The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-08

one condition Of the acceptance, that except
for crime, manhood suffrage should not be
changed.
Stranded Politicians.
A certain class of the adherents of the
old Conservative caucus machine, who could
aspire no higher than to do its dirty work,
now manifest disposition to seek recogni-
ton by the victorious Re-adjusters. This
Is natural. Possessing no real force Of
character themselves and incapable of ap-
preciating the dignity Of any question of
public interest upon its intrinsic merits,
they have only been able to "run with the
machine" and do the bidding of their SUI
periors. Thrown upon their own resources,
with the wreck Of the old organization
strewn around, they now founder in con-
fusion and uncertainty, not knowing what
else to do than to fall in with the victorious
party, which they had denounced for eve
rything that was politically wrong and
morally reprehensible. 1t was this class
of politicians whose arguments in con-
tests between Republicans and Democrats,
consisted in appeals to race prejudlces and
passions, and who could never approach a
question and discuss it in its bearing upon
public interests. The orders Of the caucus
were their platform. For these they waited
patiently, and obeyed them implicitly. As
to independent expression Of thought, that
was something they did not know how to
get at. In contests between the Republi-
cans and Conservatives, the Niger and the
scalawag and the carpet-bagger, was their
shibboleth. When called upon to discuss
the issue Of the State debt, their arguments
were summed up in charge Of "repudia-
ton" against those who desired to reach an
equitable solution of the complicated ques-
ton, and the claim of protecting the
s'honor of Virginia" as their own creed.
They never deigned to suggest reason, or
appeal to the discriminating and impartial
judgment of the people.
It is not surprising that these stranded
and discomftted politicians should seek
refuge in the ranks of the triumphant wing
OF the party, and ask the privilege of eat
ing any amount Of dirt that may be dealt
out to them. 1t is nothing to them that the
Liberals, or Malone party, have boldly lde-
clared that the vicious methods Of the eau
Gus dynasty in dealing with the rights OF
colored people and the laws Of the country
have to be abandoned that the position
of the Republican party on all questions
growing out Of the war has to be endorsed
and practically enforced that free and
honest ballot must be assured to every cit
izen, without regard to race, color or pre-
vious condition, and the disreputable de-
vices to circumvent constitutional guaran-
tees forever reprobated; that the whole
current Of the political action OF the caucus
has to be changed, and the peculiar policy
Of the old despotism substituted by Repub-
lican views Of right and duty. 1t matters
not to them, if they can be taken in out of
the cold, what political dose they have to
swallow. They are ready and even eager
for it, let it be ever so nauseating, for they
have not the courage to face popular cur
rent or stand upon conviction. 1t is true
they were never troubled with any sincere.
earnest belief in anything but the caucus
machine yet reviewing their past course
there might be expected some little twinge of
conscience in the abject surrender their new
sought coalition would imply. And it might
reasonably be surmised that they would
hesitate before making public exhibition
of the motives which have governed them
in the past, and are now actuating their
movements.
The worst part of their humiliating atti-
tude is, however, that the Liberals indig-
nantly repel their advances-inform them
that they have no use for them, and will not
even allow them the poor privilege Of eat
ing the crumbs from the Re-adjusters' Ia
BILE. Standing amid the ruin and wreck of
their once arrogant and despetic caucus,th
only comfort they can find is the reflection
over past successes, and the delight they ex-
perienced in appeals 20 the lowest passions
Of human nature-its spites and its hates.
Their sins have found them out.