Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-10-01

wanting. it proposed to saddle the expense
of this costly warfare between Democrats
on that National Democratic Committee
whom the proponents of this plan have
everywhere been at pains to denounce and
defyl
The State Democratic Committee char
ped with the maintenance of Democratic
snnramacv in Virginia, aspiring to no
CONQUEST over other Democrats, and as
semblinQ for peace and union, not for war
and discord, could of course never accede
to proposal to submit the question of
Democratic existence in Virginia to the
arbitrament of 90, 900 colored Republicans,
the majority of whom, DISTINGUISHED by
law. viii not be permitted to vote in any
election: but, having come prepared to
make sacrifice for unity, they accepted
this cumbrous, costly and strife engender-
ing plan, rejecting some OF its ridiculous
features, whose absurdity was so patent
that it's framerslpromptly abandoned them,
and asked but one amendments clause
providing that the election to determine
which should be the National Democratic
ticket in Virginia should be participated
in by National Democrats alone; and that
no Democrat, no matter what his views on
State issues, should be excluded, proposed
as the test of National Democracy the vo-
ter's position In the last National election,
when Virginia cast the largest Democratic
vote ever polled in her history by many
thousands.
The intrinsic justice of this provision
needs no illustration. No argument can
strengthen it's transparent propriety and
wisdom and right.
This amendment was, after long delay,
rejected as emphatically as the Shenando-
alb plan. and the cause frankly assigned
was an unwillingness to offend the colored
Republicans in their ranks. Thereupon
the 18th of j. ly committee to emphasize its
resolve to listen to no just terms Of SETTLE
ment, cut off all opportunity for further
labor in the cause of union by the curt an
nouncement that they had adjourned sine
die.
This is the record of an earnest attempt
made by the regular Democracy OF Virgin
ia to preserve her vote for Hancock by the
voluntary sacrifice of half it's chosen cleo
tors, and of the failure of that attempt.
To the judgment of Virginia and of the
people of the whole Union we leave the re-
sponsibility of that failure with entire con-
fdence Such concessions have never be-
fore been recorded in American politics;
such resolve to rule or ruin never so in
solently avowed. Let those whose ener-
gies have hitherto been expended in sug-
costing forms of fusion now abandon that
futile task and give their hearty support
to the ticket of that party which to the
claim of regularity and utilization with the
National Democra cy, nowhere disputed,
now adds the higher claim of magnani-
nous and rejected offer to sacrifice its
rights, it's prestige, ana its just pretensions
on the altar of democratic union in Vir-
ginia and democratic triumph in the cOun-
try.
Already many of the best men of the Re-
adjuster party are fighting with consDic-
uOuS effect in the common cause with their
lately separated Democratic brethren
Every day henceforth will witness hun
dreds of accession of true men who were
Democrats before the debt question enter
ed into our politics, and will be so long al
ter it is finally disposed of.
With such an effort as the true DemOc-
racy of the Union have right to expect
of Virginia, the Old Domini on will an
sWer with no uncertain sound in Novem-
Der, swelling that victory for the regular
Democratic ticket, which all the omens
forecast as the certain issue of this great
contest.
"We have great duty to perform to-
gether. Let us do it with one heart and
voice."
A. M. Kelly,
A. s. BUFORD,
JOHN W. WRIGHT,
JOHN w. LAWSON,
JOHN T. HARRIS,
JAMES BARBOUR,