The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-01-23
The Prospective Disruption.

A writer over the signature Of Spectator,
in the Dispatch Of the 18th, takes gloomy
view Of the prospects of the Conservative
party, in its connection with the State debt
question. He says whenever a party
proves itself incompetent to deal with a
great measure Of public policy the people
will require that it shall give place to anoth-
er that can deal with it. If the Conserva-
tive party should now acknowledge its ina
bility to settle this question of the public
debt, what will be the result 1t will go
into the next contest hopelessly divided into
two factions of nearly equal numerical
strength, and exasperated against each 9th
erby angry feelings. Is it not plain that
under these circumstances the Republican
party will hold the balance of power, and
turn the scales as they may choose?"
In the Dispatch of the Goth, is an edito-
rial charging the Re-adjusters with pur-
pose to disrupt and destroy the Conserva-
tive party, and instances the address re-
Gently issued by the Re-adjusters as evidence
to sustain this charge.
The prayer Of every true friend Of Vir-
ginia ought to be that these fears will be
fully realized. The Conservative party, as
now organized, has no high aims of State.
1t is simply an organization to dispense and
control the Offices Of the State, without ref
erence to the interests and welfare Of the
people.
With no desire to interrupt the progress
Of disintegration, or arrest conflict that
might yield, as one of its fruits, the corpse
of this hybrid party, we will simply say that
Mr.. Barbour, whom the Dispdch makes
prominent in its attack, is only carrying
out, in the Re- adjuster's address, the plat
form upon which Coy. Holiday was elected
and which the Dispatch supported. We can
see no evidence in this to break up the par
ty unless the party proposes to 60 back upon
its own record. It does not look as much
like an attempt to disrupt the party as the
address of the ''Thirty-nine'' in support OF
the Funding Bill, and in distinctive condem.
nation Of the Conservative platform, which
the Dispatch supports.
We earnestly hope there is sufficient
grounds to justify the fears of Spectator
and the charges Of the Dispatch. We GER
tainly shall aid as much as we can in con-
summating so desirable an end, and in doing
SO shall not lose sight of the true interests
Of Virginia and her future welfare. The
Republicans will be very apt to be united
when the time comes to test devotion to Vir-
ginia, and to redeem her credit and stand
ing among State communities.
AS to give emphasis to the apprehensions
Of Spectator" we quote the following
paragraphs from nervous communication
in the Wing, signed ''Magna Charta," crit
icising the comm unication in the Dispatch.
Referring to the expressed fear that the par
ty may be disrupted, s'Magna Charta says
81, therefore, advise the Legislature most
earnestly never to settle the debt question
on the basis Of the present Funding bill, or
upon any recognition of the validity of tax
receivable coupons. The Fund ing bill, in
| its provisions. is usurpation of the powers
of all subsequent Legislatures, an attack
upon the rights of the people, an assault on
liberty, denial Of principle as old as the
English Constitution from which we derived
it, and firmly established there by war
which cost the head OF one King and the de-
thronement of another.
81 think there is thing far worse, and
that is the surrender of the cardinal principle
of Constitutional Government to the idea oil
preserving, what is misnamed, the Conser-
vative party. Better thou sand times ii
should perish in commissions than that we
should attempt to save it by conceding a
fundamental principle"