The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-11-27


YOUNG BLOOD IN POLITICS.
The thoughtful Spectator on social forces
cannot fail to regard with interest and APP
preheDsion the peculiar phase which within
the last few years the political thought OF
the American people las assumed.
The nations Of Europe have poured their
offscourings into our borders as into some
great sewer; and as result, society is be-
ginning TO be leavened with the leaven OF
German socialism aud French communism.
The growth of these elements in the body
polite is indicated In the endeavOr to repudi-
ate legally contracted obligations, and in
the advocacy of an irredeemable currency.
A conflict is waging ia the public mind be-
tween GENERALIZATION on the one hand, and
ultra States Rights on the other ;-between
C8sarism and Democracy run mad. The
problem of what is to be the future OF
recently emancipated and enfranchised race,
suddenly elevated to q plane OF political
equality with their former masters, awaits
solution at the hands OF the statesman. The
great question of protection or free-trade
uemanus our attention more imperativeIy
than ever before. The overthrow, or the
tirm establishment of government credit ex-
poets final decision at the hands OF the
sovereign people. The combatants in the
opposing factions of capital and labor have
as yet come to no amicable adjustment Of
their differences, nor laid aside their arms.
And yet with these vital problems at our
very doors, on whose right solution depend
the prosperity and advancement of the
country, the lamentable spectacle is present
ed to our view of great people divided sole
lysupon sectional issues. The solid North
marches in political battle array against the
Solid South. 1t would seem that by some
strange fatality Puritan and Cavalier are
destined through all time to continue that
fierce and sanguinary conflict which arose
with MarstOn Moor and Naseby. The two
great parties of the Union are to-day parties
OF sections as much as if they wore blue and
gray respectively; as much as II they front.
ed each other In line of battle as they did
some fifteen years ago. But the object of
che North is no longer the neble aim TO pre-.
serve the Union, nor the object Of the South
grand endeavOr to secure q national inde-
pendence. The principle propounded long
ago by the Jacksonian Democracy that ITO
Che victOrs belong the spOiis'' is the great
lmpelling motive TO each of the two national
parties. Ii is a lamentable confession, but
TO the apprehension OF calm and unbiased
Judgment, an indubitable fact. WITH the
Republican party the index Of success is the
perpetuatiOn of a sectional hostility, ground
ed on the imaginary woes Of the negro and
che pretended fear OF a so-called rebel su-
premacy. With the Democracy, on the other
hand, a vain following after false gods; The
futile worship OF the rag baby; the nOm-
nation of Republican Candidates on elastic
Democf attic platforms, the watchword ANY
thing to win," all clearly serve TO point the
moral of depraved and unhealthy political
condition.
Unless some vital issue of governmental
polity of equal import to both North and
South can De introduced as subject of con-
tention on the hastings and at the polls, and
the sectional line thus blOtted out, there is
every prospect of the continuance for an
indefinite period of the present state of
Things. Till that time comes, the South will
fail to see that to the Republican party of
the North belong the Conservatism, the in
telligence, the responsibility and the wea. tn
of the section that in the Democratic party
of the North as q rule, with many excep-
lions which 60 TO prove it, are the ignorance,
the radicalism and the vice, embodied in the
main in mixed foreign population. Till
that time comes the North on Its side will
refuse to recognize that with the Democracy
Of the South are the education, the refine
nenJ and the conservatism of the Southern
people while with the Republican party
here, with many Exceptions which 20 to
prove the rule, are the ignorance and the
poverty. Passion and prejudice have cover.
ed the eyes OF men as with scale; and to
either section the other continues to remain
a Nazareth out of which no good can ever
come.
No man can regard with more interest
the course OF public affairs than the citizen
of q great Republic like this. And yet it is
a notable fact that the best men in both sec
lions have grown prone to shun politics.
There can be no more reasonable solution of
the question why this Is so than that which
has been already suggested, viz: the subor
dination of principles TO the doubtful policy
of commanding success. The continual
waving of the bloody shirt along the North
ern line is answered back by the enthusiastic
response from the South 1--WE mean to win
by fair means or by foulr' The party in
power would inflame the strongest passions
Of the human mind to retain position; the
party out of power would pander to the
vilest prejudice and the lowest instinct to
achieve success.
10 the young men of the country who are
coming forward as a potent element in the
social and political organization are present.
ed the horns Of fearful dilemma-an alter
native as dreadful as the whirlpool between
Scylla and Chaiybds. They are to make
you SOntherner ?" you are asked. ssrhen
you must live and die hide bound Bourbon;
you must learn nothing new and forget
nothing old. You must seek with the bal
lot what your fathers lost with the bullet.
You must use all means justifiable or other
wise, to accomplish the end of securing to
the Democratic party the administration of
the national government. Because your
fathers have eaten sour grapes, their chill
drens teeth must always be set on edge"
s'Are you Northerner you are asked,
on the other hand. "Then you must never
furl that Scared and CORY battle flag that
foated in triumph over the last field of the
Rebel lion. You must never let rebels and
traitors take possession of our father house;
you must visit the sins of the fathers upon
the children unit the third and fourth gen
GRAFTON. You must never again warm in
your bosom the accursed viper that stung
you. You must never consent to re-ensave
The negro whom your sires freed from his
Calling shackles at the price OF untold blood
and treasure. You must perpetuate hate,
and forget forgiveness"
The present Premier of England has said
that the strength Of nation lies in her
young lu6us w I'LL SUCH moral 1Orce as mas
been indicated, brought to bear upon thu
youth Of the nation, it would seem that the
Nations strength is like to prove her weak
ness. Her young Men are rendered an in
heritance of hatred and defiance. They are
left the legacy of sordld ambition for ill.,
gotten success. They are taught to forget
that 1t 10 better to be right than to be Presi7
dent. They are to be indoctrnated with the
spirit OF polty that would shame the pre-
cepts of Macchiayelli.
But they will not accept such an heritage.
They will disavow such birthright. 1t will
be their pleasant duty to oblterate the line
of sectional demarcation which was drawn
in the lurId light Of war, and which the
rawlings of fanaticlsm and bigotry have
sought to perpetuate. It will be theirs to
'sextinRuish the hate and pile up the ashes."
Born aud reared in different atmosphere
from the men OF an earlier generation, the
gall and bitterness OF former days will for
them have lost their zest and vlgor. They
Will look to the future rather than to the
past.
Already that intense feeling which through