The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-25
Public Sentiment.


lance by a statement that there is no gen.
eral sentiment in the South in favor of
Gen. Grant for the Presidency. These pa
pers either designedly misrepresent the
popular feeling, or are ignorant about what
they write. There is no intelligent man in
Virginia, who has freely mixed and
conversed with the people, that does not
know Gen. Grant to-day would be the
strongest candidate, of either party, that
could be presented for the Presidency. His
nomination by the Republican Convention
which meets in Chicago on the 3rd Of June
next, will be as certainly followed by the
electoral vote Of Virginia being cast for
him as the day Of election comes off, unless
public thought before that time.
In conversation several weeks ago with
prominent citizen of Richmond gentle
man Of high culture, who has held impor-
tant positions of trust and emolument, and
consistently acted with the Conservative
party, he remarked that the sooner 7ir-
ginia casts her fortune with the Republican
party the better. He said that he had just
returned from New York, and there con-
versed with many Southern men engaged
in business in that city, and who had inva-
riably voted the Democratic ticket. They
remarked to him that they would have to
ENeaip the party-that the drift OF Demo-
cratic management in the Southern States
was so wards the reputation of the State
4 debts ;ssnd the drift of the northern wing
OF he party was to assail the integrity OF
t,3s ssay.rnment. unsettle business and dis
tnrb III, monetary system OF the govern
mept-4 nat self-defence demanded OF them
TO cut d ose from such an or anization and
co-opers tie withsthe Republican party. the
only re- lly conservative party of the coun-
try. VII ch was keeping in check the wild
nosioas and, isms of the reckless political
ssavert err Who Lead the Deaaacratic par
in. III. bsssl1ess men said further. that
de coustry ssssla ssos longer afford q fol-
low = d me- that was REPRESENTED by the
commnuistic element of the Northern
States.aiId that Gen. Grant would carry New
York eli should he be nominated. so fully
satisfied were the business men that their
only sfe lrity was in Republican policy and
admins ration. This virginian. with whom
we vert conversing, said, that the time had
come ia T the people of the South to begin
to thin of their material interests and
cease I'd follow the lead of the inaamma-
tory agi ators who lived and thrived upon
- o,,I
tfonal pFejudices, regardless Of the peace
and prosperity Of the people. He recog-
z1ized anil stated, that all the great business
Interests of the North are directed and
controile1 by men who co operate with
the Republican party, because of the ad-
ministratiye policy it maintained, and that
what wa good for the business relations of
that section, would be equally beneficial for
the South. The South, he cohtended, as
well as the North, wanted stability in the
earrency. protection to American labor,
That the Industries of the country might be
developed and built up, and the enforce
nent of The laws everywhere. These con-
skituted the cardinal features of the Repub-
: Icon creed. and the South was just as much
interested in their practical operation and
enforcement as the North; and this could
not. be secured outside of the Republican
party, as political organizations are now
formed and constituted.
This gentleman but spoke a very COM
mon sentiment in Virginia with many who
have uniformly acted with the Conserva-
tive party. The demagogues who have
been directing party machinery through the
influence of race preiudices and appeals to
the lowest passions of the people, have had
their day. The political revolution which
has recently swept over Virginia, was more
a protest against the despotism OF party
management than any purpose to impair
the rights of the creditors of the State
The people have grown weary and dis
gusted with the petty tyranny which has
been imposed upon them by the curb-stone
politicians. who never possessed any indl-
vidual force of character, nor aimed to ac-
complish good for the State, but obtained
prominence only as the instruments OF cau-
Gus machinery and appeals to popular pas
sion and prejudice. 1t is time for public
thought to be educated up to hi her plane
and to the use of pa ties only as means OF
subscribing the best interests OF the con-
stituent body. and not az the relentless en-
ginery to accomplish selfish ends regardless
of the public welfare. We must move for
ward and keep abreast of the progressive
spirit 81 the times; recognize and mairtain
the laws as they are, and adopt the meas
ures Of public policy best suited to our ma
terial development and growth.
These Thoughts and influences are oper-
ating upon the minds of the people OF Viz
ginia, and neither the clamor OF profession
al agitaturs and political adventures. nor
the bitter ii AIDES Of the partizan press Call
arrest the mllrmurings of the discomfort OF
suppress the utterances of the disgust which
prevail. The people begin to feel theil
power. and realize the wrongs they have
already suffered through the instrumental
fty of the caucus despotism. and will cheer
fully avail themselves of the first opportu-
nifty to thr W off the yoke which has pressed
upon their neck for years p st. Nor vii
they hesitate to accept and support the can
didacy of Gen. Grant, believing that in him
they will find true representa- We OF pro
gressive national feeling and sentiment,ant
an aueury of the better times which mus
follow the abatement Of sectional feehn'
and the harmonious relations OF all parts
the Union.
The most senseless if,vess legation ever IN
stigated is that contemplated by Senate
Voorhees, resolution, into the cause OF tn
exodus fthe colored people from The SOFT;
ern States. There would be just as @ aes
appositeness III a Congre ssionsI inquiry iils'
the cause OF the people. Of Virginia emisrz.
:sss.s .lIII -