The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-21
TO the Republicans of Virginia.

|
Idjusters and Republicans, is an insult to
every Republican who respects the princi-
ples and achievements of his party. 1t is
not only insulting, but it would be de-
grading were it to be accepted. There is
nothing in the past OF the leaders of the Re-
ldjusters which is sympathetic with the pro-
LESSONS and the beliefs of Republicans
Their whole political live shave been one con-
tinuous expression of bitter hostility to the |
party and the measures it holds
the most revolutionary and ruinous notions
Of finance, exhibiting an amount of igno-
rance and stupidity on that question only
equalled by their reckless disregard OF the
integrity Of the government and the inter
ests of the people. The Republican party
was met at every turn and confronted
with the widest greenback theories by
the Democratic party when the government
was struggling to restore the currency to
safe basis, inspire confidence in business.
and preserve the honor and credit OF the ma
ton, when these leaders were ofthe EXTREMIST
d emocrats. They denounced the Republic
can party, as the representative of corrupt
monopolists, the agency of the peoples
oppression and the enemy of the peoples
prosperity. Not until the Republican p rty
had established the financial system of the
government, rescued its credit from ruin
and restored the currency to its normal re-
lations to business did they cease their wild
rawlings about greenbacks and their crazy
suggestions about the financial policy OF the
government. And now no one knows where
they stand. or what they will advocate. 1t
Is presumed they will pursue that course
which will be the most likely TO get them
votes and pay, for their record heretofore
has been nothing but low appeals to igno-
rance and cupidity that Office might follow,
msnifesting no acquaintance with or con-
Germ for principle as it affects government
obligations. no more than they do of State
obligations. Not a word has been uttered
by them to indicate change of conviction,
II such thing they ever had about the
true policy of the government in this re-
spect.
Upon State questions every one of them
. Is recorded against the rights the Constitu-
ton assures to the colored race, and every
one of them was bitter in his denunciation
of the claim Republicans made, under the
Constitution, to fair and just dealing. They
supported the proposition to impose the
poll-tax restriction upon suffrage in the
face Of its plain violation of the National
Constitution and the solemn pledge of Viz
ginia. They advocated and supported the
proposition to change the criminal law so
rs to enlarge its DISTINGUISHING scope, and
establish the whipping-post in violation of
the plghted faith of the State when adj
mitted to representation in Congress. Eve
~ offensive law upon the statute book
found favor in their eyes, and whenever they
were in position to give them effective
support 1t was given. There is not stat
ute, there is not a political thought, which
Is complained Of by the Republicans. that
the Re-ad;uster leaders have not been fore
most in supporting. There is not SANDER
or an epithet which has been used against
"SSA'
the loudest in mounting.
When Judge Rives rescued the two Hen
~ county negroes from the gallows, because
OF the denial Of the equal rights OF citizens
and the form of trial the Constitution guar
anteed, they were loudest in their denun-
citation Of what they called Federal usurpa-
ton and the destruction of State rights land
were aggressive in their demands for his
impeachment by the Congress of the United
States.
With similar fierce denunciation was this
brave and upright Judge met by these same
Re-adjusters when he caused to be arrested
the County Judges who had defied the
United States law in refusing to have ne
grees summoned as jurors. and his perse.
cution never ceased until the Supreme
Court Of the United States put stop to il
BY sustaining every position he had taken
And yet these same Re-adjusters have the
impudence to claim that they and not
Judge Rives reversed the persistent policy
Of the judicial practice in the State, in re-
fusing the right of the negro to sit on ju
ries.. They claim that their ''liberaP' pol
icy had brought about the change. and moi
the stern enforcement of the law by Judge
Rlyes, when it is known that every one o.
them. who was then in the Legislature OF
held relation to politics to approach tho
public, denounced the Judge as usurpel
and an enemy OF his State and people.
Prominently instrumental in opposing
the poll-tax restriction, and in infiictiDg the
whipping post punishment, they now pre-
Tess to desire the repeal of these wrongs o.
their own creation, and because of this pro
fession. insolently ask the entire Republic
can party to abandon their principles, then
Organization and national identity and fol-
low them
We have not the patience to calmly COM
ment upon such monumental impudence.
Their pretenses and deception should be
ecoffed and scorned by every Republican in
the State, for it is so plain that he who runs
may read, the moving consideration with
them ia power and place, which they could
not attain in the regular Democratic organ
ization. They want Republicans to desert
their own cause and principles, and support
them, when they have not the courage to an
nounce that they either now or hereafter
intend to cooperate or act with that party
They propose, with their record before the
country, that Republicans shall entrench
them in power, in consideration OF their
clamor about the whipping-post and the
capitation tax restriction, in advance OF any
modification of this work of their own
hands, and with no other qua rantee than a
promise to aid in undoing their own mis-
chief. Republicans must endorse their
scheme to rob the States creditors of one
ehird of their honest dues; must accept
their record in opposition to the financial
policy OF the National Republican party ;
must forget their active instrumentality in
placing upon the statute book all the often"
.sive legislation designed to deprive Repub-
shcans of their con Ftitutional rights and de-
grade the negro, simply because he asks
what the laws of the country assure him /;
foa kbol ycti oil OF m n