The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-06-16
Mr.. Keiley's Address.

on the 29th, will be Withdrawn, Is we under
stand it. ~
Mr. Keiley's Address.
We briefly referred, In the last issue Of the
VIRaINIAN, to the address" of Mr.. A. M.
Kelley, Chairman of the estate Executive
Committee OF the Conservative party" We
publish the paper in another column, and
to it we ask the attention OF every Repub-
lican,. and every truly conservative citizsO
in the States
We had hoped that the subduins. and
Graduating influence Of Time woaatl have
precluded from another political contest in
Virginia the irritating and exasperasius
passions which infamed the Hpblic mind An
1869 and 1873, and that the. calm reason q,
the people would be inxaked. to deter mine
the policy and control Of the State, b., her
legislative and executive departments. We
are very sure that. silch.is the desir, Of the
great mass OF the constituent body. And
that deep down. in their hearts here lies q
sincere protestation against the revival Of
the fierce feelings and harmful influences
growing out OF race issues and prejssaiees
Inc Address," Ia graceful sentences anG
rounded periods, essays to drag ~ these
buried passions, and, ignoring all things
else, to kindle afresh the hates. the ,m.al;o.
nities' the very demons OF the human
heart fs 2 The studied phrases. thesofs. attrac-
sflafc etltve, dletlon and. scholarly syllable
arrangements, of wAich Mr.. Kelley ia
master II! were designed to, mellow the desoen.
ate resort to which, appeal Is to be masn.
and to lead the public mind away from the
contemplatiep. OF the real purpose OF the
Aodress sHtL reason shall have been
droWnssatn a tempest of passion and the
ressfs'a&s OF order. the CONSERVATIVES guards
o1soeiety, swept away in a flood IA snishets
AND such are the methods to be, invoked to
preserve the life of our civilization ~ and
establish social order" by aebauching all
the influences which emit er into, "civiliza-
\ ton" and social order .,
Inc evident purpose iof this Address ia to
prepare the people for but one issue-that
VI race prelndlre-.no4' that it is expected
any sooo "iD ems De 10. the Commonwealth
W Sa'o'u" ATTN < alAother questions to it,
'""s 1e n politicians may seize and
.o"''~- the Revenues drawn from the toll Of
l,eople. II the discussion of the politi-
w and domestic issues of 1869 were the
real purpose. there could be- so grsund of
dispute between the parties which will be
arrayed In this contest. Were Mr.. Keil-
ey and his organization to declare for the
political freedom, the public policy and the
constitutional sanctions, which were in.
volved in the contest Of 1869, there migh
be mod itication of the relations OF forcs 1
and a simplification of the issues to. be de
termined. The reference to that campo IGN
Is not to yindicate the verdict then retur ned
but to Justify the treachery which foil owed
and the Justification Of the pledges then
made. Had the issues then decide d; had
the constitutional rights then REF ;ognized
and the liberalism" them proclaim red, been
> sincerely respected, as Mr. Kelley and his
party were in honor bound u, do, there
would now be no occasion for this frantic
appeal to save the party which. champisned
them from the psnalEies Of its infdelity, or
stir up the worst passions of the people
over coahest for power. 1t is because of
the deception practiced In 1863; it is be-
cause OF the betrayal of trust then eonfided:
a. we'll as. Tor the gross mismanagement of
the peoples concerns and the prostitution
Of government to the selfish ends Of parti-
cans and party fayorites that tho -AConserva-
tive" party finds itself controated by pub
lie sentiment that threatens its existence
and the entire rescue Of power from its
hands. sr, ail
1t Is unfortunate for Mr.. Kelley that he
should have alluded to 1868. Had the pawes.
then acquired through the aid of Rspubl; i.
can votes and support OF a, Republican Ma
tional Administration. been justly exs r
cised, and the ends Of its conferment he en-
severely observed, not only would there be
no formidable challenge of its aueASa ity
now, but it would be accepted as the sel ,re-
sentative OF "a progressive civilization. Of Do
Itical liberalism and social order and be- IN so
entrsnched in the confidence of The u ,onle
as TO defy opposition. But it was true
neither to the State nor the National Con-
stitution and obligations. 'rhe power con-
ferred was turned against che very ir .terests
and Influences which Conferred it, and in
stead of rising to the d. .mands of the great
occasion and demons Srat pg to the world
that the people Of Virginia were eoual to
the progressive forces which had been
evoked from the womb Of war. and were ca
paeie Of main Gaining and controlling all
sne Few relat' .ons that had sprung from the
E.cial, indu' Arial and politica; revolution
through VIII Ichthey had passed, the Conserva-
tive party shrank back from the great work,
falsified its promises, betrayed its trust, and
prostlt'Ite6the white man g civilization In ar
effort t0debaueh and degrade the condition
OF another class Of beings. We confess
that we do not understand that kind of civ
ilization which aims to shut out incentives
and opportunities for advancement and i'm
provement from any portion Of Gods crea-
ton, endowed with moral and intellectual
perceptions; nor can we appreciate the
methods Of government that fall short OF
the liberal intentions of the laws and consti-
tuition of the country. But for this back
ward tendency, this shrinking from duty
assumed because it was imposed by Ma
tionsl and State laws; but for the moral cow
ardice which dared not to face and grapple
with the gre at problem that all the interests
ofsociety andgovernment demanded should
he solved in the light of progressive civil
,pation and christian inspiration, Mr..
K.iley's Committee would not now be
haunted by doubts and fears and pressed
ao,yn with the forebodings Of crushing dis.
s..or It is really humiliating to be forced
~ the conclusion that party Boosting Of Its