Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1879-03-11
The New Party-A Note Of Warning.

Matters of the very greatest mOmen
to them are at this hour transpiring un
der the very eyes and noses of the peopl
of Virginia without exciting the slight
est attention or remark.
Those who attended the sittings of th
Readjusters' Convention saw and know
that it was run and directed by on
mind.
In that Convention there was a dele
CATION of eight negroes from the county
of Halifax, and several other negroes
from various other counties. These ne
groes were accepted by the Convention
as properly accredited delegates; they
had their seats in the Convention voted
upon all questions before it, and spoke
and took part In all of its proceedings.
Mr.. Riddleberger declared in hi,
speech that the new party welcomed thu
presence of the colored delegates, and
were glad of their alliance. Several
others of the speakers did the same
These facts prove that an alliance has
been formed between the Readjusters OF
Repudiators, as they may be more pro-
perly called, and the negooes of the
State.
We do not propose this evening to
comment upon the designs of this new
party regarding the public debt. 1t is
in its relation to another matter of far
greater moment that we wish to remark
now. This is far-reaching scheme to
carry the State of Virginia in 1880 for
General Grant for the Presidency by a
combination between the Repudiators
and the negroes. The hungry Repudia-
tors expect in this way to get possession
of and enjoy the Federal offices. 1t is
Intended to make it respectable to vote
for General Grant, upon which they
hope that enough INDECENT people will
cooperate with them in hope of Federal
patronage to carry the State.
1t is the deliberate and carefully ar
ranged policy of the national Republican
party to carry the southern States In
that election through the terror of the
Federal Judicial power. This is what is
the meaning Of that party holding on to
the law relative to Federal elections, and
the fierce struggle now going on in Con-
gress over its repeal. Judge Bond has
had one hundred and eighty Democra-
tic citizens of Maryland indicted in his
court in Baltimore for alleged interfer-
ence With the late congressional elec-
tions, and he has had the last man of
them convicted and punished severely.
This has hrokon the back of the Demo-
cratic party in Maryland. Judge Rives's
action in the Patrick county cases was
the beginning of the movement in this
State. His indictment of five of our
county judges yesterday in his court at
Danvilie for net putting negroes on their
luries, oEowning outrage as 1t is, is vet
but another step In the plot.
These are the measures which the par
ty that asserts itself to be peculiarly the
negrO's friend is comprising fer his aid
and protection. These, then, are the
measures which the negroes politics
must seek to accomplish. Any party
which asks the negro's co operation
must then be prepared to assist the ne
gro in accomplishing his ends. When
they ash the negro to vote for their
scheme of readjustment, the negro will
of course reply that they must also vote
for his (the negro's) object. The new
party, If the alliance with the negro is
to be continued, is therefore irresistibIy
driving in this direction. It is bound
to adopt az its platform and principle
the right of the Federal Government to
protect the negro in all his social and
civil rights by arresting the judges of
the State, by putting its Legislature in
the penitentiary, by hanging its Gov
ernor, if necessary.
1t means this Interference in all its
most odious forms. 1t means social
equality, mixed public schools, freedom
of access to all hotels and places of
amusement, and all these things by the
compulsion of the Federal judicial pow
er.
Are the people of Virginia ready for
this? We sound solemn note of warn
ing. We here invite the attention of
the people of Virginia to what is now
in the crucible in preparation for them.
The State.