The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-17
"The One Supreme Issue.

We publish elsewhere to-day a commune
cation signed Republican Debt-Payer,''
discussing the political situation in Virginia,
which will attract attention. Its author is
a gentleman of culture, ability and expe-
rience, distinguished alike for his legal at
tainments and his devotion to the Consti-
tuition, as well as for his eminent personal
and social virtues. Upon the abstract cues
ton discussed, we are in entire sympathy
with the views he presents, as the columns
Of the VIRGINIAN will sufficiently attest.
The restoration of the Constitution to its
original provisions affecting manhood
rights. and the perpetuation of the organic
guards thrown around the rights of the col
ored race, when Virginia, after the war.
was remanded to the control of her own in
ternal polity, is one of the highest obliga-
tions which rests upon the people of the
State. Our correspondent has so ably and
fully discussed this question that nothing is
left to be said. lie has so placed it, that it
at once assumes an Importance with Re-
publIcans and all others who are ambitious
for even-handed justice, paramount to any
other, as equally affecting the good name
of the Commonwealth and the immunities
of the citizen. 1t is an imperative issue OF
christian duty. of progressive civilization,
and human destiny, and rises in such grand
moral proportions before the enlightened
understanding and conscience as to forbid
that If chnn1d no hoo cnb
dinate to mere material considerations. The
retroactive and repressive legislation which
has stripped the negro of the privileges and
protection which the Constitution and laws
of the country assure him, and instituted
the whipping-post as barbarous punish
ment for the most trivial etfenses, entailing
lasting degradation upon the innocent Off
spring of the victim, that disfranchisement
might be effected for partizan ends, calls
for protest from the moral sense, not only
of Virginia, but of the nation.
Whether the method intimate,l by our
correspondent will prove the most etfectual
to attain the ends he aims to accomplish, is
question that admits of discussion. 1t is
not our purpose at this time, to enter upon
it. We will simply supplement it by an in
vocation to the Republicans of Virginia to
organize their forces, with discipline they
have never before observed, for there has
never been graver issue presented for
their thought and determination. 1t in
wolves the moral and intellectual elevation
of a half million of people who have been
inhibited as race from moral and intellec-
tual training for two centuries. and should
appeal with ten-fold more effectiveness to
the sympathy and moral sense of Ameri-
cans than does the civilization and chris
tianization of the inhabitants of the ''isles
of the sea-" With our forces thoroughly
drilled, our purposes well understood and
clearly defined, the methods can be deter
mined by counsel and deliberation when
the proper time arrives. 1t is very essen
tial, however, that the Republican party of
Virginia should preserve and improve its
organization, and keep aloof from entang-
ling alliances. 1t should hold with strict
fidelity to the cardinal tenets of the Repub-
lican party of the nation, maintain the
symmetry of party faith, and allow no in
novation nor departure which could posi-
bly, reflect upon the record of that party,
other. By this course we can make our
power be felt, and command that respect
our numerical strength is emit led to.