore, (the editor not being
here to prevent us from expressing opinons,)
that the Claim set up by Some Conservatives,
that we favor settlement of this debt ques-
ton because we are conservatives" is all
bosh. 1t is no more right for the Conserv
alive party to claim this as their measure.
their own peculiar measure, for which they
deserve peculiar credit, than it is for the
Republicans to claim it. We have heard it |
said that there is much in name. 1t is be- |
lieved by some that rose would not smell |
as sweet if it were called cabbage. How |
ever that may be, we are willing to make the |
fight in his canvass under the Republican |
banner as under the Conservative banner, |
regardless of the odor. What we want is |
the thing itself. call it rose or cabbage. We |
want the debt question settled, and we be-
lieve that the settlement adopted by the !
Legislature last winter, and called the Nc |
Culloch bill, settles the debt in a manner |
that is satisfactory to the creditor, land there
fore creditable to the State: and that it will |
enable the State at the same time to protect |
the public schools, Gf that is Desirable and |
to pay the expenses of the government.