The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-07-27
The Surrender.

dldate TO be supported by it for Congress-
man-at-large. The Virginian was then
cOntending for a regular convention, a
strictly party nomination and a square out
fight with the liberal forces. The Central
Committee-the competent authority of
that faction-did meet, but its action was
not in accord with the views expressed by
our contemporary. 1t virtually endorsed
Mr.. Massey as its candidate. While not
formally resolving to support him, it de-
clared it inexpedient to nom mate regular
Bourbon. and by implication presented Mr..
vass. And the Virginian is now trying to
argue itself into an acceptance OF this de.
termlnation-tO pay its VOWS to Boss
Massey, whom it has arraigned as the re-
lection of all that is vile and detestable in
politics, and only entitled to the loath ing
and contempt OF honest men and the ''best
people" which exclusively constitute the
Bourbon faction.
There has never been in the political his
tory of the State, since 1872, when the
great and good Conservative party of Vir-
ginia endorsed and supported the nominal
ton Of Horace Greeley, for Pres ident, such
a complete stultitication-such an utter dis
regard of all the prOpretles Of party con-
sisteIcy-such an unstinted surrender of
Wanted conviction and pretentious senti-
ment. OF all the men in the State, Mr.
Massey has been the chief of sinners in the
eyes of such straight-laced journals as the
Vtrginidn, and the one man who invited
the indignant denunciatiOn and scathing
rebuke of the Bourbon leaders. Yet Mr.
Massey-who recants nothing, apologies
for nothing past or present, who proclaims
himself to be a Readjuster still, and claims
to be the only simon pure one in the State. is
taken to the embrace of the Virg,an,0n and
presented to the people of Virginia as the
proper man for their support for the high
position of Congressman-at-la large.
Could there be more transparent and
unblushing abandonment of principle, OF
party pride, of self-respect and political
decency than is involved in such course
Could there be anything more revolving to
a sense Of right and justice than for the
Bourbon faction in Virginia-with its re-
cord on the subject-to take up the father
of readjustment''-the inventor OF the most
Objectionable phase of reputation that has
ever been formulated in Virginia, after the
protestations of honor, of virtue and polit-
ical morals by that faction which have been
rung into the ears OF the people for the
past dozen years? 1t is che intensest stu.
pidity and dishonesty that desperation could
beget. 1t is safe to assume that it was the
result of a corrupt bargain, not emanating
from the people, but from certain OF the lead
ers, which the Committee were afraid
to submit TO the ratification OF Con-
vention rejecting the sentiments OF the
masses of that faction. They well knew
that the people. whom the Comm ittee
profess to represent, would never give
their assent to such stupendOus folly :,
and for that reason they presume to thrust
MIR. Massey down their Threats, willing or
not willing. They have learned nothing
from the experience Of 1872. They at
tempted then to dragon the people into
the support OF one of the most obnoxious
public men to the Southern people that
moved in the higher political circles Of Il e
day, and they failed. The people preferred
that the electoral vote of the State should
be cast for Gen. Grant, whom the marplots
and agitators had wickedly taught them
to hate. rather than it should go forth
that Horace Greeley was the choice OF the
people of Virginia for the highest office in
the government. Will they be less mindful
of their self-respect. of their political con-
sstency, of their traditional pride, when
the attempt is made to force upon them a
far more Objectionable politician than
ever was Mr.. Greedy? We think not
The leaders may trim and TT lex and devise
and scheme to escape from the pitiable
plight in which they have been placed by
their intidelity to public trusts. their insin-
certify in public professions, and their I'M
principled dicker for political advantage !;
but the people will never become a party
with a mantle of shame in order to screen
the projectors and promoters OF one of the
most unnatural and dsreputable political
mesalliances which ever disguised the cOun-
try. There are thousands Of Democrats
who have never been identified with the
Readjusters-who have voted against them
consistently in every contest in the past
that will never touch this last act Of politi.
cal perfidy an ] desperation, and rather than
see 1t succeed W i'll unite with the Republi-
cans and Readjusters, in stamping out OF
existence a faction that has fallen so low
in the role of political morals. There is
not single consideration to recommend
it to public acceptance. 1t stands out iso-
lated in the completeness of its illegiti-
macy, and can only excite the disgust and
lOathing of all just men, Of whatever past
political dent itication and association.
The proposition of Gen. Malone in the