The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-14
The Dispatch and Mr.. Lewis.

Lewis" From it we infer that the Dis
patch is very anxious for the Republicans Of
Virginia to give an undivided support to the
coalition ticket, with the assurance, II it
should be successful, that the reward would
be a Republican United States Senator
from Virginia. Did we think as the Dis
patch argues, our objection to the fusion
would be very much modified. for then We
could hope for some compensation for the
sacrifice asked. But we do not see it in that
light. 1t is not to further the interest Of Re-
| publicans that the coalition is asked. but of
Democrats. This is amply verified by the
history of the Re-adjusters to date. Should
the Legislature to be chosen this fall be
composed Of majority OF Republicans and
Democratic Re-adjusters, the choice of
United States Senator would be almost GER
tain to centre upon Riddleberger or Mas
sey, or in the event Of Cameron's defeat,
upon him, and not upon Lewis, for he is to
be treated as mere cats paw to pull the
chestnuts out of the fire for the Democrats
to crack. A majority of the fusion candi-
dates for the Legislature will be Democrats
for according to the rule established by the
Re -adiusters it would not do to drive offthe
Democratic Re-adjusters in Republican
counties by requiring them to vote for
Republican, and it would not 90 in counties
where the Re-adjusters have a majority to
support Republican, for the Democratic
vote could not be commanded by him. In
both Republican and Re- atljuster counties
it will be urged that the necessity of Sc
curing the Democratic votes will COM
pei the support of a Democratic candi-
date, and so the result will be Democratic
Legislature elected through Republican
votes. What chance Mr.. Lewis would have
to be elected to the United Senate under such
circumstances, it does not require a very
astute politician to determine, especially
when the history Of the Re-adjuster party
in State and Federal politics is considered
This is a conjectdral conclusion from con-
jectural premises. We proceed to some
thing nearer fact, and to refute the impu-
tation the Dispatch casts upon Mr.. Lewis
while Senator from Virginia. In the first
place the Legislature that elected him was
itself pledged to truer Repnblcanism
than the Republicans themselves. 1t was
pledged to carry into effect every provision
of the Constitution OF the United States as
amended-its success was due to the sup
port of Republican administration and
Republican votes, and was as fully and COM
pletely committed to Republican principles
and Republican policy as was the Republi-
can party of any State. Mr.. Lewis was
detected as a Republican. he continued a
Republican and voted with the Republicans.
When the party which elected him forswore
Its own pledges and fastened to the en-
brace of as bold atreachery as was ever prac-
ticed in the history of the politics of the
country, hedeclined to go with it, but stead
lastly adhered to the faith he prOfessed
when elected. No one was unwittingly de-
ceived in Mr.. Lewis. Those who chose to
deceive themselves were deceived and none
others, for there was not man in the State
who did not know that Mr.. Lewis was Q
Republican at the time he was chosen to the
Senate. aegs'
Says the Dispatch: "Recoilect that Mr..
Lewis was elected Lieutenant Governor in
1869, and Immediately afterwards to the
Uaited States Senate. We all know of
course that THAT powder has been burned"
as Mr.. Lincoln used to say, and that it will
never catch fire again /; but Mr.. Lewis is Of
n different opinion. We all know, too, that
/ ho oh m Uni, -
that character aid in the good work Of Sc
curing to Virginia her right to representa-
ton in Congress that time withheld
from her not only unjustly, but in violation
of the Constitution OF the United States !;
but that instead Of manifesting sympathy
with his constituents he acted from the
time he got into the Senate until he was
turned out as if he had been the represen-
tative Of Massachusetts or Illinois and not
a Virginia Senator, and therefore that the
people of Virginia " III never again give him
an office"
This is pure and simple SANDER. Vir-
GINA never had more faithful and atten-
tive representative in the United States
Senate. nor one freer from partizanism.
When questions affecting the policy and
principles of the Republican party were at
issue he voted with the Republicans. When
matters were to be looked after, or interests
to be subserved, affecting his constituents.
Mr.. Lewis was ever ready and willing to
serve them, as hundreds of Democrats in
the State could testify, If called upon. He
has never had any sympathy or liberation
for the malignant sentiments uniformly
uttered by the Dispatch, but in his course as
Senator he fairly and honestly reflected
the pledges Of the people Of Virginia, given
in the canvass which chose the Legislature
that elected him.
1t is not to oppose Mr.. Lewis election to
the United States Senate that we oppose
the coalition which he favors. and with
| which his Eame is connected. 1t is because
we feel certain that no such result will
follow. 1t is the same treacherous game
chat was played in 1869, with that part Of it
omitted, which is to be played again it the
Republicans of Virginia allow themselves
to be deluded into this specious scheme.
1t is a plot to destroy the Republican party,
and create upon its ruins another mongrel
political organization, controlled by Dem
rats and run in the interests of the DEM
ocratic party so soon as it shall feel ell
trenched in power by the patronage that
success would give it. 1t is for such reasons
that we warn the Republicans of Virginia
against these gift-bearing Greeks, who are
aiming to capture the Republican forces of
the State, and through them the patronage
OF the State, in all OF the departments of
government, and when that is accomplished
the Republicans will be treated just as they
were in 1869. II that, or some similar mo-
tive is not moving now, and the Re-adjus-
tors are sincere in their professions for lib
erai legislation and justice to Republicans
We cannot understand why they cannot
unite with the National Republican party
of the country which represents every pro-
gressive thought and salutary principle that
is now pushing the nation on in career of
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