Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-09-29

everywhere been at pains to denounce
and defy!
The State democratic committee
charged with the maintenance of demo-
cratic supremacy in Virginia, aspiring
TO no conquest over other democrats,
and assembling for peace and union,
not for war and discord, could of course
never accede TO a proposal to submit
the question of democratic existence in
Virginia 10 the arbitrary decision of 90
coo colored Republicans, the majority
of whom DISTINGUISHED by law, willuot be
permitted to vote IN any election but
having come prepared to make sacrifices
for unity, they accepted this cumbrous,
costly and strife-engendering plan, re-
iecting some Gifts ridiculous features,
whose absurdity was so patent that It's
trainers promptly abandoned them, and
asked but one amendment-a clause
providing that the election to determine
which should be the national democrat
ic ticket in virginia should be partici-
pated in by national democrats alone;
and thatno democrat, no matter what
his views on State issues, should be ex'
cluded, proposed as the test of the ma
tioual democracy the voters position
in The last national election, when Vir-
NINA cast the largest democratic vote
ever polled IN history by many thou
sands.
The intrinsic justice Of this provision
needs no illustration. No argument
can strengthen its transparent proprlety
and wisdom and right.
This amendment vas, after long
delay, rejected as emphatically as the
Shenandoah plan, and the cause frank
" assigned was an unwillingness to
offend the colOred republicans IN their
ranks. Thereupon the 7th>of July COM
mittee, to emphasize its resolve to listen
to no Just terms of settlement, cut off
all opportunity for further labor in The
cause Of union by the curt announce
ment that they had adjourned sine die.
This is the record Of an earnest at
tempt made by the regular democracy
Of Virginia 10 preserve her vote for
Hancock by the voluntary sacrifice Of
half its chosen electors, and Of the
failure of that attempt.
To the judgement Of Virginia and Of
the people OF the whole Union we
leave the responsibility of that failure
with entire confidence. Such concessions
have never before been recorded in
American politics; such a resolve to
rule or ruin never so insolently avowed.
Let those whose energies have hitherto
been expended in suggesting forms Of
fusion row abandon that futile task and
give their hearty support TO the ticket
Of that party which to the claim Of re-
cularitY and utilization with the National
democracy, nowhere disputed, now
adds the higher claim ola magnanimous
and rejected offer to sacrifice its rights,
its prestige, and its just pretensions on
the altar Of democratic union in Vir-
ginia and democratic triumph in the
country.
Already many of the best men Of the
readjusiers party arc fighting with con-
sp.cuous effect IN the common cause
with their lately separated democratic
brethren. Every day henceforth viii
witness hundreds OF accessions OF true
men who were democrats before the
debt question entered into our politics,
aud will be so, long after It is finally DIS
posed Of.
With such an effort rs the true demo-
cracy Of the Union have a right to ex-
pect Of Virginia, the Oh Dominion will
answer with no uncertain sound in
November, swelling that victory for the
regular democratic ticket, which all the
omens forecast as the certain issue Of
this great contest.
1--WE have a great duty to perform
together. Let us do it with one heart
and yoico'V
\. NJ. Kelly,