The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-13
The Re-Adjuster Address.
Tuesday,. January A, 1876


The committee to which your Convention entrils5.
ed the affairs of the party deem it proper to submit
such views pertinent TO the situation wlth
some suggestions to TO the future OF your orgahiZa
| ton. s-s.e
II will not be necessary to consider the causes
and influences which led to the defeat OF your eiec-
toral ticket further than to remove any Ialse I'M
pressions which may be entertained as 20 lns so.
OF that defeat upon the great mission Wiiich YOU,
party has assumed. The canses which eoh p ~,
to bring about that result wore peculiar 10 INC
Presidential Struggle, and had their sources ~
influences which eaunot be brought 70 pear IA any
commensurate degree upon field or domeslc con
test questions purely local. The Verd1ce rem
dered by the people the End OF november was IN
no wise direcled the matters at issue ia Virginia
/ between Reimbursement and Funderi5m during
the canvass, those who sought and those VINO gave,
Re-Adjuster votes to the Funder ticket OF electors,
protested that no nun would thereby compromise
allegiance relation to REIMBURSEMENT as aqaes'
Ton Of State politics. And the ut.eIa1Ges y, sno
/, cal profession of modified views concerning She
public debt testify that the result on the "a OF No
vember cannot even be claimed by oar opponents
/ conveying any popular Judgment on those differ
/ ences which existed between us wltaoat
to Electoral tickets and Congressional candidites.
The arguments a nd Inducements by which our Fun-
der opponents secured, Re-adJuster support TOT
their candidates still fresh in the pubic n1nd
They ayowed that the Debt question hao ho,hins 70
do with Federal politics. They declared tnelr Old
1ect to be the assurance OF ylrginlas vote 20 nan
cock, and not a triumph tor Funderisn nor deIeat
to Re-adjustment. The policy OF their coinmtlteeS
their press and their canvassers was 10 ignore al
discussion Of su bjects hitherto and now forming the
hines of division between Funders and Re-ad1usters
and their appeals addressed solely TO the DEM
ocratic sentiment of the State to the preferences o
| majority OF the people of Virginia for Hancock
and TO the prevalent fears OF Repuplcan Victory,
in the presence of two Hancock tickets. Their pur
| pose the former party lines IN VIZ
ginfa and in this, to an extent ana LOT lse lime
being they succeeded; by ostentatous PROFESSIONS
OF indifference State questions, by an
pretense to absorbing solicitude Tor hancock
and Democracy, by invoking the voice ana counte-
nance of Mr. Barnums committee and by pafad1ng
to the apprehension of the people that Republican
electoral ticket,-headed by their late candidate
for the United States Senate,whtch was only III The
field by the rountenance, connivance and encour-
agement Of the Bourbon Fundef managers. For 1t
was not sufficient that means should be devised of
drawing from the Read ulster ticket one element OF
support; and Funder leaders did not scrupie to run
the risk OF sacrifice of their ayowed purposes IN
order furnish to the Republican Junto the acfli
ties for consoi latng the coored vote. Their fear
of Repubiicanlsm only exceled by their ankle
ty that the Saunon ticket should receive the unan-
imous SURFACES of Republicans Their care for
Democracy was only equaled by the fear that GER
tain class of Republicans might be induced to vote
for Hancock electoral ticket. And thus Bourbon
ism owes its apparent victory to dexterous encour
agement of Funder- Republicanism as at once
scare crow and faithful ally; and Fundef- Repub-
lcanism is endebted for its unexpected numerical
strength to the kindly offices OF Bourbon Democrar
cy 1t is characteristic of Funderism that the Re-
publican vote should now be pointed to as confirm
atory OF their predictions when in reality 1t is the
| result of their earnest labors.
The only need for the recitation Of these facts is
the certainty that such again will be the tactics of
our enemies. The names and forces of Bourbon
Democracy and of Funder- Republicanism-p pretend
ed antagonists but real frendswill again confront
in the coming struggle. Butthe important cam
paign on which We are about to enter involves no
matter of allegiance either of the National
parties 1t comprehends no more nor loss than the
government of our affairs, whose adm H.
istration 1t Is the sovereign right of this people,
within the provisions of the Constitution and laws
of the lind, to prescribe and confirm to their will
without let or htndrance from any quarter whatso-
ever. - st-t ,sli y, ftte 'a'f-tHr g
The time for discussing the duty of Re.adiusters
In respect to their electoral ticket has gone by.
Whatever may have been the judgment as to the
policy or impocy of the action of the Convention in
that particular, one thing is CERTAIN: the result OF
the struggle is compact and well-organized nu-
cieus of determined men, upon which, with unbro-
ken confidence in the righteousness of the cause OF
Re-adjustmen and the devotion of the people there
to- may be rallied The inVincibe column of 1879 1t
depends now, as In the past only upon the VIII OF
ReadjuSters whether not Read juStment shall
prevail No matter what contenling forces may be
in the field, under what or how many guises Fun
der1sm may seek Its fate, whether II shall wear the
garb of Bourbonism or of Grip-Sack Republicanism,
or of both, there is only need that Readjusters
should stand firm to command the situation.
