The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-06
Address ofthe Republican Committee

Address ofthe Republican Committee
we publish. IS part OF The political his
tory vi the times and of the complications in
Virginia the address of the Republican
State Central Committee OF Virginia, of
which James w : Cochran is chairman. 1t
Is a connected and correct statement of the
transpirancies at Lynchburgin August last,
and intelligently details the causes of the
division that occurred on that occasion.
The invocation of the address to the Re
publicans Of the State to give the weight of
no official authority to the Committee cre-
ated by the Opera House assemblage, was
unnecessary, and especially to those to
whom the appeal is made. So lightly do
we regard this phase OF The relations OF fac
tions and parli les that we have not deemed
1t necessary to discuss or even to refer to it.
in the progress of the canvass. The mere
ambition for official prominence and recog-
tion-for personal mention in connection
with political organizations and contests,
has been the bane of the Republican party
prominent members of that organization,
have learned nothing and care to learn
nothing from experience. We certainly
shall not contribute to the confus ion which
already exists and the arrangement threat
ened 10 the Republican party, by endeavor-
ing point out the legitimacy or illegitimacy
Of one or the other of the committees. Such
matters can be attended to when their DIS
cussion may not endanger pending can
vass. There are live, practical issues in this
contest which it is the duty Of every Re-
publican to support whether he recognizes
the Rives Committee or the Cochran Com
mittee. As to this latter Republican may
differ. AS to the former we cannot see how
1t Is possible for them to do so, for some OF
the questions presented are just as funda-
mental with the Republican party of the
country as any other, and others just as es-
sential to the welfare of Virginia as any
that could be we'll conceived.
As declaration of principles the plat
form incorporated in the address is the
measure Of our political faith. One of the
ticket in the field to represent it. We were
anxious to have a full and fair expression
OF opinion from the people of Virginia on
the debt question, and the duty of the State
to meet squarely her obligations. We did
all we could to shape the canvass to that
end; but in this we were not successful.
While we did not and do not regard the
election of either ticket now before the
people, as in any degree affecting the
rights of the creditors as determined by the
courts, yet we we're anxious to have the
voters Of the State to pass upon it favora-
bly,. 80 as to give assurance that good faith
was to be preserved, to the end that the
credit of the Commonwealth might be re-
established and the people be placed in q
position to receive all the advantages and
benefits such popular declaration would
have assured. That this is not the relation
of the canvass is no fault of those who
sympathize with the Convention fol
which the address speaks. II is not oul
purpose to consume time and attention in
expressing regrets over what might have
before US. The platform of the Republican
party is just as demonstrative and emphat
ic on other questions as it is upon that Of
the debt. 1t declares for the public school
system and demands its efficient operation
through the utilization of every dollar thai
clares for manhood suffrage and the reno
val OF the restriction placed upon it by the
Conservative party, for the purpose of dis
franchising those whom the Constitution a.
adopted In 1869, in obedience to the laws O
Congress and the National Constitution, de
Itdeclares against the whipping post law ,ant
the insidious methods of cruelty and wrong
which find detailed provisions in the crimi.
nal law, designed to disfranehise for par
titan purpose and not for the conservation
of government and the order and security
of society.
These demands are just as clearly an(
emphatically made in the Lynchburg plat.
form as that in respect to the public debt
and they are equally binding upon the par
ty that made them.
Upon every one of these propositions W.
are sntagonized by the Bourbon faction O
the Democratic party, and yet the implica
tions OF the resolutions adopted by the
Committee which Issued this add ress, arr
clearly In favor of this faction, especially
when taken in connection with the an
nouncement of the author of them that HI
intends 20 support the Daniel icket.
We assume that no Republican can either
directly or indirectly give aid to the Daniel
Barbour and McKenny ticket, without as
"a ling the platform adopted by the Repub
licans in Convention at Lynchburg. and in.
corporated into this address. Republicans
who fail to vote, or vote for Daniel will be
guilty Of attacking the formally declared
principles OF their party, and must find
some other excuse for such action than in
devotion to the Republican party.
But there are other interests to be consid-
cred in this canvass than those which relate
toa mere party platform. 1t is well enough
for Republicans to adhere to their platform
as nearly as possible, and to do this it is
plaiEly their duty to support the ticket
which is opposed to that at the head OF
which stands Maj. Daniel. The public
schools have in that faction of the Conser-
vative party known as Re-adjusters, active
and effective friends, while opposition to
them-much of it modified or suppressed
Of late because of the drift of public opin-
ion in regard to the school SYSTEMS found
alone in the Bourbon faction. Under the
rule Of this faction the whole public school
system was threatened-the number OF
schools diminished, and every interest OF
them made to suffer. At one time the
Bourbon press of Richmond teemed with
ably written communications denouncing
the entire system as vicious and agrarian,
and its adjustment demanded by public
policy. The Governor of the State, in a
formal message, designated education as a
s.luxury,'' to be INDUCED like any other
luxury, and only by those whose plethoric
- Id III oh, 70, t,oir