The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-12-23
Communications.

Msssrs. E,ittors:-An observance of what has ap-
peared In your journal recently concerning the fu-
few lines, space Tor which respectfully asked for
the columns q Ia LIZ SIsSfSiAN. AS to who
suffice 1t to saJ ~. 3ei7a7 iclf at,' freeman,
and therefore II ~ l.6f.:a0n with all
other men to give my Views faiiy 4lI freely wher.
ever and whenever see proper to do So
| am surprised there should be any two sides in
reference to the propriety OF yanizng party,
for the approaching gubernatoral of 1881.
If the distinctive principles and issues OF the Re-
publicans have made them what they are, can
see no reason whatever why we should now aban-
don them. Hence all this milk-and-cider, wishy
washy stuff about mastery inactivity &C. &c, is
me but the sounding brass and tinking cymbal.
Early after the Chicago nomination IN June last
placing General Garfield In the front or natiu
al standard bearer, wrote to him urging the ne
cess1ty of giving to Virginia all the aid at the dis
posal Of the National Executive Committee say
ing that with proper and well directed eff
fort the electoral college of this State could
be counted for the Republican nominee. still
think the State ought then to have been wrested
from the opposition, and counted for the sue
cessful candidate. The mora feet would have
been with us II months hence what 1t was for Indf
ana one month after the October elections. If
mistake not, Mr.. Senior Editor, you advocated the
same policy.
Now Messrs Editors If we are all agreed (and
suppose we are that Virginia and the south, can
never start onward and upward until the triumph
of our principles is complete, why not maintain
and strengthen and widen and deepen our organi
cation until this commonwealth Is diSenthralled
from party tyranny and terrorism more CALLING
because more refined than ever hold bound free,
fighting for to-dayf Review Mr. Editor, with me one
brief record For nearly sixty years beginning with
Jeffersonian Democracy in 1904 the Democratic
Party swayed its sceptre Of almost unlimited rule
the people of this country. Whether It's foun-
when he engrafted that most insidious and plausi-
BILE, but perfectly fallacous dogma Of States lights
doctrine Into his party and policy, or whether he
nut yielded to the crude and undigested notions of
liberty that prevailed yet in his day and time is
for us to determine. AS no one has ever been able
to tell whether oliver Cromwell was wholly deceived
or not in the short lived commonwealth which he
interposed in the royal dynasty of England during
his protecorate, still are able time
say whether Thomas Jefferson and his compeers
with all their political sagacity foresaw all the e-
gitImate consequences the dire results which have
flowed from this his cardinal but absurd theory.
Yet this same dogma palpably and plainly absurd
1t Is for the very idea of all national compact
presuppOses even to the unlettered boor, the exer
else OF arbitrary power prerequisite to any del
egated right be 1t ltte) held within folds
for more than hafa century, much of the talent and
much of the craftsmanship of this country This dog
ma sustained the party in its every victory and In
spired II with fresh hopes In every dogma
crushed the best talent of the land when undertaking
to oppose 1t and dwarfed the best talent under
taking to advocate its merits The splendid abilities
OF Clay and Webster of little avail before this
fell destroyer. The unsullied private life, astute
thinking and subtle logic of Calhoun quaied before
the "By the Eternal logic of Andrew jackson. This
dogma energzed the foul fray of the great rebellion
chapter OF our history that fa1n would forgive
and forget. But here Its power was broken and for
ever When the sun went down on Appomattox, 1t
sank only to rise on the magnihceps ruins of this
wreck. ALI subsequent futile attempts made by
but the outcroppings of demented minds pervert-
ed tmaginations, for the purpose of arousing a
Feeble rally to the sinking hopes and expiring Tor
tunes Of the fallen foe
AS to the other issues Mr.. Editor, which formerly
and still divide the political parties of land that
Is free trade, high and low tariffs, 1esumptton
donal banks and of our finances generally, they
all debatabe issues, and their discussion engenders
sound and healthful sentiment Tor the good of the
whole people.
am decidedly of the opinion that party
should abstain from meddling with the Debt Cues
ton here in Virginia. 1t ought never to have been
lugged Into tn. political arena, and might have
been anticipated, whilst everybody has had 81 me-
efecting settlement. On the contrary, suppo Sc
every sensible man feels and knows that we are to
have another fierce and angry struggle tine
ugly thing, resulting heretofore, in anything but
final adjustment. The plain common sense way
to dispose of disputed financial operations has
been and still is, either by Of justice by
umpire. No interested party be competent to
effect compromise equitable and satisfactory to
one another Hence neither the people, the legisla-
ture, nor the creditors can come upon terms. An
other party must SETTLE II settled at ALL No toera
bly, fair lawyer could object to this course The
best thing the Republicans do, is to let 1t alone
and suggest some other tribunal potential for final
arbitration. We should rather fear 1t as breaker
instead of propttious wave to watt us uninterrupt
eddy to destined port.
But let US organize. Our 81, 900 Republican votes
must be swelled to double the number. We must
elect our Governor, and all the inferior officers Old
efrete, out Vtrginian Bourbonism must give
place to young, practical, growing Virginia Repub
11can1Sm Carthage est detendG 5.