Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-06-16

y
sTAUNTON. va.
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE is. 1882.
The Democratic party of Virginia has
another opportunity to show whether it
has learned anything and whether it can
learn anything: -Four years ago the can
didates of that party for congress were
stumping the State protesting that the
debt question was State issue and should
not enter into the election of congressman.
They enforced that correct view of the
issue by calling on Democratic Readjus-
tiers, whatever might be their views in
State matters, to rally to the regular NOM
inees of the party for seats in the national
congress. In answer to these arguments
the Democratic Readjusters chung to the
party to the extent Of sending eight Dem
ocrats out of the nine representatives who
were elected. Again, two years ago, when
both an electoral ticket and congressman
were to be elected the same argument was
used by orators, editors and the State au-
thorities of the party. 1t was proclaimed,
nay urged that the Readjuster convictions
of voter or a candidate had nothing to
do with their action in that election. In
response to this correct position the Dem
ocrats of both sections of the party rallied
with such unanimity that the Malone cleo
toral ticket was crushed out. While five
out of the nine congressional districts
were carried by the party and two others
were only lost by small majorities through
the persistently false assertions of the OPP.
position candidates that they too were
Democrats and faithful Democrats.
Last year the party went still further
and put upon its ticket for the post of 1t.
Governor one of the most noted as well as
able Democratic Readjusters in the State.
So much for the record of the party. AS
one of those who Joined in these assurances
given year after year to Democratic Re-
adjusters, we reiterate them now. We
were sincere in what we said then and we
mean to stand by it now. For the Demo-
cratic party, after all the assurances it has
given, to object to candidate after the
debt has been settled because he was Re-
adiuster Democrat before it was settled,
would be an act OF self qualification
amounting to absurdity. Valid political OBJ
jections to candidate now are narrowed
down to this that he is not Democrat
and will not act with the Democratic par
ty in congress if he gets there. Does this
hold good in the cases of Messrs. Massey,
Newberry, Lybrook and others?
Six months ago Mr.. Massey held high
position in the Malone party. That he
could have retained it by the utterance of
single word is conceded by all. He
broke with them rather than submit to a
political boss who had cast his lot with
the Republicans. He has from that day
persistently and uncompromisingly resis-
ted every act of Malone, and with his
four friends has brought that boss and
his well laid plans to grief. In season and
out of season these devoted few have re-
sisted the most arbitrary political tyrant
that ever controlled State. There has
not been an hour up to this writing that
these few men might not by a surrender
to Malone have laid the Democratic par
ty of. Virginia PROSTATE and bound under
his feet. An extra session, the judges
swept away, the congressional repre-
sentation reduced to barely two, and 9th
er calamlties would have rushed in and
overwhelmed it had these men weakened
for a day. is there nothing in such men
as these? Is there to be no grateful re-
membrance for such acts as these2 We're
all the praises sounded by the Democratic
press and voters all through the legsla-
tive dead locks of last winter mere COM
pliments to pass the time?
But to make their case stronger they
ask nothing from the Democratic organi-
cation except to keep their hands off.
They say 1--WE are Democrats like your
selves; we are to-day as true to the Nation
al Democratic party as you are; we ar
campaigning by ourselves at our own
charge and risk to break down a political
boss-all we ask is that you will not put up
man to aid him in beating u.s." That
doesn't sound unreasonable, does it?
So the Democrats are not called on by
consistency. nor by lack of services by
these men to the Democratic party, to
nominate man to aid Gen. Malone il
beating Mr.. Massey. The only voice that
can be raised is that of bitter personal IRE
judice against the man who has uni'rl
three traits in fighting our party-abil-
ty, shrewdness and boldness. How ia
this feeling will carry the Democratic "
tiers is the practical question now at issu
Win it prove strong enough to induce
large per centage of the Democracy II,
aid by inaction the slaughter by Mah.l
OF the representative of large body oT
Dem ocratic Readjusters. who refuse no"
that the debt question is out of the was,
to follow him into the Republica';
camp2 We think not. Massey is in the
field; Mahone's man will be there soon.-
One is pledged to vote with the National
Democratic party in Congress; the other
will be pledged to vote with the Repub'
cans aud support the Republican Admin :
istration through thick and thin. VIII;
there be any doubt about how Democ rat
will vote in that contest?
<-~-
If any of or readers live to see the end
of the protective tariff oppression ia this
country they will have to note marked
resemblance in its progress to destruction,
to that other Institution which it took d
revolution to blot out-slavery. The road
of the one like the path of the other is
milestened with compromises and pro-
crastinations. Just now with a Prott C
tive Tariff President to appoint it, the Op
ponents of the system have been forced to
agree, as the best thing they could get, to
Tariff Commission. OF eight men to
compose this commission President Ar