The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-27
Communicated.
FALLS CHURCH. FAIRFAX Co., !
January 18th, 1881. {

FALLS CHURCH. Fairfax 70,
January 18th, 1884,.
To the Editors of the Valley Niyinian:
1881 is on us and finds us as much mixed
rs far as the politics of the Stale are con-
cerned as we were in 1879. We are free from
the entanglements of the National campaign
of 1880, and are relegated to the simple ST.
mon-pure question of State polity. Nomi-
nally divided into three parties, Democrats,
Re-adjusters and Republicans, we are practi
cally divided into but two, Liberals and Fo-
gies. 1t is clear to any considerate mind that
the Liberals of both sides can, if united, con-
fur years, and shape her policy as to the
debt, school, franchise and other questions
that have filled the mouths of demagogues
with SO much thunder during the late cam
paign. There is, however, a feeling of dis
trust pervading the people that tends largely
to prevent such harmony as is necessary to
successful coalition. This dIstrust is not like
to be allayed by the discussion going on
in the press and pretending to give the views
entertained by the re-adjusters and republi-
cans respectively, for the simple reason that
he positions assumed by each have more the
appearance of dctation on the part of would
oe party managers for their own benefit, than
Intended for the good of the whole people
The expectation that the re-adjusters will
surrender their id entity and merge with the
repub licans is only excelled in its obtusity by
the idea that the republicans will give in their
adherence to the re adjusters, party strictly
confined to State politics, and with no affilia-
tion even with any national party unless it
be sort of morganatic attachment TO the
democratic party, such as was displayed in the
campaign of 1880. The republicans belong
to a great national party which has shaped
the destinies of this nation for the past twenty
years, and bids fair to continue for some years
longer in the same attitude. The hope of the
e-adjusters that they will relinquish this at
tachment and submit to be merged in the re-
adjuster movement is piece of presumption
md folly. Besides tie republicans have no
lesire to repeat the True Republican folly of
1869. That campaign taught them lesson
which their present distrust of the re-adjus-
ters and their unknown and unannOunced
olicy is the direct and natural result, dis
srust which was not decreased by the action OF
the 7th of July, 1880, convention, conven-
ion composed o a considerable extent of re.
publicans who had been induced to connect
themselves with the movement under the I'M
ression that Il distin Give electoral ticket
would be put in the field unpledged, but who
iaI 1,xyf no aot pf bat
tion to either go over to the democrats,
ii run back to the republican fold. Had that
ton been taken after mature deliberation
even. it would not have been SO disastrous to
,he readjusters, but to attempt to force re-
olblicans into The democratic rank without
ebate and without an opportunity for an ex-
ression of views, savored too much of the
cape sinner and swallow for the indepen-
lent thinking republicans, no matter how
black they might be. A large portion of the
republican party in Virginia are colored men,
,ut they are not therefore fools, nor can they
tgain be made slaves. They are intelligent
beyond the white race, considering the OPP
,,ortuntles of education they have enjoyed
and though like all men, apt to make Mistakes
are not likely to make the same mistake twice
If the liberal movement, known as the read
juster movement, is going to succeed at all, it
must do SO only by union of the liberal men
Of both parties, but they must unite as equals,
they must join as partners. When the read
iusters ask the republicans to give them their
voting strength in aid of their plans it must be
upon plan of perfect equality from which the
distinctive features of democracy and republi-
canism are eliminated, but in which all are to
be treated as equals, and as such entitled to
equal rights and privileges. This was the an
uounced readjuster policy in 1879, but was
renowned in 1873 at the July convention,
when the readjusters thought they had hooked
heir fish. The policy of 1879 is again an
nounced, but the republicans must have better
assurances of the honesty of their friends (?)
than then before they can be induced to re-
pet their former action. Notwithstanding
the stand assumed by the secretary of the
State Republican COMMITTEE, believe that a
coalition between the readjusters and the re-
publicans can be brought about for the mutual
benefit of each, but the assurances must he
tangible and assume shape; the vague as
suIrances and shrugs of the past will not
be accepted as current funds in the flu
lure. The readjusters can never expect the
republicans as republicans to join them in put
ting in one wing of the democracy simply for
the fun of kicking out the other wing. If the
result is simply to be change OF masters with
out any subsisting benefit to themselves they
can better afford to hold their own in the po-
litical field and take whatever advantages the
chickering's and dissensions of the other side
may offer Ii the readiusters will insist on
having all the turkey and giving the republi-
cans all the crow, they can eat their crow with
good grace but it will he republican crow not the
crumbs that fall from the readjuster table, and,
if in 1881 with three tickets in the field the re-
adjusters find themselves in the condition they
were found in 1880, with the funders in pos
session of the State they will realize that they
are in the position of the man who bit of more
than he could chew
+ C. DEPuRoN