The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-10-12
The ReVolu ton.

Revolutions always breed excuses. to 4
greater or less extent. When the crystal
lied nsages OF despoGic parties have so
tened in the economy of government, as to
compromise the independent manhood of
the constituent body. it requires extraordi-
airy effort and well tested courage to sue
eessfully assail them. 1t takes long pro
cess of training to stimulate men to the
point OF breaking away from such inilu-
ences and exposing themselves to the pas
sions and hates which are engendered in a
conflic let of this kind. Bat when they are
aroused to sense of duty to themselves, to
their fellow men and the cansc Of good
government, they count not the costs, but
march brayely to the encounter. Trusting in
the right and justice of their position for
success. In such conf lets. excuses will
follow-excesses inc ideut 10 the beat Of
contest, and not the result CT deliberate
judgment and matured conclusion. When
the victory has been won and the calm
comes, the men who dared to assail the en-
trenched position OF the party in power.
may be trusted to carry into effect the re-
forms declared for. and correct minor
abuses growing out Of the passions of the
hour. 1t was a herculean underta king to
break the power of Bourbonism in Virginia.
fortified as it was by the whole machinery
of government and the experience in the
arts of deception and false pretence which
long usage had made almost irresistible. 80
enslaved had the people become to the wiles
and arts OF the rings and the designing few.
that they scarcely dared to utter a word of
protest to the accumulated wrongs they
were suffering. They knew not their own
their own manhood. They obeyed orders
for to disobey involved a system of perse-
cutIon and prescription. in all the relations
of life, which few men cared to encounter.
The State was drifting on and on to the
very verge of ruin, and yet the courage
was wanting to stem and arrest the fatal
current. The few reveled in the pelf of
place and power, while the many silently
endured the wrongs which were daily in
tlicted upon them. Each year they accu-
mulated. The occas ional murmur of dis
content only melted the despotic enginery
Of the rings to quiet and suppress. The tyr
amy grew upon what it fed,and insolent in
the power thus acquired, it ruled with a
tyrant's hand the force which covered to
its support.
But the revolt came. as it comes to all I'M
bearable expressions. Aroused to sense
of the humiliation they had suffered the
people determined to throw off the yoke
and assert their rights and their manhood
1t was only then that they comprehended
how much they had endured and what
wrongs had been imposed upon them. 1t
was the first step in the revolution, and
once inaugurated and manned. it went on.
until one after the other of the stronghods
fell before it. The final assault is now to be
made, and the marshalled and marshalling
forces will be- equal to the occasion. Bourbon
ism must die-its power be destroyed and
the people emancipated from its iron rule
Whatever excuses may be committed in
the decisive encounter. need excite no
alarm. The courage of the people which
dares to rebuke wfong-doing and crush tyr
amy will measure up to the emergency.
and assure the State wise and healthful
government, administered in the interest
of the common welfare and for patriotic
ends.
The peODle now know Their noWpr and
they mean to assert it through the forms of
law and for lawful purposes. They are APP
preaching the decisive struggle, and with
victory achieved. as it will be as certain
rs the day OF final conflict comes, they
the reforms which the public welfare de-
mandS