The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-11
Review Of the Situation.

than superficial glance at the situation
would indicate, tnd have been iermenting
and agitating the political elements for
several years past. The caucus despotism,
controlled by a few hide-bound, narrow
minded politicians, which has dominated in
Virginia since 1863, appealing to race and
sectional prejudices to perpetuate its pow
er, had become so odious to the great mass
OF the people that they were ready to en-
brace any agency and accept any excuse
for throwing off the incubus, and demand
ing AN emancipation from its tyrranical
rule. 1t had gotten SO that those compos-
ing the Conservative party were not per-
mitted to exercise the common privileges
Of freemen. No independence of thought
or expression was tolerated that did not
correspond with the preconceived plans
and purposes Of the caucus managers, and
whenever there was manifested DISPOSE
ton to think and act differently from the
edicts of its machinery, the fercest de-
nunciation and ostracism were resorted to,
to enforce compliance with its orders. The
caucus was autocrat. 1t claimed infallibil-
ity, and the divine right to rule with
despotic and unchallenged hand. We were
thus presented the spectacle OF a few dozen
men, constituting the head of the organi-
cation, domineering over the people OF the
State with power as arbitrary in political
matters, as ever was exercised over the
serfs of Russia or the slaves of America
1t was against this vicious and despotlc
system of directing public affairs that the
popular consciousness was ready to revolt,
and only wanted decent pretext, which
would not land them square into the Repup-
lican party, to give form and significance to
the verdict they were anxious to render. Inc
debt question furnished the pretext. Its dis
cussion had effected division in the Con-
sentative party. The same adjustment de-
nounced two years ago and formulated IN
the McCulloch Bill was just as bitterly as
sailed by the party, represented by the
caucus influence, as the Re adjusters OF this
day are denounced and scoffed. But lind
ing that power was slipping. from them,
and faithful to the tactics which had thus
far perpetuated the existence OF the organ
| ization-to hold the control OF the ma
chinery at any cost of consistency or prin-
ciple-they suddenly seized upon the very
measure of adjustment they had before OPP
posed and denounced as s'repudiation, - and
adopted it as an essential part Of their par
1 krvo fn ont of
party all who would not bow submissively
to the authority they had usurped. Mark,
the original Re-adjusters had brought about
this adjustment in the face of the opposi-
t ion of the caucus rings. No sooner, how
ever, was i. certain that the terms proposed
would be acceptable to the creditors, than
the willy manipulators, ambitious to be re-
cogn lied in the contamination, gave the
finishing touch to the arrangement by en-
grating the coupon feature and the nom
taxable clause upon the new Bill, with a
view to the discontinue of the Readius-
tiers. Their scheme succeeded, as to som e
| of the leaders, and from this sprang the
Mozart Convention, and another contest
IL
were the nominal parties. The result is
presented in the Legislature as now con-
stituted. 1t was not the payment or non
payment of the debt, really, that was at
issue. Scarcely an argument was made
against the principal or interest rate as pro-
vided in the new settlement. Re-adjusters
fought to get control of the Legislature
and the patronage incident thereto, and the
Debt-Payers struggled to retain the advan-
tage they had in the machinery Of the par.
| ty organization and the officers elective by
the Legislature. This was the bone of con-
| tention, and each faction, to accomplish its
object, is now ready for any coalition OF
bargain that will secure the prize. The
political machinery of the State is now in
volved in the contest, as the County Judges
have the appointment of the Commission
ers of Election, and the basement officers
immediate communication with and in
fuence over the county treasurers. If the
Re-adjusters secure these, they will have
made solid advance to the organization
of their forces for future contests. With
the State machinery in their possession anc
the general dissatisfaction which prevails
with the methods of the Conservative
party, as practiced heretofore, they can &C
to the people with the most assuring pros
pect of popular triumph in the next meas
urement of strength. Indeed, it the Re
adjusters' programme, as now mapped out,
succeeds, and the power and patronage o.
the Legislature is thrown on their side, thu
essential agencies which had kept the or
ganization together up to the time of the
break, will have been wrenched from them
and the party of hates and5 passions will
be thing of the past. The reaction hat
to come. No party builded xupon passion
and prejudices, and indulging in the ex
cesses that unchallenged power is sure tc
invite, can long maintain: ascendancy.-
Nothing but the party lash and the despot
ic machinery of the caucus, used with re
lentlessseverity and unsparing vindictive
ness, has kept this long the discordant ant
antagonizing elements which formed thai
organization from parting asunder. and fore
ing new combinations and coalitions upor
more liberal and rational ideas. The powe
once broken /; the people once realizing thu
inspiring fact of emancipation from an op
pressive thraldom, no ingenious device o.
specious appeal will ever seduce them bacl
into the meshes from which they have es
capped. This means recast of parties, the
nature and nominalism of which will be de
veloped as time goes on.
While we have always held to conserva
tive views as to the term of Office and thu
influences which should operate in thu
appointment Of important officers, W.
have never yet learned to believe thai
the select few who happened to be che in
cumbents of official positions were essen
tial to the existence Of government and thu
well being of society. The fact, therefore
that few changes have been made ant
others are contemplated, does not, to oul
mind, imply that ithe Commonwealth is
going to ruin and that corruption is to ride
rampant in all the departments Of State
Ella