The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-23
The Spirit of the Campaign.

In bitter denunciation and slanderous as
sertions against the Republican party and
its candidates, this canvass has never been
surpassed in the history of the country
No epithet is too foul no malignity too
venomous, for the Democratic speakers and
writer's to employ to prejudice the people
against the Chicago nominees. 1t is not
that these reckless place-hunters and pestif-
erous strife-seekers believe what they say.
for this they could not do if they would
take the trouble to examine into facts but
it is because they have nothing else out of
which to manufacture speech or indite an
article. They dare not enter into discus
sion of administrative principle or policy,
for were they to do so they would either
have to give their endorsement to the
achievements of the Republican party, or
oppose some beneficent result which would
insult the intelligence of the people and
revolt their judgment Their only stock in
trade is meaningless defamation, consist
ing of exploded ISLANDERS, and an assumed
apprehension of converting representative
Republic of 5O,000,000 people into mon
archy in the twinkling OF an eye. They
had educated themselves up to a contem-
plation of this frightful monstrosity before
the Chicago Convention, in the expectation
that Gen. Grant-a military hero-would
be the nominee. In that event it was to be
rung out from every crossroads that the
liberties of the people were to be destroyed,
and the iron heel of a m ilitary despot
pressed upon our free institutions and crush
them to the earth. 1t happened that Gen.
Grant was not nominated, and Gen. Gar
field-a trained statesman-was. For a
time, the Democratic press teemed with
charge after charge of corruption and
bribery, as marking the history of the nomi-
nee, until the people turned in disgust from
such methods of party warfare. Occasion
ally in the rural districts, and with the
small-fry Hancock and English Club spout
er's we have faint repetition--of these I'M
founded and purely malicious allegations.
But the more respectable party opponents
have dropped them in the main, and
fallen back upon the ''gorgon dire" OF
Capitalization" the gradual absorption
of all the rights OF the States by the Ma
tional government. They cannot under
stand how it is that a party which fought
to preserve the Union and which maintains
liberal Interpretation of the Constitution,
in recognizing the people as the source OF
all power. and seeking to enlarge their lib
critics through the school-house and the
elective franchise, could wish to change the
form of government to defeat the very ends
it proclaims. Consequently the more the
curbstone politicians, such as Staunton is
afflicted with, talk of Capitalization and
denounce Gen. Garfield, the more the
masses of the people distrust them, and be-
come estranged from the organization with
which they have been acting,and Disguised
with the methods employed to sustain it
In comparing the Republican administra-
ton of national affairs, and the Democratic
administration of State affairs, a prominent
Democrat remarked the other day that he
thought it would be a bad business to
effect ''change'; by which the Virginia
administration would have an influence
and take part in the management of the
concerns of the National Government-that
if they had accomplished so much towards
the ruin of the State, by their profligacy
and corruption, he could not see how they
could correct any abuses or improve upon
the manner of conducting and adjusting the
business of the nation.
There is deep revolving undercurrent
moving all through the State against the
infammatory tom-tit politicians, who force
themselves into the school houses and at the
crossroads to speak their pieces, composed
mostly of filthy newspaper paragraphs and
political garbage. They assume that the
people are ignorant and stupid, and are not
familiar with current events and facts In
this they are mistaken. The average cOun-
tryman, whether he be the owner of a
farm, a day laborer or toiling mechanic,
generally finds time to post himself as to
what is going on and is familiar with all the
important transpirancies, political and 9TH
erwise. He generally listens to the rant
and fume of the fussy speakers, and re-
tires to laugh at their presumption. One
of this class said the other day, why, your
Staunton speakers must think the country
people are all fools-that we are yet in lead
ing strings-and are incapable of thinking
for ourselves. We propose, he said, to do
our own thinking and our own voting, and
ha in do until fbo 1x,;a
of these wet-nurse statesmen.
The truth is, party discipline has very
little effect in these times of party conyul-
sions. The people begin to realize how
they have been driven and dragooned in the
past by the same class of men that are now
trying the same old tactics. They know the
effects it has had upon the State, and they
purpose now and hereafter to show little
manhood, and to vote as their unbiased and
calm judgment may dictate. This spirit is
working disruption in the old Bourbon
ranks and will crop out in destruction to
the old despotie regime, which has preyed
worked so much harm to all the interests of
the people.
As Republicans, if we cannot find argu-
ments, and facts to address to the reason and
judgment of the people, we certainly
will not resort to the methods usually
adopted by the rabid ranters who represent
the other side. If we cannot point to the
achievements of the Republican party and
challenge the approval of the people, we
will not insult their intelligence by malic-
ious denuncation, with neither fact nor ar
gument to sustain it. 1t is no time to seek
to pervert the judgment by infaming the
passions or draw the popular mind away
from the true issues which are Joined for
determination. The Republican party stands
upon its record as reflected in the healthy
laws which have operated to the prosperity
of the country. That record needs no de-
fence before an informed and intelligent
people. 1t is indicated in the varied indus
tries which send their influence through all
the ramitications of trade and enterprise