The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-11
What the Verdict Means.

lloSc0u Ny ehO iO"uiiiS AopuUiiCdH PopOio VI
the North towards the South las indicated in
their utterances since che result of the Pres
idential election became known, is nothing
more than we expected. Our personal in
tercourse with representative Northern men
and our correspondence with prominent
Republicans during the progress of the can
vass prepared us to expect such sentiments
as we find expressed in the editorial col
umns of the Boston Traveller, New York
Tribune, New York Times, Philadelphia
Press, and other journals of eminent Ma
tional reputation. We have endeavored to
impress the belief upon our readers that
there was no hostility to the people of the
South. or to the interests Of the South en-
tertained or cultivated by the Republican
party. The antagonism that exists arises
from no feeling of enmity or disposition to
initiate against Southern rights, Southern
prosperity and advancement; but from
sincere desire to see the South. participate
in ali the benefits flowing from wise and just
laws, operating upon the physical and in
tellectual capacities of the country. and
working for the common welfare. The sue
cess of the Democratic party through the
sssolid South without reference to gov
ornamental principles. or the agencies which
affect the industries of the nation, its finan-
cial integrity, its credit, and the basis of
business, presented to the Northern people
very dangerous experiment, which could
have no other effect than to disturb the
channels OF trade, inspire distrust, and pre-
cipitate disaster, even should no radical
change in the methods which have been
practiced by the Republican administra-
ton, be ventured upon. The restlessness and
trepidation resulting from suspicion would
have been sufficient to have sent a tremor
through all the framework and qualifications
of enterprise, and so shocked the conf
dence of capital, that it would have hes
itated, if not retired from industrial pur-
suits. until the policy of the Democratic
administration should have been Defined
This of itself would have occasioned wide
spread calamity, and thrown the country. into
suspense, if not panic, whose influence
would have reached every portion of the
nation.
Apart from the mere commercial view of
the result of the success of the Democratic
party, affecting the interests of all the
people North aud South, there was great
principle involved, which the North could
not sanction. That was the doctrine of
State sovereignty. If there was one idea
more prominent than another which was
determined by the war, it was that this is a
Nation, and not confederation of States.
each sovereign in its sphere and paramount
in its authority to the national government.
That idea was the central thought which
was joined in issue twenty years ago, and
determined by the final transaction at APP
pomattox fifteen years ago. 1t was unrea-
sonable to suppose. and it was impudence
to pretend, that the Northern people were
ready to surrender at the ballot-box that
which had been achieved by the bayonet,
after so much sacrifice of life ana treasure,
and throw the country back upon the
treacherous sea of doubt and uncertainty,
under the guidance of the mischievous and
dangerous theory which was proclaimed by
Southern representative men of the Demo
cratic party. 1t was dangerous to the North
and the South to the East and the West.
and the decision reached on the End of No
vember was as much in the interest of the
Southern people, if not more, than any
portion of the United States. There is not
an impartial Southern judgment which will
not to-day enter protest against the pas
sionate, revolutionary and destructive thee
ries announced by Hampton, Toombs,
Blackburn and their like, whose counsel
would have been potential with the Demo
cratic administration. and disastrous to the
peace and prosperity of the country North
and South. Apart from the intrinsic wrong
of their views, it was not rational to expect
the people of the North to submit to Their
dominancy, in the light of American history
for the past twenty-five years. And to this
conclusion every just thinker must come,
when passion and section are subordinated
to a broad comprehension of the pregnant
events which stand out so prominently fol-
contemplation.
and conclusive in its bearings, was the boast
of a solid Democratic South, and the pledge
given of 1873 electoral votes for the Demo-
cratic nominee, six months in advance Of
the election. In other words, that in States
where there is an undoubted Republican
majority of the voting population, the
methods, the machinery at command. and
sure to work out predetermined results
were such as to assure 1873 electoral votes
without contest. The monstrous fact was
asserted, and unfortunately subsequently
verified, that the electoral votes of the late
Slave States were foreordained for the
Democratic nominee. 1t mattered not as
to the governmental policies and principles
that were at issue and how divergent public
opinion might be as to finance, tariff laws
national banks and currency-these were
questions that would not enter into the de.
termination to be reached. The result was
determined in advance, and all that was
necessary was to observe the forms OF cleo
ton. These l3S electoral votes were to be
handed over without contest, such as the
template, and all that was necessary to
make them effective was for the Northern
Democrats to supplement them by Al votes
from their section In every Northern.
Western and Pacific State a fierce struggle
had to be undergone. Every mans voice
was free to proclaim for one side or the
other, and every mans ballot to be counted
as cast, and the utmost freedom enjoyed,
both in the discussion of the issues pre-
scented. and in the vote to be deposited d
The solid South stood waiting with the
persuasive power of 1873 electoral votes
secured without struggle as to most OF
them-counted and relied upon before the
ballots were cast, and only wanting AZ
more from the Northern States to make the
President of free Republic, founded upon
the popular will, presumably expressed