The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-09-29

Nv GuC hC~dOJucbClS cOulC VI OhClh WIN
found to be sources of the foulest corrup-
ton. extravaganza and inefliciency. Their
management had been a disgrace to any
party or State. Under the control and di-
rection of the present ncumbents, they have
subserved the public interests, and been ad-
ministered with reference to the welfare OF
the people, and restored to the Common
wealth much of her lost reputation. The
First Auditor found over 100000 OF the
peoples money in the bands of the various
County Treasures instead of being in the
Treasury-he found the Treasury bank
rupt the credit of the Commonwealth so
reduced that 5000, 900 could not be borrowed
for the current expenses OF government /;
the public schools languishing for want of
funds; the asylums deprived OF the means
of maintaining their patients. All these
abuses and wrongs have been corrected.
He forced the County Treasurers to pay up
their long delayed balances supplied the
State government. the schools and asylums
with necessary funds for current purposes,
throughout every ramification Of his depart
ment. In the Second Auditors office, even
greater corruptiOns were discovered. and
partially corrected. In the Penitentiary,
systematic profligacy and ineflieiency were
exposed, which cost the State 100000 an
nually, and the whole working of the es-
tablishment so re-adjusted as to make it a
source of profit to the State, instead of a
continuous charge.
Yet the State proposes to wrest these Of
fees from such management and place them
back into the hands of the faction which so
criminally abused them. And this for high
motives of State policy that the ''real
peOple"-that is. that the political dead
beats. the pestiferous agitators, may be pro-
vided for at the expense of the toilers and
| taxpayers of the Commonwealth. And
| yet our contemporary is not guided by
| merceEary considerations. but we are because
we oppose the policy so injurious to all the
interests ofthe Commonwealth and the work
| ing people whose sweat and labor support
| government.
| We want to see a Legislature elected
which will consijer it one of the first du.
ties to the people to retain these faithful
and efficient officers. We want Legisla.
ture elected which will favor the repeal Of
the capitation tax restriction on the ball OF
and the whipping post law. and restore the
Constitution to its original provisions ant
the people to their plighted faith that vii
have the fairness and the justice to re-dis
trct the State so as to give an equal repre-
sentation in Congress to public sentiment
that may not accord with the proscriptive
reactionary policy of the Bourbon Democ
racy.
These are matters of deep and vital in
terests to Republicans, as well as all citi
zens of the Commonwealth. who do not be
lieve in the divine right of a few seltisl
and corrupt polit ieians to rule the people
and subordinate all the interests of the
State to their lust for power and place.
The assumption that a certain class vino
have inherited adventurous privileges, ant
a certain other class who think it is thei
light to be supported by the State, because
their forefathers did good service, consti
tute the ''real people, and that those who
toll at the pillow and in the field and in the
workshops, producing the wealth from
which the revenues are raised. must be re-
garded as mere hewers of wood ant
drawers of water, is a Ielusion we hope
this canvass will dispel. And it is our pur
pose to do what We can to dispel it,
The St'ate may appeal to the hates of race
and the passions of party as much as il
pleascs, but there is deep undGrcurrent Of
feeling and sentiment in Virginia at this
time, which will heed it not. We shall
benefits to all alike, and exclusive priv
iges to none. and in doing so we expect tc
voice the wishes and purposes of enough Of
the people of this Commonwealth to sweep
out OF power the proscriptive and reaction.
airy faction that has ruled for the past ter
years with rod of iron and jeopardizeG
every great interest of the State. Our CO.
temporary has raised the issue, and we
mean to hold it, and the intolerant faction
it represents,t to tan issue which if carried
in favor of the conservative Democratic
party" will rob the people of their hare
earl ings that few political dead beats and
chronic office seekers may be rewarded
which will drive from the service of the
State faithful, competent and honest officers
that partizan strikers may revel in The ruin
of the people, and convert the offices men.
TONED into political agencies to perpetuate
the dominancy of faction that has inflicted
more wrongs upon the people of Virgins
than ever did the devastating tread OF the
armed legions of an invading foe, and in
which the Republicans of Virginia have nc
other interests than as citizens of the Com
monwealth, asking for good government
and an honest administrati on of the affairs
Of the people.