The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-06

cannot DE uraWn from all CneSe pracClcal
issues by reference to any ficial posi-
ton we may hold. nor the State relieved
OF Its inconsistencies and embarrassments
by futile and awkward attempt to prove
us disloyal to our party principles. The
Intelligence of the people will be sufficient
to penetrate this kind of sophistry and ro-
bust enough to comprehend the necessity
which compels the State to wriggle and
squirm to escape from the network Of COM
plications in which its ticket and its plat
form and the record Of its party have placed
it. Let it remove the beam from its own
eye, before it undertakes to dispose of the
mote in its neighbours eye.
-~ ~------
The Spirit of the Canvass.
Instead of the courteous and gentleman
ly methods adopted by the two candidates
for Governor in discussing the issues in
the present canvass, which were observed
in the opening of the contest, we are hav-
ing repetition of the fish market litera-
ture which has characterized every State and
National contest since 1869. 1t is the same
old programme Of denunciatiOn, SANDER
and villification which constituted the wool
and warp of Democratic speeches in 1872,
1873, 1876 and $780,. The flood gates of pas
sion and hate seem to have been opened
and all the vile stuff that could be stirred up
from the cesspool OF parlizan rancor and Bit
terness, precpitated upon the State. And
why is this so? just because the people do
not recognize the infallibility of what is
called the Democratic Conservative party.
and choose to question its right to make
every one bow to its commands. The Lead
ers in this faction know they cannot go be-
fore the country and defend their position
either upon the State debt, the capitation
tax restriction or the whipping post law, or
their past administration of the affairs of
the State. They have deliberately taken
all indefensible position upon every impor-
tant question now at issue and hope to es-
cape from the effects of this by system Of
SANDER, falsehOod and detraction. No one
who dares to question their divine right to
tue and intelligence of the State is exempt
from their vicious and malicious abuse and
dennnciation. 1t is the same spirit which
has characterized the Democratic party in
every contest with the Republicans. 1t was
brought out in its vilest form in 1872. against
Gen. Grant; in 1873 against Judge Hughes;
in 1876 against Gen. Hayes. and in 1880
against Gen. Garfield. This right to rule and
ruin Virginia was questioned by the Repub-
licans of the State, ard this faction without
entering into argument to sustain any posi-
ton they had assumed. resort was had to
the foulest ISLANDERS and the most malignant
denunciatiOn. Tt is so now against the
Re-adjusters. Notwithstanding that this
faction, liz its brief management of the
basement offices of the State government,
the most important, and those most direct
ly touching the pockets of the people, has
been efficient, economical and eminently
successful. the Re-adjusters are denounced.
villified and prescribed, just as bitterly as
were ever Republicans, and for no other
reason than that they question the exclusive
right of the Bourbons to subordinate every
interest Of the State to their selfish ends
Were the faithful administration of State
affairs the end desired. we have the compar-
ison of records to show that the Re-adjus,
tiers have en- the most faithful. They
have corrected abuses and exposed wrong
doings in all OF the offices in question they
have introduced system and economy in
every department under their control they
have fOstered and sustained the public
schools they have cared for the insane and
helpless, and given the most ample assur-
ance that their object is the welfare of the
people in their State administration. Yet
they do not meet the approval, but Bit
ter and proscriptive hate of the self-as-
sumed ''real people" who are inflated with
self-importance and self-intelligence that
nothing but deluge Of popular indigna-
ton will expose and explode.
Republicans understand why this coarse
and vindictive spirit of persecution and pro
scription is resorted to. They have felt it.
and if for 10 other reason, they will direct
their strength to the defeat OF the faction
that has bounded them as ifthey were wild
beasts or outlaws, merely because they
choose to think for themselves. and exercise
the rights which pertain to every freeman.
The Dispatch and its partizan cotempora
ries are vexing themselves about the Hon.
John F. Lewis not resigning the Marshall
ship, aud giving no assurance that he will do
so if elected Lieutenant Governor. As these
able writer's have no idea OF voting for him,
let his course be what it may, it seems to us
that it is question which does not directly
concern them. So that his friends are sat
isfied with his position, his enemies might
well afford to down their perturbed spirits,
and attend to their own side Of the house
a matter that will demand all Of their at
tention between this time and the sth OF
November,
The returns from the election OF dele
gates to the Republican State Convention
Of New York, which met yesterday in
New York city. show that the anti-Conk-
ling wing has majority of 10S,after giving
the Conkling side all OF the contested and
doubtful delegates