The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-23
The Richmond Wing and the Re-adjustel

1
speakers have been making a great ado
about Gen. Echols having favored the cleo
ton of Gen. W. C. Wickham to the United
States Senate over Gen. Malone, as though
it was something terrible. Gen. Echols
met the charge in Richmond last Friday
night, by frank acknowledgment Of the
truth of it. We cannot see what there is in
it that any Virginian should be ashamed
of. No man has done more for the State,
or stood higher in the esteem of its people
than Gen. Wickham. He is Republican
it is true, and Republican from convic-
ton. He has spent his money and time in
the interest of the party, without hope or
expectation Of reward. He never held an
office under the government, nor asked for
any favor from it. On the contrary he has
refused the voluntary tender of positions of
honor and profit, preferring to labor in the
interest of his native State. He is gentle
man of unblemished reputation, and one of
the first men in the Commonwealth. For
these reasons, doubtless, Gen. Echols and a
number Of the Democratic members of the
Legislature, believed he would better repre-
sent Virginia's interest in the United States
Senate than Gen. Malone. In this view
Gen. Echols was sustained by large mum
Der OF Democrats OF the Valley and es-
pecially OF his own town and county. The
fact of this Partially is paraded by the Re-
adjuster organs and speakers as though it
was great crime. We do not think the
sober sense of the people of Virginia, of
any party or faction, SO regard it. Certainly
Gen. Wickham is capable of doing nothing
that would effect harm to his State or bring
discredit upon the people. He is a GENTLE
m0n-a thing some of his revilers lay no
claim to, to Judge from their language and
the spirit of their utterances,
If Gen. Echols never does anything to
forfeit the confidence of the people OF Vir-
ginia worse than having, as a choice be-
tween gentlemen mentioned for the United
States Senate, than favoring Gen. Wick
ham, he nor his posterity will have much to
regret.
The interests of all parties and factions
nal invectives and partizan hate would con-
troll the utterances of the press and speak
ers. The spirit of intolerance which enters
into all party contests in Virginia-espec-
tally which seems to dominate in this docs
not argue well for the sincerity and earn
estness of the convictions which move
Denunciation never convinced any one. 1t
never made convert or won friend nor
indeed, injured an enemy. The people have |
but little sympathy with this method Of party
warfare. They prefer that propositions
should be fairly presented and calmly ar
g4ed, so that the truth may be ELECTED, and |
not that food Of epithets be poured out
upon all who happen to differ, the one with
the other. If the Re-adjusters and Funders
propose to carry on this kind of warfare,
they can do SO. The Republicans will have
none Of it. They challenge discussion OF
the principles, the policy and the achieve
ments Of their party, and are willing to
meet their opponents in fair guage OF bat
tie in this way. But they will not descend
to fishmarket literature or seek distinction
in the billingsgate vocabulary. We have no
abuse personally to utter against our politi-
cal opponents, Our time and space eau be
taken up with more profitable matters, and
we wish that all our contemporaries would
see their own interest and the interest Il
'he cause they advocate in this line OF con
4pct. II they will persist in denunciatiqn
md abuse, and avoid argument, let them
10 50. The Republicans Of Virginia will
AYE nothing TO lose by it,