The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-27
Col. Skinner.

cumstances then surrounding. We were
antagonizing any and everything that
stood in the way of the policy we were adj
yocating. 1t was our opinion that the true
policy II the Republicans was to face the
Issue of the payment of the debt as the
courts have determined it, We labored earn
estly to SO shape the canvass. but we were
not successful in our efforts. We. also,
freely criticised the action of the dissenting
Republicans at Lynchburg, because we be-
lieved then and believe now that it would
have been better for the Republican party
in the future, had it, by the unanimous ac-
ton of the Convention, placed tickle. in
the field. Others equally devoted to the
party and its principles, differed from the
views we entertained, and in the progress
OF the canvass their policy has become the
policy of the party. Failing then. in the
accomplishment of our purpose, we were
left to make choice between the two wings
of the Democratic party, and to accept
either the Liberal or the Bourbon faction, or
MAINTAIN a neutral position in the canvass.
We were not long in determining our
course and in doing SO we gave our reasons
for 1t. avoiding no issue and lodging no
question now before the people, We believe
the interests of Virginia demand that the
Bourbon faction should be defeated and bro
ken of all power in the State, because it has
been the source of all the complications and
expressions which now press down and az
fict the people. 1t has never had a definite
policy about anything except the control OF
the control of the Legislature two years
ago, it never considered as paramount the
welfare of the people. but directed all OF
its influence and power to subserve inter-
ests which were not in sympathy with the
prosperity and progress of the State. From
considerations independent of party we
have opposed this faction, and it was per-
fectly natural when an organization COM
posed of its own revolving members, and
revolving because of its illiberal, proscrip-
tive methods, was arrayed against it, that
we should join our efforts with theirs to give
to the State a wiser and better administers
nancy. Wenow support the Re-adjusters.
whom we opposed when we were endeav-
oriug to place straight Republican ticket
in the field, because we sympathize with
much Of the spirit that animates them, and
endorse some of the propositions which they
neutrality-suspicious. which found advo-
cacy in these columns long before they be-
came part of the creed of the Re-adjuster
party, or that party had an existence.
How is it with Col. Skinner? He supports
platform, because the BouI bon faction has
decreed in favor of it, which he utterly de-
tests, and with which his whole past record
is at war. He has been for paying every
dollar the State owes, as the courts have
determined the debt, yet he stands upon
and speaks for a platform that declares
against making provision for such payment.
and even goes so far as to substantially de-
mand that the creditors shall surrender a
part of their just claims. which he recog-
nizes as such. He argues for 8 per cent.
bond, when he knows that such argument
can only have the effect to deceive the igno-
rant, because the contract. which he re-
CARDS as inviolable, stipulates for 6 per
cent. v hen pressed with the question
whether he will follow his own convictions
of right, in favoring an increase OF taxation
to meet the demands of these inviolable
contracts, he declines to answer. He sur
renders the James III. Skinner We have
known in the past, standing up for What
he believed to be right, for the James a..
Skinner, trimming for votes in the present
canvass, in obedience to the commands of
his party.
We have not in the past and do not now
approve of the Readjusterp party and its meth
DDS as whole. nor of Gen. Malone, in every
particular as leader. But when it comes
to choice between that party and the party
which Col. Skinner supports, with its eva
sions and receptions, We cannot hesitate a
moment in determining our course. What we
may have said heretofore had its application
at the time it was said. What we say now
has its application now, and is directed to
the issues presented to the people for their
determination. 1t is neither Gen. Malone,
the Re-adjuster party, nor the Opera House
Republicans which we are called upon to
consider. There are vital questions of pub
lie policy and public justice involved In
this canvass, and these we support because
we approve them. and would support them
if they had constituted part of the creed
of the party Col. Skinner speaks for. We
do not dodge them because they come to us
under auspices other than those we pre-
ferred. We take them upon their merits
and support them because we believe them
to be right and would do so, under whatev-
er colors they might be ranged.
We recognize the right of Col. Skinner to
refer to the VIRGINIAN and quote from it's
writings when it will enable him to con-
sumo time and ill up space. But the peo-
pie are more interested in the discussion of
the live issues now before them, and their
intelligence would be more gratifed, if in
stead of picking flaws in records, he would
inform them how they are to escape from
the wrongs and expressions which have
been heaped upon them by the party he
represents.
Dueling
Rev. DR.. T. D. Witherspoon, pastor of Tabb
Street Presbyterian Church, Petersburg. de-