The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-09

solely for the attainment OF
if mercenary spirit dominates in the pO-
| teal arrangements which may be at
tempted in State elections. We deem it
appropriate at this time to put on record
these precautionary remarks, and to warn
against any inconsiderate policy that
few ill-advised and self-assumed leaders
may seek to inaugurate. 1t is we'll enough
to remember that the Republicans of Vir-
ginia are not slaves-that they are not in
sensible to insult, aud that when struck they
can strike back again. The general objects
Of the Coalition party in Virginia, as de-
clared, We approve, and this approval, we
will endeavOr to make effective, if the
methods to be adopted to accomplish these
objects are just and fair. Let there be the
manifestation OF an unselfsh devotion to
the cause, and not a reckless hunt after Of
fee and the subordination of the power
created by the coalition to the inordinate
greed of few hungry office-seekers, and
there will be no difficulty in not only main
tanning the present strength of the party,
but of largely adding to it, and fixing it in
power as the controlling political authority
of the State for years to come.
Recurring to the arrangements of the
Congressional districts, we call attention to
the jerem lads of the Bourbon press because
of what, they allege, is the p.rtizan injus-
tice OF the districts proposed. 1t is only ne
cessary to refer to the palpable wrong in
hicted upon the minority in the State by
the Conservative party in the apportion-
ment under which the State has been gov
erned for the past ten years. Out of nine
districts it was designed that the Republi-
cans should only have two, provided they
could not be cheated out of them. In one
of the two the methods the Conservative
adopted succeeded in converting marked
minority into winning majority, and e "
ing the Conservatives eight out of the nine
members of Congress. AS a specimen of
the fairness OF the Conservative party, We
refer to the seventh district. Under the
apportionment Of 1901 it ran from the
Allegheny mountains almost to the sea. 1t
formed veritable shoe-string, with lines
as irregular as worm fence, and embracing
terests, everything, indeed, connected with
it being made secondary to partizan con-id-
erations. And this district was only a spec
linen of the others-all exposing a purpose
of injustice to the people, that the dominant
party might have the exclusive privilege of
filling the offices 18th their own aspirants.
The methods and policies of the defunct
Conservative party, as manifested in the ap-
portionment of lS70-7l, should close the
mouths of the heirs to its remains, against
any complaints of the coalition organiza-
ton. Whatever Of partizan advantage the
latter may take of the present opportunity,
finds justification and warrant in what the
minority did when in the majority, and
roost.
Under the apportionment as reported to
the Legislature, the Re-adjusters or COali-
tionists will be able to elect eight out of the
ten certainly, and by slight break in the
Bourbon column. give them a fighting
chance for nine. Indeed the Bourbon
strength in Virginia is an uncertain guam
tity, and it will be so even in the Eighth
District. To be bereft of patronage from
the State and National Government will be
source of great lamentation. for where
the treasures are there may be found the
Boul bon heart. And when the rank and
file find that they have nothing to gain Ell
Their in the State or Nation by following the
fortunes of their shorn leaders they will be
very apt to gravtate towards the fesh-pots,
and cast their lot where there is POSSIBLE
crumbs. The Sixth and Eighth districts
will be Democratic according to the vote
cast for Governor in November last, but
that is no guage of the party strength for
the future. That poll was made under the
delusion that it was impossible for defeat
to overtake the insolent and despotic organ
ization that had SO long reveled in unchal-
lenged power. That spell has been broken.
The dead and dying of the once victorious
column are strewn all along the public
highways, and the instinct to escape from
the disaster and ruin which surround the
fallen props, will naturally induce the de-
moralized following to rush into more Sc
cure and promising association. A stam-
pede, therefore, is not improbable, and
election day in November next. may dis
cover the fact that there is nothing so alb
horrent to thehverage Democrat as the alb
sence of spoils. and nothing so attractive
as the hope of the opportunity of running
his arms up to the pits into the public crib
So not even the two districts assigned them
by co tesy are certainly secure.
May we not reasonably hope. that with
six of the other districts represented in
Congress by liberal minded gentlemen, such
as now speak for the Seventh and Ninth,
the old Commonwealth in sympathy and
alignment with the progressive ideas of the
times, that Virginia will be advanced to
new life and fresh hope inspire the people.
to have Virginia in the next Congress, both
in the Senate and in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, presenting an almost unbroken
front to Bourbonism, and giving assurance
to the world that the dead past was to bury
its dead, and the living present was to
be availed of to lift the old State out of the
ruts and quagmires in which she had been
fastened by pig-headed, obstructive poll
ticians.
It is reported in kilograms from WASH
ington that Hon. w. E. Chandler will be
appointed by the President Secretary of the
Navy and that Post Master General Howe
will be tran sferred to the Interior Depart