The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-01


Republican party of the country; in JUS
ice to the adm inistration of President Ar
,hur; and in justice to self-respect, the Re-
publcans of Virginia. who have given the
control of the State to the Re-adjusters,
cannot go further. They must respect
fully yet firmly insist that the Republican
element in the coalition be recognized, and
in the only way that will meet
the case. by the election of a Republican
United States Senator to succeed Hon. j.
W. Johnston. Good faith demands it, for
Moth ng was more clearly understood dur
ing the canvass than that the success OF the
Cameron ticket would be followed by the
election of Republican United States
Senator. Political sagacity demands it.
for if fairness and justice are not observed
In Virginia, all hope may be at once aban-
doned of extending the policy further
Justice to the Republicans of the country
and to the national administration demands
it, because of the sympathy extended. and
the success achieved by reason thereof. Not
to respect these considerations would con-
stitute an act of treachery that would be
frowned upon and denounced everywhere
and by everybody. where the facts were
understood.
We have no personal feeling in this mat
ter nor personal ends to accomplish. So
far as Capt. Riddlebarger is concerned, he
has no warmer personal friend and admirer
than the writer of these lines. No one has
watched his career with more interest or
noted the development of his remarkable
abilities with more satisfaction. We
should like to see his ambition gratified,
when it can be done without great injustice
to the Republicans of Virginia and the
country. Nor is it because of the friendly
personal relation between Mr.. Lewis and
ourselves, that We urge the ELECTION OF Re-
publican Senator. 1t is because it is right
and just to the Republicans of Virginia.
that Republican Senator should be chosen
that we urge it, whether the person chosen
be Mr.. Lewis or another of equally pro-
nounced Republican convictions and iden-
tity. Nothing short of this will satisfy
the Republicans of Virginia, the Republic
cans of the country and the friends of the
national administration and we hope the
dominant party in the Legislature will re-
cognize the force OF the views We have pre-
sented, the wisdom of the policy suggested,
and the obligations of good faith which rest
upon those who constitute its legislative
power Not to do so would be an unpar-
donable blunder. for 1t would destroy the
present and future usefulness Of a political
power that wisely handled, is destined to
revolutionize Southern politics, destroy
the influence OF Bourbonism and liberate
the people from the yoke Of the intolerable
party despotism which has pressed them
down for ten years.
The evidence must be given, however,
that liberal professions mean some
thing else than the attainment of Office for
Democrats through Republican strength
1t must have threaded through its elements
of justice and good faith, and mere office
must be sub rdnated to consideration OF a
policy, the observance OF which is essential
to the future success of vital principles. The
whole land and scheme so wisely engi-
neered in Virginia will fall to pieces, if the
faith upon which it is predicated be VIC
lated in the frsr a,psh of victory. 1t was
infdelity to plighted faith that destroyed
the Conservative party of Virginia. and it
will destroy any party or faction which
prostitutes moral obligations tn mercen airy
greed. We voice the sentiment and eonvics
ton Of the Republicans of Virginia, when
we declare that they will submit to no snch
injustice. and We speak for the Republic
cans Of the country, when we state that it
was not to give to q few Democrats Office
and power, that Republ lean support and
Republican sympathy were extended to
what was believed to be a liberal political
movement in this State. Republicans have
shown their fai tn by their works in the con
test just past. They xmtisr bt' nscsSin- ke
spirit, and when justice and fairness are
melted out, they will bear testimony in their
future action to the fidelity with which they
will meet duty and defy opposition.
We know What we say, when we state
that the Republicans Of the \ orth are
watching with interests the results. of the
victory that the Republicans of Virginia
gave the Re-adiusters. We know that those
who gave them aid in every way requested.
will consider it an act of bad faith not to
recognize the Republican, and the much
larger element in the coalition, that won
the success, and we know that the Republic
cans of the Observation-Disclosures as to all
State matters and willing to eGncede to
the Democratic side all they ask as to these
expected a reeogn ition. as to
the United States Senate. without eontrO-
versy or contention, and expect it when
the Legislature meets.
We should have preferred not to have
made allusion to this subject through these
columns, holding to the belief that the tacit
of the matter would be prop
erly carried opt when the Legislature met,
and that would have been orr course but
for the interviews sent out. through Repub-
lican papers. from New York to prepare
public sentiment for the election of Dem
ocrat to the Senate, and by reason of that,
placing the Republican party and the Re-
publican administration at the mercy of two
Demaeretic Senators, elected by Republi-
crn votes. yet acknowledging obligations to
neither Democrats nor RekubIcaps, nor to
any constituency holding close organized
relations to either national organization.
10 carry ont such programme would vio-
late the understandingIof the recent State
canyags and constitute fragrant and indie
fensibie act Of bad faith, which it is the du-
ty OF Republicans to protest against just as
publicly as the proposition has been pre-
sented.
The taik CT the Bourbons about this portion !
Of the State is anything to beat John F. Lewis
Tor the Senate. This does not ioOi1 much like |
Mr.. Lewis was arranging coalition with them /,
Probably no man in Virginia would be more
politically to the ring managers of
'he Bourbon Dem ocracy than Mr.. Lewis 1t
IS known that he is not only 3 Republican,
out Readjuster Republican. and one Of the |
j rst who eyer proclaimed for reimbursement |
y the State debt. He was q Re-adjuster be-