The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-06
PARTY DISRUPTION.


We rather enjoy the partizan Feature of
the wrangle that is now going on between
the two wings OF the Conservative party,
and only regret that SO important matter
as the State debt should be the cause of ex-
citing bad feeling. TO see the epithets
hurled by one side against the other, simply
because the Re.adiusters' Convention admit
ted and welcomed colored men as delegates,
reminds us of what we have had to endure,
for the reason that we have argued in behalf
of the recognition Of the Constitution and
laws of the country as they are aud the
rights they guarantee. We hardly know
how to designate the opposing factions
Heretofore it was Funders and Re-adjus-
tiers, or Regulators. The Flinders have
now become Re-adjusters, "usurping" the
place and adopting the identical ideas and
policy Of the Re- adiusters. and some of the
original Re-adjusters have become, Tor want
OF better name, collectors" very mild
term, to be so harshly criticised, as are
those who compose the organization it rep
resents. They are styled the ''Black and
Tan" party, also, and race prejudices are
appealed to in the hope Of bringing them
into disrepute with the people. These i'm.
maculates forget their own endeavors to
command the negro votes in past contests,
the brides they have offered, and the
dishonest methods they have adopted. What
they failed to accomplish by the slanderous
epithets they applied to the original Read
iusters, arraigning them as repudiationists and
revolutionists, they now seek to encompass
by arousing race prejudices, and ridiculing
them as the ssblack and tans.' We under
stand all about such slang and have very lit
tie respect for those who indulge in it. The
negroes have right to their opinions and to
vote, and to exercise all the privileges Of cit
izenship under the Constitution and laws,
and the sooner this fact is recognized the
better. 1t does not conduce to the peace of
community nor the cause OF good govern.
menr to prescribe any class whom the zaw
makes citizens, and to denounce those who
recognize the supreme authority Of law. 1t
is not what ought to have been, but what is.
ehave it as present legal, constitutional
fact to deal with, and we should consider
and determine it as enlightened citizens,
recognizing and bowling to the majesty OF
law. 1t takes much courage to encounter the
preiudices resulting from this state of
things. but men ought to dare to do much
to, give effect to fundamental and statute
laws.
We think it probable the proposed organi-
cation Of two parties out of the old Conser-
vative party, on the debt question: will ac-
complish some good. Both factions will
court the negro vote. Those who have had
nothing but ridicule and abuse for native
white republicans, because the negroes, also,
as class, are Republicans, will be estopped
from such denunciation. They will become
familiar with the political equality OF the
prescribed class, ard in future contests may
abate their bitter assaults upon those who
may differ with the party they have coop
Grated with.
We do not regard the present disturbance
of the harmony Of the Conservative party
as a certain indication OF the organization of
two parties out of it as to national politics.
1t may reach that far, and we hope will
Certainly the questions at issue in the &C un-
try are. sufficiently broad and national to al.
NIT Of two sides in every State. We can
only await developments, and watch the
progress of the disintegration, in the hope
that reason will dominate over prejudice,
and the intellections Of men will control and
direct their political association. The Re-
publican party is willing TO be reinforced
by all who agree with its principles, and
there are many in Virginia who do so be-
leve, who have never heretofore recognized
it by their utilization and votes.
We have given no other significance to
the disruption Of the Conservative party, as
evidenced by the organization recently eff
fected in Richmond, than division of forces
on the State debt question. We expected
this result from the Inauguration OF the con-
troversy. Nor did we calculate on any adj
vantage to the Republican party, except the
effect resulting from competi-
ton for the colored vote, thus familarizing
both factions with the fact that the negro has
political rights and is necessarily factor in
politics.
So far as the VIRGINIAN is concerned, its
honestly believing in the princ-
pies Of the Republican party, no subterfuge
ho +o3o tod in, tba hoy of
ty advantage. We prefer to proclaim the
principles of the party from the house-tops,
and appeal to the reason and conscience OF
the people for their support. We would
prefer to labor in a prescribed, misrepre-
sented and denounced minority, from now
until doomsday, rather than cooperate with
a majority, protesting what we do not be-
lieve, and sustaining policy which is wrong
in itself, and must prove harmful to the
State. We are not afraid to do what we be-
lieve to be right. nor have clamorous major
tiles, moved and controlled by inscriptions
appealing to and n1aming the
passions Of the people, any terrors for us.
We have met them before and can meet them
again, and would choose such unequal con.
tests rather than surrender or abate our con-
victions of principle for temporary yet
delusive and disreputable advantage.
We are Virginians, as well as Republi-
cans, and can see nothing inconsistent in
the principles of the party we support, with
the true and abiding interests of our
native State. We shall sustain no policy or
measure which we believe will bring dis
credit upon the Commonwealth, and for
this reason we have advocated, and shall
continue to advocate the pending PROPOSE
lion for the settlement of the State debt,
and oppose the policy OF the Re-adjusters or
Instructors, as reflected in the recent Con-
7ention in Richmond, for the reason that
The creditors proposition is substantially
that which we have heretofore argued would
3e even-haEded justice between the State
md her creditors, and for which we were
denounced as ''repudiauors'' by the very
men who are now foremost in the support
" this movement This shall be our course,
ct parties shape themselves as they may,
nd sloughing off affect organization as it