Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-31
Appeal to the People.
Rooms EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OF

CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
RICHMOND, October 80, 1882
10 the Conservative People of Virginia:
In the election which impends you are
called on to determine two questions:
First, whether you arc ready to bow your
necks to the most degrading slavery that has
ever been dreamed of in the politics of peo-
pie pretending to be free.
Second, whether at the bidding of man
who has found his profit in the easiness of
political virtue, you arc ready to abandon
the principles of your whole lives to en-
brace what you have abhowed, to support
what you have always resisted, and meekly
kiss the hands Of those who for fifteen
years have trampled on every right and
interest you cherish, and scorned and in
suited every feeling and sentiment you hold
dear
as to the first, it would seem an affront
TO white men TO argue it, Party organiza-
ton may demand executive leadership; but
when the leader of Il party lramples on its
written faith; annuls the peoples will, in
the most solemn form expressed; tics with
sealed pledges their representatives hands.
anu gags their mouths; demands personal
servlity TO himself rs the price Of public
favor, and pollutcs the sanctity of legisla-
tive trust to personal profit and private
vengeance, tyranny has been established
more dangerous than that imposed by arms
lnasmuch as it implies coutented abase-
ment,
Nor should the second question be less
easy dissolution. All disguise is now aban-
doned. You who never cast Republican
vote are now boldly summoned to torswear
the principles of your lives, and sustain
stalwart rcpublicanism and its President
Less than two years ago the unanimous
white people of Virginia repudiated both.
and those who appeal to YOU now to become
turncoats united in that reputation. Were
you then and have you for fifteen years been
fools and false to your State? Was all the
wisdom and patriotism of Virginia then and
at all times confined to the negroes and the
Federal oiliceholders? Do YOU proclaim
yourselves incapable Of the duties of free
men? Was that continued orgry of corrup-
ton and maladministration which drove the
southern people to despair right, and wise,
and just and your protest against it flcli.
| Gus and unpatriotic? Is that "stalwartsm"
which the disguised republicans of the
North are spewnS out of their mouths the
only fit food for Virginians? Is that dis
giaccd form of RepuMicanism which the
State of Garfield has already rcpudiated,
and the State Of Arthur is certain to re-
nounce, the only lit faith for democratic
| Virginia?
Lightly indeed must principle sit on the
| Virginia people if this wholesale apostacy
be possible. Toyou, white men of Virgins,
who upon this issue have never failed
or FILTERED, these questions are now sub.
! mitted.
Our State disputes no longer divide us.
All that is political in this canvass is ma
tIonaI. In that field Virginia has never
answered with unnccrtain sound. Let us
stand together now on that issue as we
hayc ever stood. The time has not quite
come to admit that the only fit people to
rule this State arc the ncgrocs-thc proper
people to wear collars the whites. In the
support of Mr.: Massey, the debt-paying
democrats vindicate the sincerity OF their
position that in Federal elections they TO-
norea State controversies Let the rcadjust-
| er-democrats show, us we confidently be.
lieve they will, that they are equally true to
their national principles, and that no power
can make them betray their State From
every quarter the tidings come that this
confidence is we'll founded. In every direc-
ton selErespecting men and patriotic men
recently opposing Us are proving the truth
of their professions that, however they might
be readustcrs in State affairs, in national
Affairs they were democrats. All the omens
point to a closing Of the unhappy breach
that has divided us and the restoration Of
Virginia to the line of those certain States
upon which radicalism calls for support in
vain. 4. NJ KELLEY. Chairman.