The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-13
sTAUNTON, VA.
Re-Adjuster Address.

md for the information OF our readers the |
he Re-adiusters State Central Committee
o the exclusion of our usual variety of ed
torial matter. There are some statements
Ind propositions in the paper which we APP
prove and some that we do not approve
50 far as the criticisms of the other wing of
The Democratic party are concerned. we
have no disposition to dissent. except as to
the degree that an understanding was
the Funders, or Bourbons, and the Repub-
licans in the recent Presidential campaign
There is not single fact to sustain any such
On the contrary the bitterest
methods ever resorted to by faction to
misrepresent and falsely accuse a political
opponent were awaited OF by the Bourbons
to prejudice the public mind and infame
the passions OF the people against the Re-
publcaus and their candidates. Not only
was the Republican, vote ofS4. 600 marshalled
to the polls, in the face OF this storm of defa-
nation and falsehood By the Rourbons, but
less pronounced opposition. of Gen. Malone
and his faction. And had it not been for
the treachery OF few outside Republicans.
mislead by false representations of the
strength of both the Republicans and the
Re-adjusters, the electoral vote of Virginia
would have been cast for Garfield whom
Gen. Malone and his friends permitted to
be heralded to the people as liar. scoun-
drel and perjured thief. without defending
him, when the record was at their command
TO thrust the ISLANDERS down the throats of
the miserable defamers who mouthed them
The Republicans of Virginia maintained
their cause and their candidates against the
combined opposition Of the Democracy of
but aiming at the same end-the cleo
ton Of Hancock-and against the reckless,
unprincipled and slanderOus assaults OF the
Bourbons and the sapping and mining of
the Re-adjusters. Their canvass was con-
Quoted pu ely upon the principles and pol
icies of their party and in support of the
candidates the National Republican Con-
yention had presented, without collision.
understanding or connivanee with the Bour-
bons or Re-adiusters. and in the face OF the
pronounced and uncompromising antago-
nism of both. There is therefore not a
particle of ground for the assumption o.
this address. that ''their tthe Bourbon 81
care for Democracy was only equalled by
the fear that a certain class Of Republicans
might be induced to vote for a Hancock
electoral ticket" meaning the Re-adjuster
ticket. land that thus Bourbonism owes its
apparent victory to the dexterous manage
ment of Funder-Republcan as at once a
scare-crow and faithful ally and Funder
Republican is indebted for its unexpected
numerical strength to the kindly offices OF
Bourbon Democracy Both wings of the
Democracy claimed to be the simon pure
Democratic party, and both sought the re-
one by positive endorsement and the other
by demanding 'smasterly inactivity on
the part of Barpum and his Committee.
and both were faced and antagonized by
the Republican party. Gen. Malone had be-
come so inflated with his success in the con-
test Of 1879 through the assistance of Re-
publicans, that he magnifed his influence
and power to the extent that he held al
least &c, 600 Republicans at his command, to
use them as clay in the potter's hands. The
ftl,o - hi h ic
mistake, and it will likely be demon
strated again. with Republican organiza-
ton and ticket in the field for State pur-
poses. The Presidential campaign. at its
closing hours, exposed the uses he desired
so make of Republicans, by carrying them
into his wing of the Democratic party to
elect the Democratic Hancock electors. In
view of his failure then and the facts OF that
canvass it is going bow-shot beyond pru-
dence for him to assert that the Republican
vote was the result of eonnivance with
Bourbons, or of any other cause than devo-
zion to the Republican party.
So far as he assails the methods and the
policy of the Fnnder wing of the Demo-
he commends the administration of State
affairs. by the various State officers elected
by the Re-adjusters of the Legislature, we
agree with him. We have no hesitancy in
saying that we believe Mr. Massey is the
most efficient Auditor of Public. Accounts
Virginia has had within our remembrance,
and that the Superintendent of the Peniten-
tiary and the Second Auditor are entitled
to equal praise. They have administered
the affairs of their respective departments
with consummate skill, courage and ability
and are entitled to the thanks OF the people
of the Commonwealth irrespective OF party.
In like manner does the line of thought
presented respecting the modification OF
legislation eaacted for partizan purposes
and in disregard of the plighted faith OF the
people of the State, as well as the spirit
and intent of the national constitution and
laws. call for commentator. Whatever
may have been the sympathy of the author
of this address, at the time, with the spirit
and purpose which effected this legislation,
we recognize in his present attitude and
utterances policy which looks to a correc-
tion of the wrongs thus inflicted, and an
atonement for the injustice done. There
will never be peace in Virginia until this is
done, nor will the people of the State COM
mand the respect of the intelligence and
moral worth of the country until they have
declared their purpose, through legislative
sanctions, to carry out in good faith their
pledges. and conform their laws and insti-
tutions to the supreme law of the land. The
canker at the heart of the Conservative
party was this very infidelity to plighted
faith, and the death of that organization
may be the more directly traced to this
source than any other. 1t demonstrates
that no party can have healthy permanent
existence which does not observe moral
obligations. and carrying the similitude
farther, that no party can ever establish it
self In the abiding confidence of the people
that is not founded on principles OF right
and Justice. To the degree that the Re-
adiusters propose to take from the credi-
tors that which in equity belongs TO them
will they commit similar error to that the