The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-12
A Third PARTY.


which now and then have appeared upon
the surface Of the body polite, and after
fitful disturbance Of the current of events,
disappeared and been forgotten, have lost
their novelty, and do not now even excite
passing wonder. Their rise and fall only
serve to indicate some abnormal disorder, not
seriously affecting any general arrangement,
but like boil, leaving the system purer, and
health more perfect. While generally not
formidable as to numbers, their pretensions
have been extravagan. and the voice OF their
fuglemen like the noise Of many waters
Their columns haye been marched and coun-
termarched, with banners fly ing and drums
beating, and the rag-tag and bob-tail dan
cling to the music. In the nick Of time they
have presented themselves to shape policies
and control deliberations, but generally have
subsidized with the quiet of the grave after
cutting fantastic capers before an amused
country. This, in brief, has been the histo-
~ OF third parties numerically formed.
We have now one Of unit to notice
1t Is true, mere atom Of humanity, COM
paratively speaking, fitting and dancing
In the sunbeams Of existence, yet abstractly
representing four hundred pounds avoirdu-
pois, and aspiring to swallow in its capa-
cious nav both OF the old political organi-
cations, or so much Of each as to leave only
the fragments to indicate what has been.-
Judge David Davis has constituted himself
great third party, assuming to embody the
lost virtues Of both political organization, and
to epitomize in himself all the essential ell
ements and principles OF Republican gov
eminent regulated by law and rejecting the
highest type Of conservatism. Too Demo-
cratic to be Republican and too Republican
to be Democratic, he essays to extract all
the good OF each and concentrate in him
self all that is pure 10 principle, sound in
doctrine and efficacious in government. He
rises up as the political Moses to lead his
wandering and disheartened countrymen
out Of the deserts and quagmires of political
corruption and through the raging waters
Of partizan debauchery, into an atmosphere
sweet with the aroma Of his own exalted pa.
triotism, aud freighted with the fruits of bis
own purified growth.
And then, too. this unit Of organization
is complete in itself. 1t will require no in
tricate machinery, no bummers and strikers,
to put and keep it in motion. Resolutions
and platforms will be dispensed with and
the troops left free to pursue the red man
Of the forest In his devious wanderings after
the white mans scalp.
The genius Of invention and the research
Of science have annihilated space, Cir
died the globe with an electric current and
stolen from the clouds their fiery element to
pay homage to the achievements of mind.
But neither invention nor science has ever as
pired to compress communities and parties
into simple unit OF humanity and segre-
gate whole people into personal pronoun.
1t remained for Judge David Davis to father
the achievement and to present the aggre.
gated essence Of contendIng parties in his
own massive dimensions, thus interpreting
mystery liz nature as to why such form
and such \ corporosity were ever created,
and indicating the truth OF the philosophy
that everything has its uses.
Whether this crystalization of matter and
segregation of humanity will retain elas-
ITCHY and vitality, or be resolved into
mummy, remains to be seen. 1t stands out
now wonder and an anomaly-a living,
breathing, moving entity, greedy in its
appetite and fearfully absorbent in Its ca
pacity, and ready ct any time to swallow
the whole Democratic party.