The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-21
For the VIRGINIAN.
Communicated.
RICHMOND, VA, April 18th, 1

RICHMOND VA, April 18th, 1881,
We are upon the eve of another political cam
paign which will prove the fercest conflict of par
ties and more completely decisive in it's results
upon the issues at stake than any probably ia ouI
past history, for never before did many grave
questions, each involving momentouS results We
together as now in Virginia politics, claim the
serious consideration of every citizen and earnestly
invoke the active support every patriot for the
principles advocated by the party of Justice Pro
gress and Reform.
brilliant triumph or disastrous defeat is IL
store Tor The ReadJ party which will perma
nently settle many issues in dispute and operate
for good or ill upon the interests of Virginia fol
long years to come.
Accepting the Presidential vote of 1880 as basis
which gave the Fuhder May ticket 912 the Repub-
l1can ticket $4,000 and the Readjuster July ticket
l,64 we have total vote cast in last November Of
2l2,6O6 and can safely consider with the interes
created and the passions engendered in the coming
campaign that every mans tax win be paid and
Vfrg1nla's vote next November will approximate OF
possibly exceed $4,000.
Then in the face Of these figures, the Readjuster
party, in order to win ,ctory, must not only hold
intact their last vote but obtain by some means
from the other parties recruits to the number OF
about i00, 0U0 voters.
In order to win victory, the Readjusters will
have to proceed to an immediate and thorough or
ganization Of their present forces and commission
every member OF the party recruiting officer to EN-
list allies from the opposite parties.
In order to win they will have to nominate a
strong ticket with candidates already popular wit
the party, aid such men least apt to antago-
n1ze the various elements from which it is necessa
ry to draw strength.
OF various classes collected from two distinct par
ties, differing widely heretofore in interests and
very recently arrayed against each other and en-
ragged by all the hate engendered by race and sec
tional prejud1ces.
These various elements are not likely to cement
readily and harmonic sufficiently and in time tc
attract enough help to carry the election unless the
ticket is composed of men who can carry large
majority of any State Convention that renresente
fairly and reflects honestly the will of the people
From the best Information received from all parts
OF the State 1t Is evident that large majority
OF the Read1uster party are now in favor of the
Hon. John E. Massie for Governor and their great
est hope Of success lies in his nomination He is the
best qualified, the most deserving and best fitted
for the occasion because his manners are ALWAYS
courteous his arguments ever Iersuasiye and CO.
gent, and he is least apt to give offence and more
certain to gain friends among the people with
whom lies the strength necessary to give the party
victory.
1t is admitted by both friends and political oppo
nents that Mr. Mass1e possesses great executive and
administrative ability His high moral character as
citizen and his know capacity and integrity as a
legislator, his long experience in State aairs-hav
ing served several sessions in each house of the
General Assembly-;his thorough knowledge of the
debt question-being the author OF the principle
laws enacted to secure an honest administration OF
the public revenues and his efficient and faithful
discharge of his present duties-al give assurance
of broad and liberal policy, and a heightened hon
est administration
There is reason to suppose Mr.. Massie will moi
get the nomination in any Convention that honestly
represents the voice of the people, but he may be
defeated for the nomination If the delegates are in
structed to vote against him by casting compliment
tary votes for candidates whose influence does not
extend beyond few personal friends and local
popularity. The result of this course will be to de-
tract and divide the strength of Mr. Massie and the
differed cliques will after the first ballot combine
and nominate some other less popular and weaker
man,
This is no time for child's play and If the Repub
llcan party of Virginia is expected to furnish all
the votes necessary to secure Readjuster victory
it would be we'll to remember the history of the past
fusions with this s'Liberal Republican Party
which GIBBS and flows over Virginia occasionally.
Mr.. Mass1e can probably control more Republican
votes than any other Readjuster, and his election
will certainly maintain and extend the liberal prin-
ciples promulgated by his party, while yery few
other prominent politicians can show record
entirely free from prescription, persecution fouI
denunciation, fraud and tissue ballots imposed
upon the Republican party in recent years and sinh
sequent to some Liberal Republican FUSION pro
posed and supported temporarily by themselves
Can their record bear close scrutiny or run the
ordeal of the dog days and the fierce attacks
in store for the season from June to November
The Republicans will not seek a position on the
State ticket and need not do perhaps as it Will be
useless, but they are certainly entitled to voice
in the Convention and should not submit patiently
the arbitrary dictation of the expert
Though on back seat s'standing down in the
hail. they should protest against the nomination of
any man who has been guilty OF treachery to their
party or countenanced abetted the fraud of tissue
ballots in Virginia.
NATIVE REPUBLICAN READJUsrER