Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1880-01-13
The Presidential Contest.
HOW SHALL VIRGINIA ACT?


HOW SHALL VIRGINIA ACT?
With the opening of the year 1880
the curtain rises upon a Presidential
struggle in which the interests and lib.
critics of the whole country are deeply
involved. Indeed, in the opinion of
many thoughtful observers of current
events, it is not improbable that the
coming contest will decide the fate Of our
Republican institutions.
How shall Virginia act with regard
to it? In which scale shall the weight
of her moral influence and her electoral
vote be thrown?
Will the people turn their backs
upon the principles they have cherish
ed in the past and which have guided
them in former national contests?
Is it possible that personal or local
issues can so absorb the minds of those
of her citizens who give shape and
direction to political sentiment as to
blind them to the vital significance of
the struggle, or cause them to act reck-
lessly with regard to it?
These are serious questions and they
press upon Virginians at this time with
unwonted force.
No one needs to be told why this is so.
The canvass through which we have
recently passed engendered an amount
of passion and bitterness, in every way,
unfavorable to wise and prudent action.
These feelings, so far from abating by
their transfer from the hastings to the
Legislative halls, have, unfortunately,
perhaps unavoidably, been intensified.
It is not our purpose in this article to
fix the responsibility for this deplora
BILE condition of affairs upon either
party to the quarrel. We have very
decided views on this point, as all who
read this paper are well aware, but to re-
peat them here would be at war with the
spirit in which we write, and the object
we have in view. 1t is enough here
| and now, without inquiry into the cause,
to recognize and regret the fact that the
Conservative party-which, in its Ma
tional relations is the Democratic party
of Virginia-finds itself divided upon
local issue at time when it should be
united for the great National contest
now looming up with such direful por-
tent before US.
1t was the remark of profound
theologian and philosopher that while
Protestants attended more to the points
on which they differed than to those on
which they agreed while more zeal was
L 0IlplOy0 Oh III 6OgGAAhk OOh esASA w
Tending subtleties, than in enforcing
plain revealed truth F; the lovely fruits OF
peace and charity persisted under the
storms of controversy"
May we not, without at all deprecia-
ting the importance of our local issues,
or surrendering aught of our honest
convictions with regard to them, adapt
the sentiment we have quoted, to the
controversy which now unhapplly dis
tracts our party and imperils its ascen-
dancyein the Presidential contest.
Internationally, there is serious dan
ger, unless calmer and more prudent
| counsels prevail, that Virginia will cast
her vote in November next for Grant,
or some other equally obnoxious Repub
can candidate.
This will certainly be the case if the
leaders of the two alienated sections Of
our Conservative party continue to at
tend more to the points on which they
differ than to those on which they agree.
We assume that every Virginia Con-
servative- Democrat is convinced that
Estate autonomy, which Is assailed by the
Republican party, is just as essential to
individual and social liberty as ever.
and as much worthy fighting for. We
assume that the Virginians who fought
shoulder to shoulder the battles of '69,
'72 and '76 are still united upon the
great principles which we're involved in
those contests. Here then is common
ground upon which all Democrats can
stand-points upon which all can agree.
Why, then, should not the leading
minds and thoughtful men Of our dis
severed party confer together and unite
their counsels in general convention
of Conservative Democrats, without re-
/ gard to our local divisions, to the end
that Virginia may be represented by q
delegation in the National Democratic
Convention which shall reflect the will
of the entire party in the State? A
convention to be composed of the repre-
sentatives of all our people who are
Democrats as to National issues, aud
without regard to whether they are
Debt-payers or Readjusters as to local
J issues. allSs.,t SO ~ sal 0.Q
i Surely, Virginia ought to be represent
ed in the National Democratic Conven-
ton which is to name the Standard
bearers of the party for 1880; but if some
conference is not held and some mutual
understanding reached, the only way we
could have voice would be through
contesting delegations, whereby the in :
! fluence and prestige of our State would
be lost-an influence which has always
been great, because in National Conven-
tions 1t has always been united.
We are sure that neither Debt Payers
or Readjusters have anything to gain by
shaking the soiled linen of our. local
quarrel in the faces of the assembled
representative Democracy of the coun-
try. s f
OF course, it is to be expected there
will be men on either side whose pas
sions have been so excited by the angry
local contest in which we have engaged,
who will at first be reluctant to go into
such conference. There are small men
who have small axes to grind who may
fear they will be shorn by such o step
of their Fictitious Importance We shall
also hear taunts about throwing up the
: SPONGE and such like phrases from par.
ty hacks and whippers, in But In spite
of all, we believe ifthe matter is thought
!. over dispassionately, aud It's decision is
referred to our judgments rather than
our passions that large majority Of both
leaders and followers of both Debt Pay
ers and Readjusters will be convinced
that the adoption of some such plan as
we have suggested is the demand Of pa
triotic duty.
4 AS Virginians, as Democrats edare
not imperil the great interests which
/
cause of the ill-temper engendered in
J our local quarrels. ~ - 90
No man will be expected to surrender
any of his honest convictions upon the
! Debt question There win be no com.
ing over from one to the othef sfd6 The
proposition look, simply to a coming to
gether for the great impending National
\ contest with which our local issues have
really no relation whatever.
/ We submit. theu, that it is the duty
of the magnanimous men of both parties
to our local controversy to neet togeth
er and exchange opinions as to the best
mode of reforming our hues aud pre-.
senting serried and united front a.
e sinst the Radical hosts in the coming
Presidential struggle. There need be
no formalities, nor intervention of COM
mittees, nor points raised as to being
tread in" and .'read out" of the party.
The Representative men in the Legisla
ture can inaugurate the movement, and
if there is the will there will be no diff
ficulty in finding out the way. Vim
chester Times
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