Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-11-07
A Striking Appeal to the People.

ROOMS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF !
CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
RICHMOND, Oct. 80. 1882.
To the Conservative People of Virginia..
In the election which impends you
are called on to determine two ques-
tiOns ev
First, whether you are ready to bow
your necss to the most degrading slave
ry that has ever been dreamed of in the
politics of a people pretending to be free
Second, whether at the bidding of q
man who has found his profit in the
easiness of political virtue, you are ready
to abandon the principles of your whole
lives to embrace what you have ever alb
horred, to support what you have always
resisted, and meekly kiss the hands of
those who for fifteen years have tram
pied on every right and interest you
cherish, and scorned and insulted every
feeling and sentiment you hold dear.
AS to the first, it would seem an af-
front to white men to argue it. Party
organization may demand executive
leadership; but when the leader of q
party tramples on Its written faith an
nuls the peoples will, in the most SOL
emn form expressed !; ties with sealed
pledges their representatives hands, and
gage their mouths demands of OfpersOnal
servility to himself as the price of pub
lie favor, and pollutes the sanctity of
legislative trust to personal profit and
private vengeance, a tyranny has been
established more dangerous than that
imposed by arms, ,inasmuch as it implies
contented abasement.
Nor should the second question be less
easy of solution. All disguise is now
abandoned. You who never cast a Re-
publican vote are now boldly summon
ed to forswear the principles of your
lives, and sustain Stalwart Republican,
ism 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 turn
coats united in that reputation. Were
you then snG have you for fifteen years
been fools and false TO your State? Was
all the wisdom and patriotism of Vir-
ginis then and at all times confined to
the negroes and the Federal Office hold
ers? Do you proclaim yourselves inca
pable of the duties Of free men ? Was
that continued orgy of corruption and
malsdministration which drove the
southern people to despair right, and
wise, and just, and your protest against
it factiOus and unpatriotic? Is that
"Stalwartism ?" which the disgusted
Republicans of the North are spewing
out of their mouths the only fit food for
Virginlans? Is that disgraced form of
Republicanism which the State of Gar
field has already repudiated, and the
State of Arthur is certain to renounce,
the only fit faith for Democratic Vir-
ginia
Lightly indeed must principle sit ON
the Virginia people If this wholesale
or0afqau no n6SSihin To vDhifo
men of Virginia, who upon this issue
have never failed or faltered, these
questions are now submitted.
Our State disputes no longer divide
us. All that is political in this canvass
is national. In that field Virginia has
never answered with uncertain sound.
Let us stand together now on that issue
as we have ever stood The time has
not quite come to admit that the only
fit people to rule this State are the ne
groes-the proper people to wear collars
the whites In the support of Mr.. Mas.
sey, the Debt Paying Democrats vindi-
cate the sincerity of their position that
in Federal elections they ignored State
controversies Let the Readjuster DEM
ocrais show, as we confidently believe
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 well found
ed. In every direction self-sespecting
men and patriotic men recently oppos-
ing us are proving the truth of their
professions that, however they might be
Readjusters In State affairs, in national
affairs they were Democrats. All the
omens point to closing of the unhappy
breach that has divided US and the re-
storation of Virginia to the line of those
certain States upon which Radicalism
calls FOR support in vain.
A. M. KELLEY, Chairman.