The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-01-12


source and nursery. In that year the Re-
adiuster party was brought into existence,
and in the formulation of its platform, it
declared for a liberal policy as it affects all
political rights. and for the restoration OF
the Constitution TO the provisions it con-
tanned. as il related to this subject, when
adopted in 1869. The matter, however, was
approached with great deal of caution,
until it became apparent that there was no
prospect OF the organization of formida-
BILE political power to contend with the
Bourbon Democracy. unless the sentiment
of the State which was arrayed against tn is
amendment was cOnciliated. A deep
prejudice had been inculeated against the
equal privileges of the colored man, and
it was only by degrees that those who had
been identified with the Conservative party
and were in part responsible for its acts,
could be brought to realize that great
wrong had been committed in the assault
that had been made upon the freedom of
the ballot. Even in the last canvass the
Bourbon wing of that party staked its sue
cess mainly upon this issue, encouraging
the belief that the preindices OF race would
submerge all other considerations. and the
result vindcate their policy. In this they
were mistaken and sadly disappointed. The
verdict of the people brought them to a re-
alizng sense of their own perverslty. and
taught lesson that presents its fruits in
the action of the Legislature on Friday
last. Before the people, when the resembling
resolution shall be submitted. we anticipate
as feeble opposition as was recorded the
other day, and that the repressive and vim
dictive policy embraced in the restriction
will be protested by all almost unanimous
popular vote.
la glancing over the past five years. and
recalling the views the VIRGINIAN has adj
and paramount prediction has been liter
ally fulfilled. Time and again did we warn
the imperious and aggressive party that had
perpetrated this wrong. that it would be
the cause of its overthrow and destruction
unless it were corrected. We believe in the
law of equivalents as applied to business as
we'll as politics. We are deep-rOo in
the conviction that no individual, party or
people can commit an act of bad faith-be
guilty of glaring moral delinquency-w with
out at some time or another suffering the
penalty of it. Time is certain in its re-
venges, to say nothing of eternity-and po-
litical parties can no more violate moral
sanctities and outrage moral principles with
| impunity than can individuals. In support
| of the views we enterta ined and gave ex.
preston to through these columns. we have
| had to encounter abuse, Remuneration and
prescription. There was arrayed in opposi-
ton, at one time, every paper in the State
nearly every prominent public speaker, and
the great bulk of the wealth and Intelligence
of the people. The whole power OF the State
| Government was subordinated to the work
of sustaining the prejudices. the hates and
prescriptions of the party that had perpe-
trated the wrongs. and conscious OF its
strength aud aggressive in its methods. 1t
secuted and scorned all warnings, all expos
| tulations and all reason. But there were
| forces at work, unseen it may be, which
| wormed into the very heart of this intoler-
emit organization. Mutterings OF discomfort
were heard now and then-spasmodie re
volts occasionally manifested and finally
the very desperation Of its desptosm. forced
its former leaders, which consummated its
| overthrow. After five years of strife an l
turmoil, of arrangement and persecution,
because of the policy involved in this
amendment, the very men who were instru-
mental in its adoption. have aided in secur-
| ing its repeal, and the constitution is to
be placed back where it was in 1869
Had these five years of bitter elimination
and recrimination over question of party
advantage on the one side and manhood
| rights on the other, been directed to the
building up of the material interests OF
the State-inviting immigration. and edu-
eating the popular mind up to the duty of
obeying the laws and Constitution of the
country, how much better it would now be
for the Commonwealth
We shrank from the situation as we
found it in 1869, instead of bravely Crap
pling with it. II the moral courage and
manhood of the State had been invoked. in
stead of its hates and preiudices, imaginary
difficulties would have vanished, public
opinion been moulded to fit the emergen-
cies, and advanced ideas, growing out of
the changed relations of the State and
country, accepted and practically intro
duced into our political economy. We,
however, looked backward instead OF for
ward-instead OF living up to the present
and forecasting the future, we turned TO the
flesh pots. and fingered among the ruins
our own folly had occasiOned. We have
now taken forward step. and embracing
the true philosophy Of the situation, are
preparing to encounter its difficulties, like
brave people should. Conscious OF our
moral and intellectual strength, aud that
our courage and intelligence will be equal
to the demands upon them, we can dare 10 G
just to the weak and ignorant, and play
our part in the great work of elevating to
proper plane of civilization and usefulness
those Wbo. by some mysterious ordering of
Providence. we're for two hundred years
placed outside OF the pale of that broad
christian teaching which alsqnld attend eve
ry human being. endowed with Hiaptal and
4oral consciousness.
Indee4 we did not seem to comprehend
the import Of sSe revolution which struck
the shackles from fopF millions of human
beings. and converted them from chattels
into citizens, nor our duty growing OPT of
this radical change in our relations TO
them. To surface appearance 1t was huge
difficulty to solve the problem presented to
Ills. Tie ignorance prevailing with them,
and the raoral obtusity existing, were The
results OF the system Of slavery we encopr- 1
aged and sustained, end as we had been /
Willingly or Mgwillingly. in 4
the institution, the tcorFelativc |
Iutv was imposed OF correcting the wrongs /
,hus inflicted to the extent OF our power. |
We did not reach up to this pregnant and |
ID Important fact. We only considered the