The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-30
The Duty of the Hour.

| suggestion. The concerted sensational ar
ticles which have recently appeared in each
OF those journals, were designed to make
public opinion. and not reflect it. BY ex-
travagant headlines, as well as by extrava-
giant assertions, it was hoped to create a
stampede from the Republican ranks to
those, of the Re-adjusters, and thus practi-
to the Democratic party. For whether it is
Hancock and English on the Re-adjuster
ticket, or Hancock and English on the Fun
der ticket, it is the Democratic party, with
which Republicans have no alliance. often
sive or defensive, in this national contest,
and against which they will organize their
forces and directly antagonize their efforts
When the Richmond hstelhgencer identified
itself with the Democratic party by placing
at its editorial head the Re-adjuster Elec-
tors, with Hancock and English as their rep
resentatives, it, by that act, disclaimed all
Republican sympathy and cooperation. and
all authority to speak for the Republican
party or any portion of it. After this re-
nouncement of the Republican nominees and
the Republican organization,i it had no more
right to speak for Re-adjuster or Funder
Republicans, in this contest than had the
Richmond Wing or Richmond Dispatch. :
This is the understanding of it by the Re
publicans of Virginia, and to this view they
will stand, and verify it by the votes they
will cast on the I'd of November. For the
editor of the Lntelligencer and the Second
acted with the Republican party. to assume
that because they choose to identify them
selves with the Democratic party, 10000
colored Republicans would do the same,
was stretch of impudence. which ordinary
sagacity would have prevented. So long as
they remained in strict accord with the Re-
publican party, the colorcd Republicans
might with propriety have looked upon
them as leaders, but when they essay to
lead the colored votes away from the Re-
publican party, then they will find they
have undertaken work to which their ca
pacities are not eq"al. Such great Repub-
lican lights as Charles Sumner and Horace
Greeley tried that in 1872, and failed. Much
less will Col. Popham and Auditor Dyson
be able to seduce the colored voters from
the principles and organization of the Re-
publican party. The colored people are Re-
publcans from instinct as well as convic-
ton and any proposition which carries
with it a surrender of their identity with
that organization, in great national con-
test, in which the principles of the party
are involved. will be treated just as such a
treachery should be-with contempt. 1t is
assuming that the colored men of Virginia
are mere chattels yet. to be disposed of in
the manner and at the times their assumed
leaders and owners may dictate. 1t is tan
tamount to declaration that they know
nothing about party duty, or party history,
or the rights which are theirs by law, or the
designs of the Democratic party
Let this fact be fastened upon the mind OF
every white and colored voter in Virginia.
that there IS no State issue IN this contest.
1t is purely national issue, and whether
the Republican or Democratic party shall
be placed in the control of the government,
and direct its destinies for the next twenty
years to come. No ingenious Interviewing
of State and National issues, can destroy or
obscure the simple fact we have stated. The
election of the Hancock Re-adjuster electors
would not modify single wrong inflicted
by State legislation, nor would the election
of Garfield electors renderless probable the
repeal of odious State statutes. State is
year, and whether Garfield or Hancock be
elected in November next, the Republic
cans will be just as potential in determining
the result between the two Democratic fac
ton, whichever party succeeds, as now. They
will hold the balance of power. and the Re-
aljusters will not dare to abate one prom
Use they have made or abandon one single
proposition they have ever presented as to
the interests of the colored man. If they
do the colOred man will abandon them, and
use his power to effect other alliances, for
the observance of the rights which the
| Constitution assures and the laws were de-
signed to protect They ask for nothing
which the Constitution Of the country does
not guarantee, and which every good
citizen ought not to cheerfully concede.
This being the fact, the Republicans of
Virginia will find no difficulty in effectually
asserting their power in the securement of
their rights from one or the other of the
factions seeking the control of the State.
| With this power reserved for next year
for State reforms and the modification of
State legislation, let this same power be di-
rected this year to aiding in preserving the
national government to the control of the
Republican party, and keeping national
| legislation in harmony with the State. re-
forms proposed. The one does not conflict
with the other, but on the contrary both are
| essential to that perfect equality of rights
which the fundamental law of the country
designed should be secured. TO be true to
Republican principles and the Republican
party this year, conflicts in no way with
aiding next year which ever faction of the
Democratic party will assure the most lib
eral and just legislation in State affairs In
this year. as Republicans acting with the
| national party and sustaining it in its strug-
gle with the Democratic party for national
supremacy, will the better prepare it to
marshal its forces next year in the interest
of just laws and liberal government in State
affairs.
There is but one plain path of duty for
the Republicans of Virginia to tread, and
that is to support the ticket which the Ma
tional Republican party has placed iii the
field by voting for the electors which the
Republicans of Virginia have nominated
1t is not question of Re-adiuster or Fun
der. but of Republican and Democrat, and
when this is fairly understood, as we have
no doubt it is by the great mass of the Re
publicans of the State, we have perfect faith
that the full strength of the party will be
cast for the nominees of the Chicauo Com