The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-15

OF 1869, has been violated in imposing the
capitation tax restriction upon the ballot,
in instituting the whipping-post and the
petty larceny acknowledgements, and in the
of the public school system,
the very hope Of the country; in refusing
to provide for meeting the honest demands
upon the State from her creditors in de-
prving our charitable institutions of their
needed revenues to care for the insane,
and condoning wrongs and wrong-doers. to
the great shame Of the State that the party
might not be injured
1t is well enough for the people-the tax
payers, to have their attention drawn to
the issue as presented by the State. 1t is
in no sense party matter. but something
that comes home directly to the pockets of
the people, irrespective of party, and ap-
peals to their sense OF right ana justice. Is
it desired by them that the efficient. fear
less and panstaking First Auditor shall be
displaced and some party hack some
broken down politician, or seedy relict of a
decayed aristocracy, be ordered to succeed
him? Is it desired by them that the Second
Auditors Office, in which has been exposed
by the present incumbent frauds that were
committed upon the State through the I'M
cancelled coupons, be removed that sup
pie tool of machine politics be installed !?
Is it desired by them that the Penitentiary
Storekeeper be removed. to make way
for a party instrument. after he has discov-
cred and exposed defalcation of his pred
ecessor to the amount of 100000? Is it de-
sired that the present Superintendent of
the Penitentiary be removed. who has so
administered the affairs of that in stitution
as to save to the people at least $4,000 an
nually? Is it desired to change the officers
and administration which have brought the
Public Schools up almost from stagnation
to healthy, live and useful institution, land
placed them upon advancing grounds, and
given to our asylums the necessary means
to meet the beneficent objects of their Gre
alton?
We do not believe the people want such
changes to be made, nor do we believe they
will lend themselves, either directly or
indirectly to bring about such change,
twelve years" of the rule of what is
called the real people" Of Virginia, brought
almost every important interest to the verge
of ruin. An assumption Of virtue and in
telligence is paraded as the reason why the
change should be made, but when the real
people look at the facts and realize the
truth. they will readily understand and 50
declare that the blatant politicians are not
the real people after all, and that it is to
the interest of all that faithful and efficient
public servants should not be prescribed at
the command and in the interest of ma.
chine politicians.
Capt. H. H. Riddleberger.
The concerted movement inaugurated
here in the Valley to weaken the influence
and compromise the character of Capt. H
Fl. Riddleberger, will not have the effect
desired. The published charge that he at
tempted to ridicule Hon j. w. Daniel be-
cause of the effects of wound he received
in war, is sufficiently met by Capt. r. to
relieve all impartial minds of an impression
that his remarks were made as ridicule in
the sense it is sought to make them. Capt.
Riddleberger himself has been the object of
the sharp shafts of almost every Democratic
speaker who has taken the stump in this
campaign, and all of his public acts and
votes. and all the inconsistencies of which
he has ever been guilty. have been brought
prominently to the attention of the public
1t was in response to this kind of assault
that he attempted to describe the attitude OF
Maj. Daniel, in presenting two colored
speakers to Lynchburg audience in 1879,
approaching the platform with one on each
side of him and speaking words compliment
tary of them. because they were working
in the interest of the Democratic party. He
simply attitudenized the scence as near as
possible, so as to convey an impression to
his hearers of the picture that was there pre-
sented. He by 70 means intended to ridi-
Guile John w. Daniel because OF his wound,
but because he, Democrat, had placed
himself between two prominent colored
men, ON public platform,as a means for po-
lical effect, and to influence votes doubt
less of the race to which these two men be-
longed.
While we have no taste for this kind of
it IS not unreasonable that
when one side INDUCES in it, the other
should do likewise. We do not believe that
Maj. Daniel himself would construe the
speech of Capt. Riddleberger as personally
when all the circumstances of its
delivery are considered, and We are sure
nothing was further from Capt r S. mind
than to be offensive, in the sense it is at
tempted to make his remarks We think
it was unfortunate that any allusion. by
word or action, except in honorable men,
ton, should have been made to the manned
limb of Maj. Daniel. But public speakers,
in the warmth of defamation, do..not always
do and say precisely what they would do
and say under less exciting surroundings.
The effort to comfort the incident referred
to into purpose on the part of Capt. Rid
dleberger to make light of Maj. Dan el's
honorable wounds, will not be accepted as
fair and honorable by fair and honorable
men. 1t has all the appearance of persecu-
ton to offset the influence of popular pub
lie speaker, and to counterfeit his arguments
and oratory by appeals to sentiment
which is easily aroused.
So far as the other charges against Rid
dleberger, as made in local controversy
in his own county are concerned, we know
nothing personally. The most serious of
them, that which duplicates him in the act
of woundng himself dnring the war, we
do not believe word of it, and we have no
doubt that Riddleberger himself will make
this satisfactorily plain to those who feel an
interest in the matter.
We have seen similar partizan devices
and connections in the past, and never have
known them yet, unless well founded in
fact, and beyond satisfactory explanation,
to work out the results designed. Even
should every statement made be proved to
be true, it could not in che least affect the
cause he represents. Neither Riddleberger
nor his personal character is at issue in this
contest. Important State matters are up
Tor determination and fufItro no1;t;ool ro1o