Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1880-08-18
Hon. II. John Ellis, Of LOuisi-
ana, on the Situation in Vir'
ginia.
VIEWS OF AN INTIMATE FRIEND OF
GENERAL HANCOCK.

udo ASpiOSOhtOV III " H~cNA W
years with distinguished ability one
of the New Orleans districts in
Congress, has been spending a few
days at this popular place of resort
for rest and recuperation, preparato-
ry TO an arduous campaign this
fall.
He takes deep interest in the
affairs of Virginia. Mr.. Ellis has
been the personal and political
friend Of General Hancock since the
latter commanded at New Orleans,
and advocated his nomination by
the Democrats for the presidency
twelve years ago. He was one Of
five gentlemen specially named by
General Hancock to take charge of
his candidacy at Cincinnati. Your
correspondent had several CONVEX
sations with Mr.. Ellis on political
topics, and without any formal in
terview elected the following as the
substance of his views on the situa-
ton in this State:
eve of the younger States Of
the South" said Mr.. Ellis, shave
always looked to this grand old
State for precept and example in
the midst of our common dangers
and troubles; and it is with infinite
sadness that we turn TO her now
only to find division, distraction,
bickerings,and cart-burning among
those who, confronted by the union
of hate as represented by Garfields
candidacy, ought certainly to be
united in love. But 1 yet think all
will be well. Your people honestly
differ as to the settlement OF your
State debt. Good men, honest
men, patriotic men, ale found on
both sides OF this question. The
vast majority of the Readjusters
are as honest, and conscientious,
and patriotic in their views as are
the Dcbt-payers. The have sense
enough to see and to know that
this debt question is purely local ;
that outside of Virginia their ere
adjusters' party has no existence
that or this quest on they differ as
Democrats. and that on all other
questions they are united. They
know that the call for the May Con-
vention was issued by the regular
Democratic authority which existed
prior to their local divisions-an
authority which no Democrat in
Virginia, Of whatever faith, denied
or disputed; that the call was broad
enough to include every Democrat
in the State, whether Debt payer OF
Readiuster that it met regularly,
sent Readjusters and Deb--Payers
alike as delegates to Cincinnaii,and
appointed Democratic Readjusters
and Democratic Debt-payers on the
electoral ticket. They know that
the ticket so appointed is the regu-
lar Democratic ticket, pledged to the
support of Hancock and English
Yes continued Mr.. Ellis, "the re-
adiusters Of Virginia are Democrats
and they cannot tail to see that the
electoral ticket put up by the July
Convention is mol the regular ticket
and means discord, confusion, and
possibly even defeat. They will
realize that the July Convention
was not a Democratic Convention,
but called by Readjusters, and that
in it sat Republican Readjusters as
well as Democratic Readjusters.
How could such a Convention
claim to be a Democratic Conven
ton or assume to put forth Dem
ocratic electoral ticket ? The au-
thors and engineers Of the July
Convention should know that figs
do not grow on thistles, aud that
no fountain has yet been found that
gives forth "bitter waters and
sweet" The Readjnster Demo-
Gratis of Virginia do know it, and [
predict that they will not ask the
| great national Democratic party of
the United States to Surrender to
a minor faction in a single State, or
that they will consent to let repub-
licans sit in council to decide what
electors they shall choose to cast
the vote of the proud old Democrat
ic Commonwealth Of Virginia. No ;
they will remember that they are
democrats first and Readjusters
afterwards and they will surely
rally en- maSSe to the support Of the
regular ticket chosen by the rcgu-
lar Democratic State Convention
last May"
In regard to the proposed COM
promise, Mr., Ellis was more en-
phatic, and said: "Compromise
What is there to compromise? Who
is there to compromise Prlnci-
pie can never be bartered away nor
compromised. | have never known
the Democratic party to enter into
compromise with its enemies that
it did not suffer both in prestige
and power, as we'll as self-respect.
The true policy of the Democrats
of Virginia is to ignore for the time
being this difference as to the debt
question, and to vote solidly for
the pure and unexceptionable and
electoral ticket selected by the