Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-09-30
so :: ::'; *: 4: : :: s:
which will include the campaign and the
meeting of the newly elected legislature.

If the triumphant progress of the Dem
ocratic campaign in Virginia continues up
to the 9Th Of November, the Coalition
ticket for State officers will he buried out
of sight under popular majority. The
progress of Maj. Daniel is assuming more
the character of a triumphal procession
than of a battle for victory. The scenes
in the Southwestern portion Of Virginia
are the most remarkable that have occur
red in her political history. Crowds OF
cheering men meeting the orator with
torchlight professions. and at the end OF
his orations bearing him away upon their
shoulders! Such things are new in this
State and shows that the deepest feelings
of her people have been stirred. 1t is not
alone on account of the wonderful oratory
of the speaker; for Cameron is an orator
and a great favorite with his party-it is
the cause. The thinking people of Virgin
ia are becoming alarmed for her fate. The
new coalition in which the black voters
have been pitted against the whites has
given the dullest mind to understand what
may come. No matter what those who
enlisted them may intend, the feeling that
is now prevailing in the minds of a large
portion of the colored people-especially in
the Eastern portion of the State. is becom-
ing too apparent to be overlooked. They
fully understand that they are being led
by portion of the white people against
the great body of them. AS to the debt
question and the principles at issue they
know nothing, they only comprehend that
the great body of the white men who have
been ruling the State is to be turned out
of power. They give their aid to the Goa
Gtionists for this reason simply. With
these ignorant blacks it is essentially a
race fight, with what practical benefit to
themselves they cannot tell; but this much
they know, that they will.exuIt if fortune
should turn against the old rulers. This
is about the long and short of it as far as
they are commemorative representative
white men, as they look at it. must go I'LL
der.
Recognizing this feeling as always exist
ing. but now suddenly given life by the
promise to s'carry Africa into the war; it
is not surprising that we should see the
white men of the Commonwealth gather
ing with such enthusiasm around leader
who promises that Africa will find some
one to meet it when it is carried into the
war. It is deplorable device III politics:
this race and color business and should
have died out long ago. 1t is cruel. be
sides, for the colored citizens of Virginia
were making most creditable progress to
wards those qualifications that msKe haar
truly citizen. and this is no time to check
it. But checked it will be, for the negro
is no safer than the white man from the
improbable excitement of politics; indeed
he is in greater danger in proportion to his
greater ignorance, and his time, which
ought to be spent in improving his condi-
tion will be spent in matters in which he
has nothing practically at stake.
But, while this great uprising of the
people of the State in support of Daniel is
cheering. we must not for a moment sup
pose that the campaign is ended or assur
ed. These popular waves of political feel
ing if occurring long before election day
must not be put down among our assets
Our true stock in trade is votes. We must
attend to these. Each man must interest
himself, not offcioasly, but with judgment
in seeing that his neighbor votes. That is
absolutely all that has to be done; if the
full vote of Virginia is brought out Vir-
ginia is safe.