Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-11-16
VIRGINIA ELECTION.
Comments Of the Press.

campaign by the democratic party
of this State against the unfair and
illegal adjustment by force OF the
debt OF this State ended on Tues
day last by a democratic defeat. 1t
is result produced by Coalition
Of portion Of that party with, for
the most part. the more ignorant
portion of the Republican party.
But while that defeat is sufficiently
pronounced to make it unwistaka-
bic in party point of view 1t is
hardly to be expected that it has
settled the question at issue. From
the hustings the struggle will be
transferred to the courts, State and
Federal, and the wronged creditors
are not likely to give Virginia lest
now or hereafter.
So much for the debt settlement.
The political results of the defeat
will be numerous. An addition Of
one to the voting power OF the Re-
publicaDs in the United States Sen
ate is to be one OF them. An al
most entire change Of the members
of the Court OF Appeals is another;
and the redistricting of the con
gressional districts OF the State so
as to give four instead of seven
democratic members. is a third.
All these things our democratic
brethren must prepare to accept
with their defeat with philosophlc
resignation. They have nothing to
reproach themselves with. They
have fought the political combina-
ton backed and openly aided By a
republican national administration
with cffice ard money. The odds
were against them and they have
behaved with a courage and devo-
ton OF which they can always be
proud, 1t there is any shame IN
this conflict is to be borne by the
national republican party which has
through its administration aided in
the subyersion in Virginia OF the
chief of republican principles. For
this the party will be held to a
strict accountability by the nation
And new that the election is past,
let us all. of both parties, at once
put aside It's bitterness and bury
| its animosities. While the demo-
Gratis failcd in their effort to save
the credit OF the State, they have
yet the power 20 aid in adding to
her prosperity; so let us all adj
dress ourselves 10 that patriotic
work. let rccriminaiions cease,
let us discard politics as the only
Legitimate subject OF conversation,
and let lis get back TO the point
once more when 4 man can be a
tunder, readjuster, democrat or re-
publican without that fact beng
sufficient to warrant his neighbor,
who doesn't agree with him, re-
carding him as 4 personal enemy.
Virginia has suffered enough from
political excitement.-- indicator.
For months we have been in the
throes OF maddened political ex
element. In many instances i'll
feelings have been engendered;
neighbor has fallen out with or
looked askance at neighbor, because
there was IA lack of political accord.
In the light of calm reason and the
full play Of common sense, this will
apper the extreme Of folly. Shake
hands all around. Agree TO disa-
gree in manly and generous way,
and resolve that the time has come
when our personal interests need
our attention. Let US turn our at
tention TO the development of orr
mother State. Let lis now hear OF
new railroads, new mines of coal
and iron. rev manufacturing in
dustries and the development Of all
kinds of industrial enterprises
Turn to your own interests Tor
awhile and let politics 60 to the
dogs Old Commonwealth.
We announce with feelings of
sorrow and shame the success of
the coalition party of this State
Although the democratic party at
the outset was confronted with a |
majority of 10000 by the union OF
the Mahonite and republican forces, |
and although the immense patron.
age and influence OF the Federal
government was thrown into the
scales on the side of the coalition
isis, we expected tfat a proper
regard Tor decency and a knowl-
edge that the the courts at last
were the only arbiters upon ques-
tons affecting the rights Of credi-
tor and debtor. would finally bring
victory to our standard, borne as
it was by the peerless Daniel.
We confess that we can see but
little else in store for the people of
Virginia than trouble by the result
OF the election. With the office of
governor and the Legislature in the
hands OF the readjusters, a party
bent upon endeavoring TO make a
forcible settlement of the debt, we
shall find, when the time for the
next election comes around, that we :,
IRE 10 nearer a settlement than we :
we're two years ago.