The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-15
The Situation.

erOD ticket. lndG tTauSdctiOtis W Out uiius
was proposltion-in fact. the overt act
in the surrender Of the Republican party
to the Re-ad;uster organization and de-
feat of Republican nomination at Lynch
burg, aud the election of Cameron Gov
ernor. and Riddleberger Senator, the con-
of the original scheme. We
have not been surprised or disappointed
because of either of the occurrences which
have transpired since the Re-adjuster Con-
cention placed in the field its ticket. We
discussed the whole subject prior to the
Lynchburg Convention, with the results
now before us clearly presented 10 our
mind. We believed in August last, when
the Republicans divided at Lynchburg,
that it would be difficult, If not impossible
to maintain a separate organization. and as
the canvass progressed we saw plainly that
it would be impolitic to do so. We recog-
nized the probability that the election OF
Col. Cameron to the Executive Chair and
a coalition majority in the Legislature,
would result in promoting Capt. Riddle
berger to the position of United States Sen
ator. We believed and stated then, and
know now. that the purpose was to place
in control of the State government the Re-
adjuster party, and to give them the full
representation of the State in the United
States Senate. We are therefore neither
disappointed nor chagrine and have no
tears to shed over events which We endeav-
ored to. but could not control. SO long as
there was fighting grounds for what we be-
lieved to be right we fought. When defeat
was inevitable we exercised the right OF
making choice between two evils, and Sc
lected the least. We supported this choice
as best we could. in the gubernatorial con-
test and support it now in the Senatorial re-
suit We should have preferred, as mat
ter of party policy, affecting not only the
Republicans of Virginia, but of the entire
been elected to the Senate. For this we
contended so long as it was debatable
question; but now that it has been decided
we accept it as among the pre-ordained
things, and intended for some good end.
We do not belong to that class of writers
and thinkers who are constantly fretting
over "what might have BEEN" We prefer
to deal with events as they present them
selves-discharge our duty in discussing
them-present our convictions in relation
to them, and having fully met the obliga-
tions which rest upon us as Journalists,
leave the issue to those whose business and
power 1t is to determine them. If We are
defeated, we prefer to think as little as pos
sible of it, and to press on to something
else and endeavOr to evolve some good from
the changed condition of things. That is
the way we propose to regard the present
political situation in Virginia. We may
safely say that all that is liberal in the
ideas and policy of the Re-adiustefs found
an advocate in these columns before the
Re. adiuster party bad an existence. We
believed and manta ined from the hour q
price was placed upon the ballot. and a
barbarous method of punishment resur-
rected from the buried past. that the doom
of the party that did it was sealed. The
enlightened Judgment and conscience of
the age condemned both, as we'll as did the
laws of the country, which our people had
pledged themselves to observe and obey
These positions of the Democrats i'm
piled broken faith---a moral delinquent
cy for partizan purposes, which must.
in the very nature OF things, bring its re-
yenge. 1t is true it did not come in the
way we expected and desired. We believed
that brave men you'd come to the aid
of the Republican organization, and assist
in restoring the State 10 her forfeited faith,
as to the ballot ana whipping-post, as well
as the public credit Our earnest appeals
and best argument received ample appro-
val as to sentiment. but were encouraged
bv no tangible results. We were driven to
a choice between two factions of the Dem
ocratic party-the one announcing for eve
~ proposition we had presented, except as
to the debt question. and the other oppOs-
ing each and every one of chem. We chose
the former and did what we could to give
it success. By whatever name it may be
called, the victory is Republican triumph
except as to the debt, and that had very lit
tie to do with the result; and the entire
movement and its influence in its national
bearing will be directed to the support of
the administration of President Arthur.
While we do not believe that the Repub-
lican element in the coalition received that
recognition which it was entitled to. yet we
shall accept the situation as it stands, and
shall address ourselves to the work of crys-
talizing the forces which compose the coall-
ton. to the end that it may work out the
reforms that have been promised, and insti-
tute liberal legislation to correct the VIZ, Dgs
which have been perpetrated upon the peo-
pie. If it fails. it shall be from no fault of
ours. We shall encourage no factious OPP
position, but support it in every legitimate
and proper measure, in the belief that any
change will be for the better, and in the
hope that the results will meet the expecta-
lions of all who have contributed to the
overthrow of the Bourbon dynasty.
We publish on our first and fourth pages
Governor Holidays last message, synopsis
of which appeared in these columns last week.
State papers, from whatever source, are mat
tiers of history and should be preserved for
reference For this reason We make it rule
to present them TO our readers as fully as our
space will permit. 1t frequently happens that
for the time being other matter would prove,
more interesting, but people to be properly
informed should carefully read those docu
ments which are supposed to give compre-
hensiye view of State affairs, and then lay
them away. to be brought forward in time to
come when their statements can be made
use Of
The Governors message presents nothing
new, except in the extraordinary assertions it
contains in regard to the political party with
which the Governor is aligned. So far as the
debt question is concerned he gives neither in
formation nor suggestion, but there is a re-
freshing originality when be comes to deal
with the history of his party. "a prouder his
tory has never been made by any people or
State says the Governor speaking OF Virginia
las career during the past fifteen years. Not
. blot hoe uat fol lion ,1non q a;nula of hal