Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-04-21
THE CooL1E TRADE IN POLITICS

THE COOLIE TRADE IN POLITICS
We have just laid down Readjuster
paper, and the only one of that political
faith which publishes such matter, con-
tanning two column letter from Ex-Au-
ditor Massey. It seems to be the opening
of series which may be expected from
that gentleman as at the end we find in
prominent letters, STE be continued. :"
With Mr.. Massey's wrongs and plans for
retaliation we have nothing to do, nor in
deed have we anything to.do with any
thing in this letter, save a narrow. yet
continuous thread which stretches from
end to end of the two columns and which
ought to make any free man ashamed to
own that it is part of the wool of his
party organization. We presume that MI.
Massey's statements regarding the rules
of his party organization cannot be sue
cessfully contradicted; the length of time
they have been before the public, the fact
that they have nos been impeached, and
the still more significant fact that it is not
even thought necessary for the party well
fare to impugn them, warrants the reader
in accepting them as literally exact.
Except the long defunct Know Nothing
organization in political matters, and the
Coolie trade, we know OF nothing to ap-
proach the organization of the present Co.
ahtion party in depriving those affected by
it, representatives and people, of the fret
exercise of their Individual liberty. It is
a fact according to Mr.. Massey, and fact
not denied, that Coalition members are
bound by a compact before they Leave their
homes to obey the caucus which is under
the control of the leaders, as securely as
the Chinese Coolie is bound before leaving
Hong Kong to submit himself to the
agents of the Seven Great Companies after
landing at San Francisco. His political
the threat is emphasized after he gets to
Richmond by almost daily repetition from
quarters more or less prominent. Before
public officer can get the keys Of his new
Office or remain in his old one, he too must
sign contract handing his subordinates
over to the caucus.
And this in party whose orators filled
every cross roads in the State with cries
against the tyranny Of the caucus; tiae
miserable caucus system, as John Paul
used to say; the caucus which threatens
the liberties of the people. as our Coalition
contemporaries used to say; that instrument
of oppression against the rights Of the peo-
pie, as Riddleberger used to say, and that
t6ol in the hands Of crafty politicians as
the Rev. John E. Massey himself used to
say-alI in short stretch of months back.
And now this caucus system (which we
may say is healthy symptom of politi-
cal organization when it is really a caucus
OF the minds of the people, but Il most
dangerous one when it gets into the con
troll of one man, is about to attempt to
bind thirty thousand Democrats hand and
foot and CAST them into the Republican
party. The reason for this is not that the
debt question may be settled; that, it is
claimed, is done; not that more liberal Ii VS.
may be passed for the relief of the colored
Republicans, that has been done, but thel
are to be dragged into the Republican par
ty that they may get rid of caucus control
UEC DCuiuciH Phloy 1GCy uta:
be free from any alliance with their Dem
ocratic brethren of America. They are
contracted for to be delivered under the
C0slie system to Arthur's administration.
Will they sign the contract? Some of
them will, saIns that are promised to be
slnall bosses will, bat not the rank and
file. The Coolie system in politics will not
f. well in Virginia.