The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-04-03
Sectional Politics.

Sectional Politics.
The people Of the South want peace and
quiet and cessation from the harmful agita-
ton incident to mere sectional discussions.
The politicians are averse to any such RAJ
tional conclusion, and are continually
misrepresenting the true feeling of the con-
stituent body by thrusting into the halls of
Congress resolutions, bills and projects cal
culated to keep up the irritation from
which we have already suffered so MUCH
The question now at issue in Congress, in.
volving the repeal of the election laws, was
precipitated by the superserviceable zeal OF
Northern Democrat, Mr.. Southland. of
Ohio, when there had been no demand or
desire for its introduction from the South.
1t embraces legislation enacted by the Re-
publicans, in the main features of the laws
proposed to be repealed, as one OF the re-
suits of the war, and deemed proper, from
their standpoint CT view, for the preserva-
ton Of the integrity of the ballot and the
securement of good government. Much of
it they were willing to repeal, and were
they in the majority would have cheerfully
blotted from the statute books. But imme.
| diately on assuming control Of both branches
of Congress, the Democrats of the South al
low themselves to be lead by Northern
Democrat into a crusade against all this
legislation, with a threat if the President
dares to exercise his constitutional right to
veto what he. believes to be improper enact
ments, they will withhold the necessary
supplies for the support OF the various de-
partments and virtually, as Gen. Garfield
stated it, ''starve the government to death.
| OF course such reckless and revolutionary
| determination has aroused resentment and
the result is, that legislation under ordinary
circumstances, which would have been ac-
coded to by Republicans, will be held as
part of :he extreme purpose of the Demo-
Gratis, and opposed.
The Democratic strength i'll Congress is
composed of three-fourths Southern men,
many of them ex-Coniederate officers. They
represent the spirit of 1861, whether modified
since then by the results of the war or not,
is not material. They represent the sec
ton and ideas which joined in conflict
with the North and appealed to the arbitra-
ment of the sword. No sooner is the as
cendancy of the party that sympathized
with them in that bloody contest assured.
than they proceed in programme which
has for its object the repeal Of the legisla-
ton that was enacted by the North, and the
successful party in the conflict of arms,
which they thought and now think, was for
the public good.
| This naturally takes popular thought back
to the origin of the issue, and We see the re-
suit in the debate of last week in the House
of Representatives.
What is the South to gain by such irrita-
ton? Rather has she not everything to lose,
and nothing to gain? Every feature OF the
laws from the operation of which any in
convenience or presumed wrong follows to
this section, would have been repealed by
the cooperation of Republicans and the
President, had not Northern Democrats de-
manded the repeal of other sections of the
laws, which interposed obstacles to the sue
cessful practice of ballot-box s.ufing and
false registrations in northern cities, and in
sisted on grouping them together as a whole,
and making compliance with such repeal
precedent condition to the discharge of a
high and solemn representative duty, i'm
posed by the Constitution, to provide for the
support of government.
| We ask the calm and dispassionate reason
of our readers to be addressed to the consid-
Grafton of the matters we have referred to.
They should remember that the North
views'such questions, growing out of the
causes they do, from different standpoint
to what the South does. They also are cog
infant of the corruptions which have been
practiced in the interests of the Democratic
party, in their own section, and they have
the testimony of the Democratic candidate
for President in 1872, that the Democratic
candidate for President in 1876 was ac-
quainted with and comprehended the meth-
DDS by which huge frauds were perpetrated
to practically dsfranchise the majority CT
the great State of New York, in the inter-
ests OF the Democra tic party. 1t is not
strange, therefore, that the Republicans
should insist upon the preservation of the
legal restraints now placed upon election cor
ruptions, and demand that the guards which
hedge about the ballot, as the primary
source of fair elections and effective repub-
lican institutions, should be inviolably main
tanned.
The true interests of the South are not
identified with the methods and purposes of
the Democratic politicians of the NORTH
There should be no Southern sympathy
with the interests such political agitators
and adventurers represent. The wealth,the
character, the intelligence. the business en-
terprise of the North, are represented IN
the Republican party, and that class and
character of Northern citizens are more in
terested in the peace and prosperity of the
South than the bunmers and roughs which
compose the warp and wool of the North
ern Democracy. With sectional agitation
abated, and an honest purpose prevailing |
with Southern representatives to regard the
material advancement of their section as
paramount to sentimental and partizan pol |
itics. educated enterprise and industry and |
the capital of the North would come to their
aid, and by honest, practical co operation,
assist in developing our marvellous resources
and make our waste plains to blossom as
the rose.
THROUGH TO THE WESTON tie 18th
this month car will start from this city
over the Baltimore 6 Ohio R. r. to Kansas
and the. West, which will 60 through to st.
Louis without change. 1t is designed to ac-
the many emigrants now seek
ing homes in the land of the setting sun,
and will prove of great convenience and
comfort to them. ANY information with
reference to the rates, &C., will be given by
Capt. J. C.. Smith at the Express office of
The B. so. in this city.