The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-17
The Verdict not Complete.

Virginia is known to our readers. The
Democratic party, entrenched in power for
,ears, and with the machinery OF State gov
,rnment to great degree subordinated to
is behests, directed by exper fenced and
killful leaders, has been swept from power
md place by the overwhelming decree OF
he people. 1t had so long been accustomed
% the exercise of authority and to the cue
cess OF its methods of prescription, dennn-
citation and persecution, that confidence was
in its power to perpetuate ils
rule through the same agencies and appeals
which have heretofore served it. The leaders
to heed not, to give bn- ! little Gig
nif1cance to the occasional protests which |
had come from the people to its abuse oil
power. They seemed incapable Of measur-
ing the meaning of the revolt in their own |
and the mutterings Of discon-
tent which came up from the masses. in the
various contests which have occurred with
in the pact five years. Inflated with false
sense OF superiority. because of their un-
challenged authority heretofore blinded
by q selfish ambition that presumed upon
the servile submission OF the rank and file
to party orders, and assuming that all this
meant the absence OF spirit Of manhood
and independence among the people. they
reckoned not upon defeat. but recklessly
rushed into the conf let, armed with the vo-
cabulary of SANDER and vituperation. in
stead OF reason and fact; Of passion and
prejudice. instead Of calm appeal to the
judgment. in the confident belief that
certain victory awaited them. They lis
tened to no warnings-were Indifferent TO
the evidences OF dstrust aud dissatisfaction,
which came from every class and condition
Of society and every interest of the Com
monwealth; but relying upon the methods
and agencies which had in the past car
ried them through safely. they once more
appealed to race prejudices; resorted to
falsehood upon falsehood, and denounced
and tradnced every one as false to State and
country, who did not submit to the despOt-
ism and the mandates of the party mana
gers. But such appeals had lost their force.
The people had been deceived and mislead
before by them. and nerving themselves for
the contest, boldly accepted the challenge
thrown down to them. and won the battle.
The work, however, is net fin ished. The
Governor and the Legislature will have
their duties to perform in carrying into ef-
feet the popular verdict, as far as 1t reaches,
for the present. These they will meet with
hrmness and courage. There will be no
Sinking Of responsibility, for the success
achieved does not mean for this time only.
1t means that the Bourbon element OF the
Democratic party shall never again be adj
vanced to power in the State OF Virginia.
The shackles have been broken, the people
liberated from the thraldom Of the partizan
machinery which heretofore made them
| slaves, and we may reasonably expect that
many vino have cO-operated with the de-
feated faction, through fear Of its proscrip-
tive methods, will now give expression to
their honest views and convictions in their
future alliance with the liberal forces
which so signally trinmphed on the Sth of
November This must be tested in the
spring elections. Every Office of comfy and
city, which is held at the will Of the people,
mnstbe contested. The insolent faction which
has assumed to represent all the virtue, in
telligence and character of the Common
! wealth, aud which denounced every one
who questioned the truth Of this assump-
| ton, must be made to feel the power OF the
al IL bsob
of last week. There should be 40 relaxation
of organization-nO suspension Of endeavor
no dallying with antagonizing interests
no compromise Of position and advan-
tage--but an aggressive, forward move
ment. looking to an utter destruction OF the
relentless power which has been so merci-
lessly welded to the oppression OF the peO-
pie. The whole power conferred by the
verdict of the 9Th inst. should be marshalled
| f-->i-- s..a na.sns,t .nai- +hat
lies in the near future. and the popular con-
! seriousness aroused to the necessity OF car
| rying forward the work the people have
iLaugnrated to a complete and perfect con-
| summation.
Smarting under the disastrous defeat
which has overcome them. the leaders and
their toadies Of the Bourbon faction, have
been breathing out vengeance and slaughter
to all who have been Instrumental in effect
ing their overthrow. Let them understand
| that this kind OF terrorism has been impo-
tent in the past. at least so far as we are
concerned, and will prove so in the future.
The result Of the 9Th is fraught with a
pregnant and far-reaching lesson. and will
inspire with confidence in their own power
the great mass Of the people, whose inter-
ests have been so fearfully abused and
rights disregarded by the faction whose
doom has Just been sealed. Ths delusion
must be exposed that those who constitute
this faction are alone qualified, intellectual
ly and morally, to care for Virginia and her
welfare. The fact must be demOnstra ted
that the bone and siIew OF the country
the wealth creating forces OF a Common
wealth, are equal to the demands of gov
eminent and are capable of directing the
affairs OF State wisely and we'll. The spirit
OF our institutions recognizes no privileged
! ~AN PautCl GU iCWs uut ludC SOFctutuclb Is
designed for the good of the many, and that
| to subserve the purposes of its institution, it
must 80 adminlstered. Let the fact be pro-
claimed everywhere that ia future the Peo-
pie intend TO control Virginia. and not the
little courthouse rings aud partizan ca
balls, which have heretofore prostituted
power to personal ends. and sought to build
up petty pinch-beck aristocracy at the ex-
pense OF the Interests Of the masses.
| The verdict of the 9Th. therefore, was
not complete. 1t was the first important
break in the stronghOlds of the mpudent
| faction that felt SO securely entrenched be-
hind the ruins Of the State. The fight must
and will 60 on, until the truth is recognized
that every citizen has the right to entertain
and express an opinion about public affairs
without being prescribed and prosecuted
as though he were an enemy of society
and Of good government
Two three-stOry buildings in New York
city fell on the Och. killing nine persons.-
Among them were Mrs. Hill and her two
little children--the husband being severely
injured. The children, it was thought, were
suffocated from the dust arising from the