The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-14
Pass the Word Around


has wrought so much for human liberty and
so much for this great nation of freemen, is
only sound and fury, signifying nothing 1t
is the Greeley campaign of 1872 feebly imi-
tated. The popular understanding that the
great mass of the colored voters are ready and
willing to forsake the party that has accom-
plshed SO much tor them, and rush to the en-
brace of the handful of Democrats who have
so recently become enamored of their rights,
is deusion. and will prove to be such when
| the supreme test comes. The destruction OF
the Republican party is not what they want
| and they begin to understand that the coali-
f, ton movement means that. A little reflection
F.; would convince every man with sense enough
| to tell a hawk from a handsaw that the Repub-
lican party is the safest custodian of Republi-
can principles and Republican policy, and that
if it cannot be trusted to guard the rights and
protect the freedom of the citizen no other
party can.
| We are gratified to learn that the determin-
alton is being reached that the Republican
party and Republican organization must be
|
sistent and well settled purpose to do So Let
the word go round that the very lite of the
Republican party is threatened-that its cx-
| istence depends upon the action of the Lynch
burg Convention. and that it is the duty of
every Republican to put forth his best efforts
to send delegates to that body who will reflect
the genuine Republican sentiment of the
State. Traders and tricksters will be busy
from now until the Sd day of August to de-
ceive and cheat the more ignorant of the Re-
publican voters into the coalition movement,
but let them remember that there is no secu-
rity or safety for the party except in a Repub-
lcan organization and a full Republican ticket
for State offices. Compromise or surrender
now will be fatal. 1t would he the last of the
| Republican party of Virginia, if not Of the
South, and jeopardize the very existence OF
the party throughout the country. Let every
| Republican stand firm to the old flag which is
| he emblem of human liberty, manhood rights
and the nations glory. Its achievements are
reflected in tour millions of slaves made free
| in the broken shackles stricken from their
| limbs; the school houses where they ale learn
| ing that they are not chattels, but human be-
| ngs, with mind and soul to be expanded and
educated so as to know their duty and their
| destiny in equal rights fer all before the law
and in people standing at the head OF the
nations of the world, in all the arts of peace
and the inspirations of Christianity.
The Republicans of Virginia will not for
sake this great party in the hour of its peril
They will rally to its standard, unfurl its ban
ners, and illustrate their devotion to it by
guarding il against the sappers and miners
who would topple it to ruin, that its known
enemies might profit by the calamity.
| 1t is no time for laggards. If men are not
for the party they are against it. There can
be Republicans or Democrats, and whatever
the guise under which it appears, the support
of any other party is opposition to the Repub-
| lican party.
Let every Republican be true to himself
and the principles of his party, and the result
at Lynchburg will date a Few life for the Re
publican party of Virginia and start it on
career of progress and usefulness that it has
| never realized before. Pass the word around
that brave and true Republicans must now
come to the front
There are 106 Republicans in the New York
Legislature, "a of whom constitute a majority,
and are competent, in ordinary times, to con-
troll the policy of the party. Last week 65 Of
them met, in caucus, and nominated two can
didates for the U. S. Senate to succeed Messrs
Conkling and Pla tt.-Congressmen Warner
Miller and Judge Lapham being the favored
gentlemen. The friends of Mr. Conkling, to
the number of 80, absented themselves from
the caucus, and consequently do not feel bound
by it. Several ballots have been taken since
the causus was held, but no election. On sew
eral ballota Mr. Miller came within nine votes
and Mr. Lapham ten of the number necessary
to elect. Mr. Conkling is still voted for, the
highest number cast for him being 80, while
Miller reached SO, and Lapham g. 1t is very
plain that Mr.. Conkling cannot be elected I'M
der any circumstances, and all that his friends
| can do is to prevent an election by the Rupub-
can members, and leave the Senate still in the
hands of the Democrats by reason of the va
cancies occasioned by the designations of
Conkling and Platt. Under the circumstances
MIR. Conkling could not do more graceful
and sensible thing than to acknowledge his
defeat, retire from the field and leave the way
clear for the election of two Republicans to
the Senate to take the places made vacant by
his foolish and inexcusable action and advice.
TO those who have had the pleasure of
friendly intercourse with James A. Garfield
and James G. Blaine there is nothing strange
in their warm personal attachment. Indeed,
it would be impossible for an observant per-
son to converse with either five minutes, not
to discover those traits of character which
draw men together and weld the links of
friendship. They are both genial. approach
able, magnetic, with easy, cordial manners
that at once win and hold, They are both
democratic in their instincts, feeling for and
sympathizing with the people and interpret
ing our institutions in the spirit of their crea-
ton. They may sometimes differ in their
views of questions of public policy as is nat
ural with men of great intellectual grasp and
force, and Independent methods ofthought. But
generally their aims are the same, and it is
only as to the means to attain them, that some
times variance is manifested. With such
men there is always q common ground of
agreement, because they are controlled by I'M
selfish aims and are free from the influence
of narrow bigotry, recognizing rectitude of
purpose as the paramount consideration. The
restoration of Gen. Garfield to health will
still preserve to the country the united efforts
of these genuine American statesmen in the
promotion of its welfare, the conservation of
its honor, and the assurance of its progress.
The interview reported to have taken place
between Hon. ]. F. Lewis and reporter of
Washington paper, is denied by Mr.. Lewis in
very emphatic terms. Mr.. L. says he did not
converse with reporter while he was in
Washington last week-where he was on pri-