The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-05-19
How 1t Looks.


secondariAy, to the recognition OF the
masses of the Republican party, as the
force to which is due the success of the
Chicago nominees last fall. 1t is true, the
Republicans of the South did not contribute
single electoral vote to that result. Their
efforts were as earnest, their sacrifices as
great, their courage as intrepid and steady,
and their devotion as unquestioned as the
Republicans of other States could boast,
where the fruitions were more assured, but
where the difficulties and Instructions to
the expression of the popular will were
less pronounced. Here in Virginia the Or
ganization of the party was almost perfect,
and but for the treachery of some and the
distrust of Others, who were so situated as to
be able to control the agencies and influ-
ences which should have operated to our
advantage, the electoral vote of Virginia
would have been cas- for Garfield and Ar
thur. Had the friends of the Chicago NOM
inees been believed, and not their enemies
had the brave and dauntless Republicans
of Virginia received the sympathy and en-
couragement of those whose duty it was to
extend sympathy and encouragement instead
ofextendng material aid and support to their
enemies, Virginia would have been enrolled
in the Republican column. For the failure
to do so, the Republicans of the State are
hot responsible. They made gallant fight,
unaided by speech or purse from abroad.
absolutely astonished their opponents
here, and excited the surprise of their
friends elsewhere at the strength they ex-
posed and the splendid record they made
Their failure. therefore, to deliver the cleo
toral vote of the State for the Chicago nomi-
nees, under the legislative restrictions
which operated against them, and the pre-
conceived conspiracy to deceive and cheat
them, entitled them no less to the confidence
of the administration than the Republicans
of those States more fortunately situated.
BY reason of this record we had the right
to claim every consideration that has been
given to the Republicans of other States,
and it was the duty of the administration to
recognize the claim and give it the practical
acknowledgment that was accorded to 9th.
er States.
We were, however, met at the threshold
of the new administration by an anoma.
lous complication. An orphan Democratic
faction in the State had succeeded, through
Republican votes, in electing to the United
States Senate an active and earnest sup.
| $50 81. ~
out political home or patty friends in the
body to which he had been chosen to repre-
sent the State, and quietly awaiting some
fortuitous development that would justify
him in locating himself, he was viciously
assaulted by one of the professional Demo-
cratic gladiators Of the South, and forced in
self-defence, to precipitate declaration OF
sentiments which at once struck a sympa-
thetic chord in the Republican party, and
attracted to him friends in that organiza-
ton. His subsequent votes were in accord
with the announcement he had made, that
he could not politically cooperate or ass O.
ciate with the Bourbon Democracy. A line
was drawn, and, Democrat though he de.
clared himself to be, he took his seat on
the Republican side, and this drew down
upon him the wrath and fury of the entire
Democrat party of the country. We sympa.
thized with and admired the bold and cour-
the valor with which he defended it, for he
was equal to the trying emergency and &C
quilted himself in each of his encounters
with cOnsummate tact and ability. Had he
stopped right there and rested upon the
moral force of his pOsition-simply stood
by his convictions and thus demonstrated
that twas from patriotic considerations alone
that he had chosen his course, he would
have presented one of the most attractive
characters that has challenged the admira-
ton OF the country for many years.
He did not do so. He advanced, and his
advance was in the direction of the flesh
pots. By some mysterious political alchemy
his especial political favorites turned up
as the Republican caucus nominees for two
OF the most important and potential offices
in the gift Of the body in which he had the
determining vote. Not satisfied with this, and
forgetting the dignity of his high position,
he entered into scramble for the small post
offices of the State, where the emoluments
are not attractive or worth considering. Re-
publicans and Democrats had to give way
at his request to the faithful of the Read
| justers. 1t was sent abroad that the pa
tronage of the government in Virginia
was to be under his control, and in veri-
f1cation of this the decapitated post
masters were pointed to, as much as to say
to all Federal Office holders, take warning
Those who had voted against and bitterly
opposed the Chicago nominees; who had
never cast Republican vote ; who declared
that they did not intend to become identi-
fled with the Republican party. were
pushed to the front for recognition by an
administration they did all they could to de-
feat, and those who had proven their devo-
ton to the Republican cause by exposing
themselves to denunciation. prescription and
ostracism, that few have the nerve to en-
| dure. thrust aside. This greed for pay
and place does not comport with the moral
and higher aspect of the case as pre-
sented on the Senate floor. 1t has aroused
suspicion that it is patronage, as much as
principle that is at the bottom of it,and that
Republican sympathy will have been poorly
expended when the final rendering of ac-
counts is made. The declared object is to
build up an independent Re-adjuster party
from Republican patronage, given exclu-
sively to Democratic Re-adjusters, and Re-
publican votes The rank and file renounce
all thought of affiliating with the Repubi-
can party or adopting its nomenclature or
methods. They must be trusted to work
out the redemption of the South from
Bourbon rule, in their own way, but never
through Republican ways, or under the
auspices of the Republican party. Demo-
Gratis must be strengthened by Republican
patronage and Republican numbers, and
Democrats must receive all the credit and
all the favor such results might bring, while
the Republicans must content themselves
with the patriotic reflection that 5000
strong, they have surrendered uncondi-
tionally to 81, 900 of their political enemies