The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-11-20
Political Situation in Virginia.

smashed good many political states. No
one ever dreamed OF the complications and
confusion which now exist, in the relation
that parties and factions bear to each other.
Generally it was regarded as square stand
up fight between the MeCulloch bill and
anti McCulloch bill ''debt-payers''
and re-adjusters." as the terms go. The
They were sought and coquetted with as very
desirable and convenient ballast to one or
the other of the opposing factions. but as a
separate and distinct factor in the determi-
the spoils, no one ever gave it moments
reflection. Certainly it did not enter into
| the calculations of the management OF what
is claimed to be the regular Conservative or
ganization, thai they would be placed in
such humiliating position as they Tow find
themselves. They were arrogant, boastful
and defiant; issuing their bulls Of eXcom-
municatiOn against all who would not bow
to the mandates of the caucus, with an i'm
perious impertinence born of long recog-
nized and abused authority, and Offering
no terms of mercy to their rebellious breth-
rem, except AFFECT submission and repent
ance and a slavish observance of the CONS
mands of the Counsel OF Thirteen, ever here
after. Their conceded federation was only
| for the rank and file. The leaders were to
be externally ostracized, if not expatriated,
and no political fellowship was ever again to
| be held " it'll them. Pride, however, we are
told, goeth before fall, and never was
truism more faithfully illustrated than in the
case of the '.organzation.' OF itself, now,
it Is entirely helpless. is prestige is broken.
1t is shorn OF its strength, and lies PROSTATE
possibility Of returning vitality, unless
through the tender compassion of its
traditional foe. Like all tyrants, whose
crowns have been stricken Off and sceptres
broken by the hand of rebellion, there is
sympathy nowhere for the desOlation and
humiliation which follow, for they are only
proportioned to the arbitrary excuses which
the exercise of unchallenged and reckless
power encouraged. The name and fame of
the ..Great Conservative Party of Virginia
are of the past. They have gone into hsto-
nv, and it is only through the theory of
evolution and TRANSMISSION of matter that we
| can ever expect its forces to be recognized
| in the political compositions of the future,
and then only in purified and regenerate
| state.
Out of this political wreck and confusion,
wisdom and patriotism may draw a lesson
of instruction and profit, which may lead to
reconstruction and capitalization of politi-
cal forces that will contribute to the pros
perity of the Commonwealth and the good
of the whole country.
| We do not think we are mistaken in as.
in Virginia, and the associations and inf1u-
ences which brought it about. is the fiji st
break IN the spirit which instigated and Gre
ated a s'solid South.'' The color line was
that which was distinctly marked out for
the division Of parties, and the prejudices
growing out Of it were persistcntly intiamed
and appealed to to perpetaate the distnc-
ton, so that no argument, however convinc
ing, and no rhetoric, however forid and
captivating, could have the least weight or
effect in changing the relations OF parties,
or influencing political association. 1t was
a solidarity consummated through influences
| impervious to reason.
In the recent canvass in this State, with
out seriously thinking about the effect to
follow, the chronic appeals to the passions
and preiudices which had btfore been the
uniform policy of the Conservative party.
were discarded, and negroes, Scalawags and
carpet. baggers'' were intermixed With debts
payers and re-adjusters, and political affilia-
tion coveted and courted with all classes,
without regard to race, color, or previous
condition. Every voter was hailed and
recognized as man and brother, and every
persuasion invoked to unite forces hereto
fore antagonizing, and concentrate power
out OF elements as repellant, it was believed,
as oil and water. This practical obliteration
of the color line, and consequent surrender
of the distinctive and controlling feature of
the policy of the Conservative party, must
of necessity contribute the first step toward
the reorganization Of parties, founded upon
more liberal thought and rational theory,
and working out into policies based upon
principles affecting the practical administra-
ton OF government in State and nation.
Certainly, after the experiences and meth
DDS of the canvass just past. there can be no
more bitter denunciation of the Republi-
cans from either wing of what was the Con-
sentative party. Common cause has been
made by each with the membership of that
party. White and colored Republicans
worked and voted with debt-paying Con-
servatives, and Conservative re-adjusters
| worked and voted with white and colored
Republicans. Old party lines and preju-
dices were lost sight Of, and cordial political
determination invited and urged, with no
other Limitation to association than sympa-
| thy either for or against the McCuiloch bill.
This political millennium cannot soon be for
gotten, nor the lesson it teaches ignored.
It must bring men of common sympathy
and conviction as to government policy and
public duty in close relation to each other,
and impose the necessity of lifting political
contests out OF the mire and filth of preju-
dice and passion to plane where high prin-
ciples and public faith are the ruling con-
siderations. We do not know that ever a
more ausIicious occasion will present itself
| for the practical enforcement Of this lesson,
than in The approaching session of the Vir-
ginia Legislature. TEere will be interests
there to be considered which affect all the
citizens of the State, but about which there
may be honest differences of opinion. Ad-
dressing our remarks to the Republicans,
we can only advise them to be true to the
principles of their party, when these shall
come In question, and conform their votes
and action to the general policy flowing
therefrom, and make common cause with
those who will recognize those principles as
the rule of their action. With distinct Or
ganization. they can simplify comparison of
views with those who may desire to confer
and co operate; in this way the general good