The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-29

their defeat. The people OF this country are
in no humor for the manifestation of such an
indefensible partizan spirit and reckless disre-
gard of popular opinion and the fitness of
things They may elect Democrat to pre-
side over the Senate, but should they do SO,
they may safely count on being buried under
an avalanche of popular contemplated disgust
that will defy all future efforts to resurrect
theni
But if they could deliberately plan to steal
the Presidency through such bold, daring
and wicked fraud as the Morey letter, what is
it that they would stop at, if power and
place were assured? They assume that the
American people are insensiblc to such out
RACES and wrongs, and learn nothing by expo
sure and failure. While there would he moth
ing openly corrupt or in violation of law in
the election of a Democratic presiding officer,
there would be a gross disregard of public
sentiment as expressed at the ballot box
F., and the representative principle of our insti-
tutions. We are inclined to think, however,
that the more conservative element of the par
ty will. at the proper time, signify dissent
from the suggested programme, and that such
man as Senator Anthony will be chosen TO
fill the chair vacated by Vice President Ar
thur. We hope the Republicans will be
party to no dilatory movements or fillibuster-
ing tactics-that they will respect the occa-
sion and the circumstances surrounding-and
be content in recording their protest to such
proceedings should they be instituted, by the
votes they may cast when the test comes They
are fairly entitled to the presiding officer, and
if the Democrats SO far forget the proprieties
of the situation to take advantage of the as
sassins work and of providential occurrences,
the responsibility will be with them and will
be fearfuly impressed by the indignant reproof
of an outraged public feeling.
Since writing the above we see statement
that on the cars going to Mentor, Democratic
and Republican Senators discussed the organ
ization of the Senate fairly. Senators Ed
munds and Garland entered upon an arrange
ment, as follows: That Senator Anthony, or
some other conservative Republican be elected
president pro tenn; Democrat be chosen as
Secretary; the present sergeant alarm re-
tanned in his place, and the committees stand
as they are.
The Conservative Democrat of the 21st refers
to the VIRGINIAN, and intimates that its course
in this canvass is controlled by mercenary and
purely selfish considerations Weare satisfied
that the editor does not believe what he says
He well knows that with the issues now before
| the people, the VIRGINIAN could consistently
maintain no other position than it has taken.
1t is confession of weak cause when the
leading writers of party have to resort to
the methods of political warfare which are
now being employed by the Democrats, and
Maj. Glass reflects no credit upon his intelli.
gence or fairness by the discourteous manner
in which he has chosen to refer to the VIR-
GlNrAN and its senior editor. Unless we have
Maj. Glass he will see the propriety of cor
recting the false statement made. If he had
legitimate argument to make to convict us of
inconsistency, or of being controlled by i'm
proper influences, it would not be subject OF
complaint tor him to use 1t and for us to
confront and refute it. But it is not our I'M
derstanding of the duties of the journalist to
assail the motives of others without cause
or array epithet against epithet and accusa-
ton against accusation, without some known
and positive facts to justify and demand it.
We have other use for our columns and high
er duties to our readers to command our
time and labor, and we leave that kind of dis
putation to those whose tastes make it congo
NAL and whose conception Of journalism cor
respond Herewith.