Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-11-01
The Danger Of Over. Confidence.


The great danger which threatens thu
success Of the Democratic party in thil
canvass Is over confidence. They rely
upon the merits of their cause and o.
their candidates, and have too much
neglected efficient organization. W.
have Democratic votes enough to elect
our ticket If we get them to the polls,
but votes are Of no value unless they be
cast on the day Of election. See that
every Democratic vote becast. In q re-
cent interview, Gen. Joseph e. john
ston ID reported to have said:
1--WE are in the decided majority with
out doubt. My only fear IL from the
fact of detective organisation on the paft
Of the true people Of Virginia. We
have no leader to organize uP - the Re-
adiusters have in the person Of Malone.
Daniel il the fint man in the State and
has been for years. He IN decidedly the
best speaker In either party. But Of
course he can't do the organizing Of the
masses which 10 necessary. And the
very fact of his excellence ~ q speaker,
and the general superiority Of the Fun
der speakers, IL, fear, source Of dan~
ger. Besides our newspapers Ill say we
are In the majority, ~ we undoubtedly
are, and our very confidence renders
the result doubtful. I know that there
are many men in the State who fought
for four years under circumstances OF
hardship unknown to any European
troops Of modern times, who now, that
the State is threatened by a. great q
danger as ever threatened In war, are
either 90 Indifferent to, or 20 condent
Of the result that they will not 60 to
the polls.
"The Readjusters, on the contrary,
are thoroughly organized. One man
tells them what to do, and they do 1t
lise slaves. What with promises and
fayors already extended Malone ovns
nearly every white Readjuster In the
State. and Of the submissiveness Of the
negro as q voter II IL Unnecessary to
speak. But in Virginia the whites are
more submissive in this campaign than
the blacks"
.sYou consider Readjuster victory .
very severe blow at the welfare Of Wiz.
ginia, I suppose?"
at will be almost fatal. Why that
party has already terribly degraded the
State. The executive power Is greatly
circumscribed in Virginia and the legis-
lative patronage In cotreapondingly
great. Taking advantage OF thiA the
Readjuster Legislature has appointed
some Of the lowest men In the Statat to
office. The most glazing instances Of
this infamy are to be found In the Re-
adjuster appointments to the county
judgeships, which Office has jurisdiction
Of crimes punishable with o. long Pc
Rod of imprisonment ~ fifteen years.
There were deliberate bargains and sales
in these offices, in many cases to men OF
even scandalous character. But they
all became the obedient servants of the
Readjuster dictator, Malone, and he
has them in perfect discipline"
"YOu fear the result then ?"
s'There IL no need of fear IL our people
will organize Themselves and 60 to the
polls" 4
The Richmond State says.
1--WE have said that ii the entire Con-
servative- Democratic vote of the State
Is polled we have no fear of the defeat
of the general ticket, though Malone
mass the strength of his whole black
and white column against us and cast
every ballot he can muster; nor with Q
fall vote Of this kind would we have
any apprehension Of losing the Legis
lature; but there ID the difficulty. In
our strongest counties and districts we
fear apathy on the part Of the people
from oveEsc0nfdence in their local
atrsnsth, and that for this reason they
may not vote, or may neglect the means
necessary to bring out full vote; while
in the counties where Mahope'a strength
principally lies, they may on the other
hand fail to vote or bring out our full
vote because they look upon it q hope
less,
This must be avoided In both cases,
for we must not lose the Legislature
through our inastion or want Of fore
sight and organization, and thereby lose
everything