The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-17
New York Tribune Nov. 18th.
The Southern Elections.

The victory Of the Liberal alliance In Virginia is
by far the most important political event of the
year. new force has appeared in the field Of
Southern politics, and 1t has shown itself strong
enough to demolish Bourbonism in the Oldest and
most Intelligent OF the former Slave States. 1t will
no longer to do speak OF this force as move
ment to readiust the debt of single State. The
underlying impulse which gave 1t the capacity of
| otsuch rapid growth has nothing to do with local
financial questions. 1t comes from a profound dis
satisfaction with scheme Of political action which
ties the whole South to the dead Issues of the past
and keeps 1t from reapng the advantages of partici
patng in the march of progress which the Northern
States are making. 1t Is protest against resur-
rectng the ideas OF slavery and rebellion from the
graves to which history long ago consigned them,
and setting them up as objects of worship. 1t is
determination to break down intolerance and pro-
scripton, to welcome free discussion, to secure
liberty OF action at the polls. 1t is declaration
that the ballot of the laborer shall be potent as
that of the landlord and that elections shall record
and give effect to the will Of the majority.
The new movement is led chiefly by young men
Of good education and good families, who feel an
honorable ambition to get their State of the old
ruts Of sectional prejudice and to open for 1t new
era OF social and industrial progress In every
thing but name it is Republican, and it draws the
greater part OF Its vote from the Republican organ
tzation This year 1t takes the form OF coalition
but Its remarkable success cannot fail to weld 1t
into one homogeneous organization by the time 1t is
called upon to enter another contest. Indeed there
Is notnlng 10 Keep apart the Independents who fol-
low Malone and the .kepuDl1cans who voted for
GARFIELD year ago ana Tor cameron last Tuesday.
botn elements are equaiiy the advocates OF free,
fair baliot and an Intelligent progressive policy in
State and National affairs. Nothing seems more
PROBABLE IN the future OF politics Than that the Lib
erals who have won Virginia SO calamity will hold
II ror many years. and throw Its electoral vote for
tho Republican candidate for President in 1885, Thus
the triumph OF the Virginia Republicans and indie
penaen's under the lead OF Senator Malone makes
an important cnange IN the next National canvass.
ine democrats VIII not again count upon the
ennre electoral vote OF the south as securely
oouno ana oeisereo 10 tnem IN advance, and to
concon.rass lne'r enorts upon securing Two or
'nree Nor'nern s'a'es. virginia Is iost TO them
anu .nes Keep sorIn carolina, tennessee and
mississippi tney VIII nave 10 nght Tor them as hard
~ sney iousn' IN INDIANA ana New YORK In 1850.
ino encouraging news pf new departure In the
Soutn "alcn comes from the oid Dominion finds an
0sno =. mafyisnu' "'nou' any e4tfaord1nary
0noi' .uo nopuolioans haVe saineo eign'een mem
oers OF the Legislature IN mat State and thus nave
secured stronger representation In the law-mak-
nooy IMAM tney nave mad at any time during the
PAST twenty years Tneir successes appear TO Dc as
great surprise TO themselves as 70 their opponents