Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-01-23
MAt NtA>ttatet.
sTAUNTON. VA.
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. %, 1880.

FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. %. 1880.
Our Richmond contemporaries, the s.Dis-
patch' and "State,'' are discussing the
question of weakening" AS the State
debit question, on which the last campaign
was fought, has not as yet been approached
in even the most remote way, by either
the majority or the minority in the legis-
majority being at present stag
gering and vascillating under the burden |
of the county judges-we are rather at a
loss to see where there has been an oppor-
tunity for weakening on that point. As
to weakening or bracing up on the
question of dominance in the Democratic |
organization of the State, while some PEN
dulum leaders have been swaying to and
fro according to the point from which the
wind seemed to set, this oscillation. the re-
suit Of disturbed political atmosphere,
has pretty well ceased, and it seems that
all hands have concluded to wait awhile.
It will not, however, be very long. Poll
ties wait on no man, however great the
number of men that wait on politics. The
Republican State Central Committee meets
in few days to take measures looking to
the representation of its party in their
national council, and we presume that it
will not be very long before the Demo-
cratic State Central Committee takes
a similar step. The calling of the State
Conservative Convention is the skirmish
line: the selection Of it's members the real
battle ground, for in that selection the
Readiuster-D Democrats can avail themselves
of the opportunity to fight for the control
of the Democratic party In Virginia.
This much on the supposition that
what are known as the Read uster- Demo-
Gratis desire to be also the Democratic party
of the State If they do not, they can carry
national politics into their present organi-
cation (of Democrats and Republicans) or
carry their present organization into ma
tional politics, either you choose to call it,
and take their chances. The events of the
last few days in the legislature show that
the combination which was invincible at
the election is not working with a harmo-
ny which guarantees safety to itself still
less success in its purposes. Like all in
congruous bodies, not animated by COM
mon purpose, the test of fealty to caucus
control is making wide assures in the solid
rock. Already it's caucus decisions in
many cases. have been thwarted in open leg
islature by combination of dissatisfied
and often indignant Readjusters with
their opponents. Already in open senate
one of the most prominent of the Readjus-
ter Senators and certainly one of the most
influential, has in resisting caucus deci-
sion announced as his motto that "the ban
ner of self respect is higher than that of
party,'' and already has . Readjuster's
caucus decision been reversed in that body
by vote of twenty -four to sixteen-just
the vote by which it should have been af-
firmed had their party obeyed the caucus.
Further, the record Of the legislature at
Richmond, if read by the people. is calcu-
lated to create additional detection from
the Readjuster party at home. It is the
unwritten law of political organization
that it shall elevate its best men to Office
and to the judicial Office this is universally
demanded, however slack a constituencies
requirements may be in regard to other
departments of the government. 1t is i'm
possible therefore that day after day the
Readiuster nominees for the bench should
be attacked in open session by Reatjuster,
Republican and Conservative members on
the score Of legal incapacity, inebriety or
moral unftness, without creating In
the minds of the people sense Of appre-
hension that their highest interests have
fallen into the hands of representatives
who are either without material to give
good candidates, incapable of judging OF
the fitness of candidates, or worst of all are
so hot in the distribution Of spoiIs to party
friends as to overlook the necessity of this
fitness. TEX
We cannot know with accuracy the inner
history of this legislation which appears TO
be entirely in the control OF secret
caucus, but we and the people at large can
infer from the opposition exhibited by
members of the organization that much ot
it is not of a quality which would com
mand the approval Of the Readjusters at
home, and SO far from the ''new converts
being so numerous that the party leaders
would not have time to baptize them," as
predicted by one Of their leaders in the
first burst of victory, we expect instead a
feeling of doubt and distrust pervadinQ
thoughtful Readjusters regarding the
length of time this organization will act
with unity and indeed as to the length of
time it will exist as political organiza-
ton to readjusJ the state question.
Those Debt-paying Democrats who were
defeated last November are not tormented
by the sight Of the successful progress Of
their opponents The place of Read
juster Democrat in the legislature is ne
bed of roses. His own restiveness under
caucus rule which has compelled from
him so many reluctant votes ane
yet his nervous anxiety that the edicts o.
that caucus, the only thing that holds his
party to a common purpose, shall not bt
defeated; his earnest desire that the deha
shall be satisfactorily settled by his own
party. but with no prospect. near or far
of its being done; the goading for haste
from his constituents, who have been led
to believe that they are members of an in
vincible organization, which has only to
will thing and it is done, and who dc
not appreciate the perils Of a party, moi
having large majority, and even thu