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

of the State. notably the Richmond Dis
patch. Iynchburg Tirginaam, Norfolk V,r-
gilman, and several others. are now engaged
in the work of trying to make the North
believe that the result of the recent election
shows purpose or tendency to repndiate
the debt. By Inference, it is also assumed
that the defeat of the faction representing
the Organization" jeopardizes the integri-
ty and all the great interests OF the State.
| We should have much preferred that the
McCulloeh Bill had been sustained by rop-
ular vote. But as it was not, we do not
propose to misrepresenJ the effects of 1t and
invite others to do so. The Northern press,
drawing its conclusions from the tone of the
journals we have named, is severe in Its
| criticism of the election and its results. and
plainly charges that Virginia is disbonored
and disgraced thereby. The Virginia pa
pers re-pnblsh these articles slandering the
State and the people of the State, and thus
encourage a repetition of them, and do vast
injury to the Commonw ealth.
With such influences operating, OF course,
we may expect some temporary damage to
State interests. This is palpable from the
stock market. where Virginia securities have
slightly declined. But we think we are safe
In stating, that when the true facts and
purposes are made known, there will be a
change for the better in the Northern mind
The disintegration of the Conservative par
| 1y, the destruction of its caucus tyranny,
with no hope OF ever restoring it, or bring
ing the warning factions into harmonious
corporation, will accomplish more for the
progress and prosperity of the State, than
injury will be inflicted from tine result OF the
election. No State in the Union needed a
sweeping political revolution more than
| Virginia. A few political malgnants have
been ruling the Commonwealth for years,
until every interest is dominated by kin
dred class, that is utterly Indifferent to the
welfare OF the people, and mindful of moth
ing except the benefits arising from the dis
tribution OF public patronage. The State has
been so ring and cancus ridden, that the
people had come to the conclusion that any
change, or any method to effect it, however
extreme, would be better than to continue
the rule of the caucus dynasty. 1t is real
ization of this condition Of things-the loss
of power and the control of postions-that
| is causing these fearful forebodings for the
future and ISLANDERS upon the people of Vir-
| ginia. 1t is not the debt question that dis
turbs and frghtens them. 1t is the base
ment offices, the county .judges-where in
the one hundred counties constituting
the State there is not single Repub-
lican-the various Institution Boards, the
School Boards, and the power which they
possess, which are threatened to be taken
away from their control, that is causing .all
this clamor about the damage to result from
the recent election. The breaking up OF
the Conservative party is the greatest bless
ing that was ever vouchsafed to Virginia.
Tthas been more disastrous to the State than
an invading army. The people could endure
fire and flood, and lose all credit for the
time, with the assurance of the compensa-
sion involved in the destruction OF this ma
lignant and ruinous party Organization
There is compensation ten-fold in the fact
OF the disruption of that party, for all the
imagined wrongs and injuries that can posi-
bly, follow the vote of the 4th.
What Virginia needs to build up her cred.
it and stimulate development and pro-
gress, is liberal thought and political toler-
ance, and the cooperation of all men, what
ever heretofore may have been their nomi.
nal differences, in the maintenance of those
principles and policy of government which
will give assurance to the people Of peace,
prosperity and advancement. We can bet
ter afford to suffer temporary disadvantage
from a misrepresentation of the situation
than TO continue under the dominancy OF an
organization born of passions, and it may
be the necessities of the case, but which is
unsuted to the present. times. and whose
methods are detrimental to the public good.
The country is entering upon period Of
wonderful business activity, and for Vir-
ginia to participate in the revival of mate
rial industries, and the active sympathy of
Business enterprises, the old prejudices and
passions option lied in the history of the
Conservative party, must be laid aside, and
more liberal and practical influences con-
troll.
The Republican men, bers of the Legisla-
ture, acting as unit, should not fail to look
at the situation from practical business, as
well as political standpoint, and shape their
action SO as to contribute to the Inaugural
ton of more liberal dispense ton, as it re-
lates to all the material as well as political
Interests of the State.
The State, unexpectedly to US, has fallen
into the same line of argument that the Dis
patch has pursued since the election, to make
the thing clear to Northern minds that it
was not the ''rebels," or the former ''slave
owners or the ''owners of the sol," who
voted against the McCulloch Bill, but that
its ''defeat must be looked for in the ranks
OF that class in the South who represent the
Republican party. and pass for truly
| loyal" Now, how does that look in the
face of the facts? Gen. Malone was what
might be called stalwart ''rebel,'' and lead
the forces against the McCuloch Bill. Two
of his Lieutenants, Capt. Paul aud Capt
Riddleberger, were as gallant "rebels," al
though mere boys, as ever drew sabre, and
these three, with Parson Massey, whose
''cloth,' no doubt, was the only thing that
prevented him from playing the part of
Eugene or Marlborough, in the late unpleas-
antness, set the State atlaze with re. adjus-
ter enthusiasm. We, over in the Valley,
don't recognize any other ''soil' in Virginia,
worth the name, except that which lies west
of the Blue Ridge. and between the Ten
nessee line in the South, and the West Vir-
ginia line in the North. In that at1iuent
region of country, there was perfect tidal
wave of re.adjustment, the majorities for it
only to be measured by the Democratic or
Conservative majorities rolled up in the past,
as between Republicans and Conservatives.
The Valley, too, furnished some of the best
fighting regiments in the Confederate
army, and the captains, lieutenants, ser
geants and privates which filled the ranks