The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-05-05

4
wise and prudent conclusion, and frame
policy that will commend itself to the COM
non sense Judgment and understanding Of
,he people, especially the Republican peo-
Die Of Virginia, who constitute two-thirds
IF the liberal force of the State. Every Re-
publican vote will be nee ded to make sue
cessful any programme that may be inau-
and with that secured the contest
will be bitter, exacting and extremely
doubtful. Denunciation Of ''otfice holders"
the classification as obstructionists and
Bourbons of those who do not believe that
the Re-adjusters have been divinely
anointed as the embodiment of Liberalism,
will not bring about that result. There
must not only be accord 'between the Re
publican Senators and the Administration,
but with the Republicans of Virginia, in
order to effect the ends so anxiously de-
sired by those the Tribune's correspondent
speaks for, and indeed by all who wish to
see the ruinous rule of Bourbon Democracy
in the South broken. This harm Ony can
not be promoted by denouncng Federal
office holders,'' or striking down those who
have stood in the front of the battle in be-
half of Republican principles.t to crafty the
nordinate greed for office OF these new
lights of liberalism, for it is not reasonable
to suppose that Democratic office holder
would be more earnest or effective in his
influence with Republicans than Repub-
lican office holder. Gen. Malone himself,
if the newspaper statements are correct, is
showing want of sagacity in his raid upon
the small post offices of the State to crafty
the cravings of his Democratic following,
for he ought to know that not single vote
can possibly be gained by such policy,
| while numbers will likely be lost by it,.
The worm will recoil when tread upon, and
when men who have voted and worked for
the Republican party are prescribed at the
instance of Re-adjuster and for the bene-
fit of Re-adjuster, it is not reasonable that
they or their friends should cherish any
kindly remembrance OF the act, or fall in
love with the policy. 1t must not be for
gotten that the Republicans number nearly
three to one of the liberal force calculated
upon and that success is impossible without
their full cooperation. This cannot be
gained by hostile methods, and to the de-
gree that such have been e. couraged, is it a
blunder on the part of the administration,
and Gen. Malone, too.
Neither "Dr. Jorgensen" nor the Ma
tional Repubhcan-reflecting extreme views
Oh either side Of the questions safe adj
wiser, nor should the policy in the State be
guaged by the suggestions OF either, If we
are correctly Informed of their respective
positions. It is no time for hasty conclu-
sions or impatient and acrimonious contro-
versy; but for grave elaboration and an EN-
lightened practical policy, compromising
and recognizing all the difficulties to be
surmounted and the conflicting views and
feelings to be reconciled. The rustic pill
grims. who have crowded into Washington
for the past two months and besieged the
halls of the Arlington and hung about the
outer walls of the Senate Chamber. hoping
and expecting for some kind of official
lightning to strike them, are not the source
of information the safety Committed
ought to look to. They would have beer
there all the same, and with much NOR,
propriety and consistency, had Hancock
whom they supported, been elected, ant
would have entered their plants will
equal fervor under the auspices Of Demo
, cratic administration. There is such a thin.
as paying too dearly for whistle, especial
" when its commercial value is not full
known, or its usefulness accurately meas
ured We have good authority for the say
ing that putting old wine in new bottles
, not the best thing to be done, as the philo
sophical result is generally bursting pro
cess.
We have written thus frankly because W
believe it right and proper to do so, an
: equally necessary for those who are nov
arranging the Virginia campaign that the
should understand the situation. 1t is n
time to deal in fancy sketches or idealisti
theories, but plain, tangible facts must b
considered and digested, for without this
done the experiment suggested in Virgini
will not only prove disastrous and destrut
tive failure here, but may eliminate in eve
greater damage in other sections. In grasp
ing for the bird in the bush, several birds i
hand may be sacrificed, and wailing be in
dulged when 1t is too late.