Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1881-05-03

| serves when the occasion should come.
Why, so averse were our people to en-
tangling alliances in National politics
that the leaders never dared to call ON
organization Democratic. We called
ourselves the Conservative party, and il
| was less than 4 year ago, and after my
election to the Senate by the Liberal Re
adjusters, as separate organization
that the Bourbon leaders baptized what
was left of the Conservative organiza-
ton as the Democratic party Of Virgin
ia. At best they have only rump or
ganization, you see.
SENATOR MAHoNE's POSITION.
Now, the difference between the
Southern Senator whom you have quot
ed and myself is, that he can conceive
Of no future for the South that is either
honorable or desirable unless achieved
in II close and permanent alliance with
the Bourbon Democracy which over and
over again has led the South to defeat
My notion is that party organizations
are merely means to aid ends, and that
II the Democratic party, as now organ
lied and controlled. either declines to
help the South in its great material
wants as it has done, and declines to adj
wise the South to such policies and
measures as will give us the cordial SYM
pathy of the ruling spirit and mind of
the North, as it has also done, or if tins
Democratic party, even if it were will
willing, is unable for any reason to ac-
complish these great ends so necessary
| for us, that common sense and patriot
| isV al -a al IN M
selves as best we may.
RESULT OF DEMOCRATIC RULE.
Now, it is Il growing belief among the
Southern people that the so-callcd Dem
ocracy-I mean the Democrats of the
two houses of Congress--have been
either unwilling or unable, or both, to
meet the Just expectations of the South
Until recently the bogus Democracy
have been for some years in power, and
there is no candid and well-inlormcd
Southern man but knows that they have
utterly refused to do the South simple
justice in the matter Of material help
Relying upon us to furnish the votes in
National contests, they invariably said
when asked to do something for South
ern interests, 'Oh no; that will ruin us
at home On the other hand they urg-
cd Southern men TO vote for all that the
Northern people asked, saying to us
again, IF you do not give our people
what they ask it will ruin us at home.
Such an alliance is Simply ruinous to the
South. Such Democracy can yield
nothing but the continued diet of Dead
Sea fruit of disappointment TO the South
ern people.
SPEAKING OF VIRGINIA.
But in discussing your Southern DEM
ocrat have gone further than | wish to
90. ! do not wish to speak for or about
the South. prefer to speak of Virgin
H., whose people and interests know.
For us, independence of parties, and in
dependence especially Of the Bourbon
Democratic party, Is the first necessity
for our progress and prosperity.
"Is It your theory. then, that your du-
ty as n Virginia Senator requires your
absolute independence Of party dicta-
ton and control as the wiscst course for
your StateY"
Exactly. That Is my theory and that
of my people when they elected me-
AT this time there are no questions of
sentiment or of fidelity to locality or
section that should impel me to either
party. Questions dividing parties are
nll practical, and Mt such time | elect
to do what think will bring the largest
amount Of active sympathy for the pco-
pie of Virginia from those who have the
means and tho disposition to assist them
This, indeed, was the common senti-
mcnt Of our people at the close Of the
war, until politicians, Tor selfish ends,
held out to them the allurcments Of po-
litical power through rombinNtonwith
large Northern minority, sufficient,
with the aid of the Southern vote to
secure the government. General Lee,
| | happened TO know was especially
grlcvcd by the thought Of the possibility
of that contingency. He was extreme
" anxious for the growth Of spirit Of
broad Amcrlcansm among our people,
ms the only road ont Of the troubles that
their sectional politics in the past had
led them into"
sEcTIoNAIisM IN SOUTHERN POLITICS.
as there, then, much scctionaism in
Southern polilicsW
"Much less than the Northern people
think. Among the people, indeed, II Il
astonishing that there Is not more, when
many OF their leaders have appeared to
hayc no other notions Of preserving
themselves In power than by fostering
scctIonalism among the Masses; the peo-
pie of Virginia especially are rapidly
cmancipatlng themselves from the sway
Of prejudice, and they will quickly re-
! spond 10 demonstrations of Kind feeling
toward them from those whom they
have been nmdc to believe their cnc-
miles,"
PARTIES IN VIRGINIA.
"What ls the present condition Of par
ties In VirgiulaW
awe have In our state two Bourbon
parties. First, the Bourbon Democrats,
who arc welded 10 dead ldcas md Issues
and TO keeping alive sectional nnmosl-
ties aud pfciudlccs to the Injury Of all
the renl Interests of our people. Then
we have the Bourbon Republicans, n
class equally narrow, blgotcd and selfish.
/ do moi mean 20 include IN these nll the
Republicans Of the State, by no means ;
forwe have honorable aud libcrnl-mindcd
Rcpuhllcans among ~. But Che Bour-
bon Republicans nrc mainly The oillcc-
scckeis nnd oillcc-holders-mcn who live
by politics, ns their Bourbon Democrat
Ic brethren, and who care nothing for
the State or Ia interests. These two
classes Of Bourbons play into cach 9th
er's hands invariably. The Bourbon
Republican does not expect TO carry the
State, lie knows he cannot do II, but
he puts up ticket TO be beaten, because
! when he II beaten he runs 10 washing
ton ns victim to get nm office, aud not
unfrcqucnlly his strongest backcr for an
office h Bourbon Democrat. That u
natural. for the one cannot do without
tho other. Then there n the other par
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