That suffer within the hour the loss of that
prestige which success however won, acquires, is
rue but the prestige is little of victory won upon
false issues and absolutely barren Of substantial
fruit Not again until 1884, II ever, the condi
lions be repeated which appealed to Readjusters-
Democratic and Republicdn--white and colered-tO
reinforce Fnnderism There will be here next year
sentiment for Hancock to recruit the following
of false Democracy, and no loyal hope of serving
Garfield under which the colored people may be in
duced Into sacrificing their inclinations to that
Republican15m which Is the right hand OF the
Bourbon-Funders in Virginia. We enjoy not only
the compensation of an organized party yet ready
and willing to deliver battle; but the people
who favor REIMBURSEMENT, a vast majority OF the
people of Virginia of all races, coors, and past par
ty Affiliations, have learned the methods and OBJ
jectS OF the common enemy have detected his dis
guises and weighed his professions anu no
longer and no more to be deceived. In the recent
contest our opponents gained in substance nothing:
the empty formally of casting impotent vote for
candidate already defeated by Bourbonism. We
have gained an important representation in Con- |
gress-where no longer can it be possible for the
honesty OF the people OF Virginia to be called in
this all:
In your party defeat your cause trtumphed. The
programme of Funderism now is the profession of a
readiness TO bring about that settlement OF the debt
hitherto denounced impossible, unfair to Ihe
CREDITOR and disgracefal to the State Could there
be tribute more complete to the wisdom and equ1
ty of former and present ISOLATION to the Debt
quetion? Could there be more emphatic declara- |
ton that In the recent election REIMBURSEMENT was
not on trial and received no communication Could |
there be demonstration more perfect of the lack
of principle with which our opponents have hitherto
treated question involving the rights and inter-
ests of the people of Virginia., more abject sur
render of all claim to public respect public trust
The late champions of obstruction and worshippers
of the power this late day to recognize
Re-adjustment: recognition which neither the |
unanimous convention of 1877, nor the recorded |
vote of 1879, could wiring from them, pours forth in
answer so-calIed Funder victory in 1850 They |
have abandoned the lofty attitude Of dictatorship
so long, so Extensively, disastrousy maintained
turned upon their arrogant assumptions OF mo- |
nopolizing the honor, honesty, and patriotism of |
the commonwealth land now tsacriflcng their own |
oft repeated definition of duty a patent greed for
power and place) they protest that Re adjustment |
is necessity and an honorable duty,-provided, |
that to their determination should be left The meas
ure, method, and execution of REIMBURSEMENT. Do |
the people Of Virginia forget that but for the
Re ad1usters' party their taxess would long ago |
have been doubled to pay six per cent. interest
the whole fraudulent principal Of the Funding Bill
Of 1871? And self-condemnatory as the new depar-
ure Of the Funders is we believe 1t land the history
of that faction from 1871 until now justies the
picion to be merely cloak for another crusade III
behalf of the Brokers and against this people In |
1877 was heard the cry-"We are all Re-adjusters T. |
and again in 1879 The outcome in the one case was
an Executive veto of the Barbour Bill sustained by
the votes Of all the Funder Assemblymen; md the |
result In the other the Brokers Bill, fair
pie of the Reimbursement to be expected from Fun
der statesmen. The Re-adi 'ster party has plat l.
form Of principles applicable to the debt and kin
bred questions, and 10 committed to specific policy
in dealing with them. We ask nothing more than |
that our opponents should show a like confidence |
in the merit of their political aims and the sympa
thy the people. If they really intend to fal5tfy
the open record upon which they have and again
received popular condemnation, let them state |
frankly the grounds upon which they ask conf |
dence now admitted to have been properly denied |
them. II they have any other guar lneeS Oh their re-
gard for the interests II Virginia than the Democr
cy which co-operates with Grip Sack Republicansm
let them avow it, and upon tnisl plea ask Readjus-
ter votes for Funder men and measures.
Butthis committee, in behalf of the organization
1t was created represent in behalf of those Who
even in the Presidential campaign preferred to |
maintain the organization and TO guard the future
OF REIMBURSEMENT cordially invite all Re-adusters
to the fold in which alone they seek with Ger
corded will of the people. We bid them quickly and
unquestioned,t come as brothers, attestng the |
sincerity OF their own professions; TO come they
have always avowed a Willingness and purpose to
come, and to make common cause for Virginia, for
the freedom of men, for the liberties of their chill
dren, for principles, and for interests dear to
us all.
In the next canvass will be at stake the same |
issues for which Re-adiusters successfully strug
ged in 1879, and the most important offices of the
State are 10 be hlled,-important because of the
almost decisive power which their incumbents will
WELD for the veal or OF the people, towards the
triumph or defeat of our cause. United action on
the part of Re adjusterS will be needed to prevent
the control of places OF power by the old enemies
of the people,-the BourbonFunder faction of Vir-
gnia,-the party of abuse, of fntoerance, of pro-
scriptfon,-the party which struggled Tor years in
the face of the popular will to maintain the Fund
ing Bill of 1S7l-the party which is now intent to
seize upon your positions OF trust and influence,
and to use them at the bidding of the Shylocks. =
At the next general election a Governor Lieuten-
and-GovernOr, and Attorney General to be chos
en-. Shall that Governor be the representative of
Funderism-a stumbling block in the way of the
peoples Will Or shall he be a Readjuster, true
and tried, who has already labored and suffer
ed for the people, who has your confidence
by battling for your interests and conforming to
your will, and who stands pledged by record well
as profession to give rest to the veXed question of
the public debt by approving such equitable ADJUST
ment as your representatives shall propose?
Shall that LieutenantGOvernOr preside the
Senate aid In carrying out The measures enacted
by the peoples representatives? Or shall he be
there thwart and oppose by all the power of his
place the highest expression of the will of free
people?
Shall we have an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in accord with
the majority of the people this vital question? Or
one opinions may be delivered in the interest
OF alien spectators and money changers and