The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-17
Leaders Wanted.

ACduC4S w a0gCA'
1t may be said, absolutely, that Meth
er the Democratic nor Republican party in
Virginia has leader. The Republicans, in
fact, have had no need for one since in 1876.
They have been periodically laboring to
extricate the State from her debt complca-
tons, and the better to accomplish that,
abandoned the field of politics, as an organ
ization, entirely to their opponents. 1t is
to that policy that the present attitude of
the State debt is due. Had the Republicans
presented an organized front in the cam
paign of 1877, the debt issue would have
been lost sight of in view of the NEGRO
and "scallawag" issue. This was sore
disappointment to the average political
demagogue. 1t was an easy matter to rant
before the people about the ''capet-bagger,
the "scalawag' and the ssnegro," but when
1t came to discussing the debt question, and
throwing light upon the administration OF
affairs in Virginia, two things had to fol-
low First, mere ranters about the "bloody
shirt, - from Democratic standpoint, had
to get out Of the way; and second, great
deal of bad Democratic craftsmanship had to
be exposed. The result was pretty fair
| legislature as to talent and character; but
the development of no recognized leader
They are to-day without a leader, and very
little material out of which to make one
Politics have been of such low tone in this
State for years past, run by Juachine poll
ticians exclusively, that the better element
would not mix with them, and the conse-
quence has been that very weak medloc-
rity has controlled the affairs OF Virginia.
Should public questions so shape them
selves in 1880, as to bring out prominently
the issue of national finance, where the best
intellect of the State could be proftably
employed, we may reasonably expect new
men to come to the front, and more ell
evated tone to be given to political displl-
tations. 1t will not answer public expec-
tation, should Grant and Tilden be the
Presidential candidates, for the ranters to
thicken the air with their screams about
imperialism and ''fraud.'' There is a
more rational feeling growing among the
people and higher estimate OF the mis-
sion of parties. They are looking for some
thing like defined governmental policy,
and if the Democrats can furnish no other
slogan for the campaign of 1880 than
s'fraud'' and s'despotism,'' they will find
good many Indifferent ears for their lung
power.
Both parties must have leaders OF char
acter and talent-men who know some
thing about politics in the true sense OF
the term, and not mere machine manipr-
lators whose capacities rise no higher than
running the ward caucus.
The Spectator of Tuesday last contained
an editorial paragraph, in which it is stated
that Geo. N. Townsend had returned from
West Virginia, fully exonerated 'irom the
| charge of false pretences, upon which he
procured money in Hinton, and for which he
! was arrested in this place. and taken to West
! Virginia. The Spectator further says:
s.The letter from Mr.. Lansing recognizes
Mr. Townsend as his agent or attorney and
| distinctly states that he is respon sible for
| such contracts as he may make.
eve have been informed that the papers
of the city, which published the enormous
| accounts about this gentleman last week,
| will in their next issues contain corrections
of the same"
| 1t was not Our purpose to make further
mention OF this matter. this week, and we
| would not have done so, but for the state
ment in the Spectator. We have no dispo-
| sit On to do an injustice to Townsend or any
one re- but we will certainly have to be
furnished with OF Ter evidence than has yet
| been produced by Townsend, to change our
opinion of the character Of his operations,
or modify what we have said as to his gen.
eral moyments. The letter OF Mr.. Lansing
| amounts to so much blank paper so far as
we are concerned. Mr.. Lansing may be
all right, and he may be all wrong. AS to
| who he is, or what his business, or his con-
| nections with Townsend, we know nothing.
! Certainly there is no authority for the state
| ment that the VIRGINIAN will in It's next
! issue'' contain corrections OF what has here
| tofore been said, nor will anything be modi-
fed without more satisfactory evidence than
Townsend has yet presented. 1t is true that
the Hinton men got their money; that certain
draft. returned protested because Mr.. Har-
ris Hoyt refused to pay it, was afterwards
paid, with another reason for not at first
paving it. But this does not remove the
suspicious which attach to transactions in
| other places and which 20 to make up
the grounds of what we have said.
If the inquiry we shall institute, S hows
| Mr.. Townsend to be other than we lave
represented him, we shall chcee. ::.y Rlb-
lish that fact. But we ce-sa MY cannot be
gulled by any plausible paiaver OF Town
send, or be mislead by the specious devices
he has resorted to to deceive others as to his
business operations and connections.
| Our purpose has been to protect this fpor-
/ ton of Virginia and West Vrg inia from
what we believe to be great injury. and
unsuspecting people from an imposition
and the testimony must be of a positive and
unquestionsble character that leads us to
different conclusion to that already pub
| lished.
| Virginia gets four chairma nships under
! Speaker Randall's appointments-Harris on
Revision of the Law Cabell, on Railways
and Canals; Hunton, on District of Column
bia; Goode, on Education and Labor. MIR.
Tucker is second on the Ways and Means,
and on the Expenditures of the Treasury
Department Gen. Beale is on the commit
tees on Commerce and Manufactures. Gen.
Johnston is on the committees on Military
Affairs and the Mississippi Levees. Mr..
Harris is on the Judiciary Committee, and
| Mr.. Cabell on Revolutionary Pensions. Mr.