Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-05-25
Then and Now.

On the 31st October, 1873, the Rich
mond Whig said: 'If the educated
classes, the property holders, the tax
payers, the working men, the business
men. the professional men of Virginia
would not see their Commonwealth con-
signed to iaY'etrievable rair, they will
turn out s3s p.assa, at the election, and
cast such a vote and win such triumph,
as will forever rid them of that danger
0us party" What party? The IHhig
called it "The Carpet-bag and Negro
Party,"-the radical party in Virginia.
1t said: ''That party is, in its compost
ton, its aims and purposes, its merce-
nary character, its lust for Office and
plunder, The same everywhere," and that
paper added that "immigrants and
money will aeper seek any State in
which ignorance and rapacitv have con.
troll" True as preaching, then, now
and everywhere. What say the classes
appealed to by the Wing as late as 1873 :?
Have they changed, or has the other
party altered or improved?
Witness the material, the delegates
mainly white Federal ofice-holders and
negroes-and the proceedings of the
Staunton Radical Convention. That
party, or the Democratic party-one or
the other, must rule here-there can be
no third party, which can succeed, in
the nature of things.
Every observing man knows that the
Radical colored delegates and senators
in the last Virginia Legislature (the
members of their colored caucus,) con-
trolled the policy of the State last win
ter. They held the balance of po,uea,
and they now boast that they will carry
the State next fall against the Democra
tic nominee for President.
Howe They are in minority accord
ing to the listed titheables, of 7O,OOO.-
Well, by bringing to their aid, directly
or Indirectly, enough white men, who
have heretofore voted the Democratic
ticket, to effect that result, C'irretrieva-
BILE ruin.") The leaders of that faction
of whites, led by "Mahone- Virginia.
are to be rewarded, as he has been, with
Offices and public pap, national, state
and county. Again, we ask, will white
men, who are to get no pay, who only
desire to do right, be made use of, by
such set, for such purpose will they
follow apotate place-hunters Will any
right minded man, white or colored, do
it? We ask the people to see what is
going on before their eyes, all over the
State, on the court-greens, in their pub
lie meetings, the unusual activity among
the colored politicians, and learn that
we have to fight over again the battles
OF 4ob3-sAesr gangs slReAeG 5y Gessrters
rom oars. They are inspired by fresh
nopes-the fruits fOreshadowed In the
last Legislature-in what was done and
attempted to be done. Witness what is
transpiring in the Federal Court in this
district, the propositions in the Legisla-
ture to abolish the poll tax, or make it
nominal, so that most of them may pay
no taxes-punishmen by stripes to be
abolished, SO that white aud aoiored
tnisyss rnay vote, and be rewarded with
comfortable quarters In the jails of the
State-mixed marriages to be made law
ful, and after awhile mixed schools and
all the burdens ofgovernment (includ.
ing the system of free educationl lifted
trGm their shoulders ieven TO the pit
lance of 81 per head, to be borne by
those white and black) who wish to
own property, which Is taxable, to the
exemption of the idle, the vicious, the
tnrlftless and non property holders All
this Is involved, so far as the State is
concerned. in the issue vAiah MaAone
anq his satellites have made for us and
IN the Federal Government, the per-
petnlty OF corrupt, sectional oppression
ana dlstasteful legislation and practices.
We repeat, all this is involved in this
issue TO be made at the polls in Novem-
Der neAt.-Lynchburr As1vaass. va