The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-10-21
What Will Virginia Do 2

indicates the drift of public opinion and as
sures the success of the Republican party in
November. Not only will Garfield and
Arthur be elected, but Congress will pass
into the control of that party after the 4th
of March next, thus giving the Republicans
all the branches of the government, and
assuring Republican administration fort
years after the expiration of President
Hayes term.
In view of this almost certain condition
of affairs, what is the duty which confronts
Virginia? Her geographical position, min
eral resources, water power, timber and
soil, constitute advantages and elements OF
wealth and power, which only want the
sympathy and aid of the North to develop
and utilize them, and thus lay the founda-
ton for prosperous and powerful Com
monwealth. The political position OF the
State heretofore has not been the result OF
any conviction as to administrative princ-
pies. Men of divergent views on the tariff,
the banking system, and the currency have
united in the same party from sectional
considerations, and the pressure OF appeals
to race prejudices and war memories. There
has been no elevated thought affecting gov
eminent; no statesmanlille forecast OF the
future. and the agencies which would lit
the State out of her difficulties. The fut ure
of the Commonwealth and the material il
terests of the people have been lost sight OF
in the wild sweep of passion which has been
stirred up by the party speakers and inham-
matory demagogues, who do not Know
enough about government and government
policies to convey an intelligent l'iea OF
them to the popular mind. The thoughts
of the masses have been lead away from
apy such channels of reflection, and the
Judgment shrouded in cloud OF SANDER
and misrepresentation as to the Republican
party and its candidates, and the proba BILE
result of the coming election. The Octo-
Der elections have fully answered the false
hoods which were the stock in trade OF the
Democratic speakers. and dissipated all
doubt as to the verdict which will be rem
dered on the End of November.
What now is the duty of Virginia? 1t is
clearly to unite her political and material
destiny with the progressive, enterprlslng
and prosperous North, and by casting her
electoral vote for Garfield and Arthur, open
wide her doors for the ingress OF capital
and energy as the essential agents to make
the State what she should be both in her
j n ind rial rplQ.
tions. Northern capital has already entered
in restricted degree. and is constructing
two lines of railroad through two OF the
great mineral belts of the Commonwealth
the Shenandoah Valley, running North
and South. and the Richmond and Allie
ghany .traversing the rich iron region along
James River, East and West, and connect
ing with the coal fields of West Virginia.
Furnaces have been erected in Augusta and
Allegheny counties. and along the James
River iron properties have been taken hold
of and are being pushed into active opera
Jioas In addition to these indications,
large negotiations are now pending for va
rious other properties. contingent upon the
success Ol tue hcpuDllCtii Poioy Al oHiS
contest, and the assurance of the present
tariff laws remaining, substantially, as they
are. These facts point to but one practical
conclusion. If Virginia should join her
political fortunes with the Republican par
ty. and the intelligence of the State show
that it is ready to cooperate with the in
telligence and wealth of the North, she will
become the objective point for the surplu
capital which is now awaiting favorable OPP
portunity for investment in mineral proper
ties and the industrial enterprises necessary
for their development.
And what would she have to surrender
to inaugtrate such an suspicious condition
of things? Certainly no principle. There
is not an intelligent, impartial judgment in
the State, that does not give its endorse
ment to the financial policy of the Repub-
| lican party, that does not concede that the
protective tariff is as essential to the devel-
opment of Virginia, as it was ever to that
| of PENNSYLVANIA, and that our buried
wealth can never be converted into active
values. except through manufacturing
agencies. All that would have to be sur
rendered would be the poisonous and de-
based prejudice which has rested like a
doom over the State. driving away immi-
grafton, stimulated emigration, invited dis
trust. and kept Virginia down in the slough
ofdispair, that few pestiferous strife-breed-
ers might prey upon the popular passions,
and ride upon this excited current that
is rushing the Commonwealth to ruin.
What are we to gain by such suicidal
course Nothing but disasters. There is
not promise of the future that we will ever
be able to reach, if Virginia continues to
bend her neck to the yoke of partizan hate
and sectional anmosity. There is not a
single proposition emanating from the
Democratic party. even were it possible for
| it to succeed, that would not initiate
against the best interests of the State
There is not principle of government
which it fayors that would not operate to
our disadvantage, were it to enter into the
administration of national affairs. All Of
our interests, present and future, are con-
ClnOoQG upon GLc SuCCcsS VI UuC luCdS Va oilO
Republican party and their practical infu-
sion into the business enterprises which
alone can work out the salvation Il the
State. If we would grow in political and
physical power, and participate fully in
the increasing prosperity of the country we
must discard the Democratic views and no
tions which represent only the buried past
and its follies, and cast our destfnies with
the great American system first proclaimed
by Henry Clay, and successfully operated
by the Republican party-sound national
currency, protection to American labor and
the building up of American industries and
American institutions. With such identity
and the sympathy and cooperation OF the
wealth and intelligence of the North, Vir-
ginia would soon come out OF her sack
cloth, and clothed in her right mind, 60 for
ward to an imperial future, reaching pro-
-,..I