The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-23
The Fair Thing.

We, as rule, endeavor to deal fairly and
Justly with political friend and foe. We
have never yet learned to believe that in
justice promoted the interests of parties or
individuals, and if we know it. we will
never be guilty of misstating fact or mis-
representing an individual. Acting upon
this rule. we take occasion to correct a
statement of Col. 7. T. Fauntleroy in re-
cent speech at Petersburg. He said. as re-
ported in the Whig: "Gen. Echols. the
manipulation of the Staunton Republican
ticket, but for whose manipulatons and
efforts there would have been no Garfield
and Arthur electoral ticket in the field
Gen. EchOls, who introduced James g.
Blaine, the worst radical in the country,
heads the Democratic electoral ticket.''
With Gen. Echols' political attitude we
have no sympathy f; but knowsng the state
ment above to be untrue, as to his interfer-
ence with the Republican Convention held
in this place. we do him the simple act of
Justice to so state. He had no more to do
with that Convention and it's action than
had Col. Fauntleroy. 7 he writer of this
paragraph was not an idle spectator in that
body, and says what he positively knows.
that the charge preferred above is utterly
groundless.
AS to introducing Senator Blaine, that
had no political significance whatever. Mr..
Blaine was en- route 10 the Springs, and
stopping in Stanton over night, the Stone
wall Brigade Band rendered him serenade
A large number of the citizens assembled
on the occasion to manifest their respect for
the distinguished stranger, nearly all of
whom were opposed to him politically. At
the request of a number of those present,
Gen Echols introduced the Senator to the
audience in waiting in the street before the
Hotel, without any allusion to politics or
parties. Senator Blaine spoke only for
few moments and never in the remotest
sense touched upon party matters. 1t was
simply an act of courtesy on the part of the
people of Staunton and Gen. Echols in ex-
tending to the Senator hospitable welcome
to our mountain city. That was the whole
OF it, and to endeavor to create prejudice
against Gen. Echols for doing what no
gentleman would have refused to do, is
straining point for party effect that will
not operate as it was intended.
1t is this spirit manifested by Re-adjusters
and Funders in political contests, which in
jures the State, and must do great deal of
harm in the future, for it will take years
to remove the unfriendly impression this
partizan intolerance creates. Staunton
was known far and wide for its lberality in
such matters. and all the good which had been
effected in thi, direction has been destroyed
by few small-fry politicians in this place,
who got up a Juror about nothing a few
weeks ago. Col. Fauntleroy has not mended
matters in this respect, and if the spirit
manifested in his speech. is to control the
Re-adjusters, it is a liberalism that we want
nothing to do with, nor will the people
sympathize with it. A ''plagne on both
of your houses" say we, and the way to
rebuke them is to support the Republican
ticket, and give the electoral vote of the
State to Garfield and Arthur.