The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-11-17
The South's Enemies.

1t is an assnm ption. and very erroneous
one. of the Democratic press and leaders,
that every one who opposes the Democratic
party is an enemy of the South. I, The Re-
s,,h,;oa,s Of rho " s-p'es--- ,---ei-'
fication tnat Col Cameron has been elected
Governor, are clsssed with the hitter gevi-
lers and defamers OF the south. This is all a
mistake. They are not enemies of the
South, but Of the South's most fatal enemy.
the Democratic party. The history Of the
Southern States since the war will demon
strate that the Democratic party has been
nothing but an unmixed evil to the South.
Had its notions of national administrative
policy been put in operation, not only the
South, but the whole country would lave
felt the injurious effects. 1t has presented
no policy or principle which cOmmends it
self to the acceptance of the intelligent. inn
partial minds of the country. either North
or South. A solid partlzan South-mere-
ly to be solid for the mercenary ends of
party, and not for the good Of the people Of
the South-has been the Democratic tails
man, regardless of the effects of such sui
cidal policy upon all the great interests OF
the section thus made solid. This solid par
tizanism has been positive injury to the
South as well as to the North. 1t has inter-
iered with that fraternal sympathy and bu-
siness interchange which should have marked
the relations of the sections and for this
reason the practical minds of the North
have opposed it. There has been nothing
of personal ill-feeling in it, and it is the
assumption OF insolence for the Democratic
press to assert that because the Republicans
OF the North are against the methods of the
Democratic party, that they are enemies of
the South. The Democratic politicians are
not the people OF the South, nor of the
State, nor of the country. They are mere
IL pes:iferous agitators, welding the ma
chinery Of party and using it to force to its
support by prescription and persecution the
unwilling masses. The result of the recent
election in Virginia has been serious blow
to the policies and tactics of the Democratic
party in the South, and to the partizan So
lidarity Of that section. 1t is an emancpa-
ton proclamation to the people, and will
demonstrate its effects in the utter over
throw of the intolerant political oligarchy
whose desperate rule has compromised and
initiated aga Inst every interest of the peo-
pie.
The result of the Sth of November was a
great achievement for which all true friends
Of the South and North have cause to re-
ioice. If its advantages are judicionsly i'm
proved it will work out revolution that
will not stop this side Of the Cult. Let
those in charge of it. and vino will be held
for its management, study well
the forces in operation. and il they shall
their great scope and import,
we may indeed look for a new South, a new
and the complete emancipa-
tion Of the people from the political thral-
dom which has so Long and so severely
pressed them down. Courage, tirmness and
must come to the front now,
and grasp the pregnant opportunity that
has been revealed in the political earth
quake that has shaken to its very founda-
ton the whole Bourbon regime of the
South, in the signal and over helming de-
feat it has received in Virginia.