The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-06-15
The Situation.

the plain intimation from several OF their
leading papers, and the concurrent opinion
OF larger number Of less prominent jour-
nails, that even Mr.. Massey will be accepta-
bile to them. IL his candidacy presents the
most plausible solution OF the difficulties
which hedge about them. 1t Is inferrable
from the expressions thus far, that there
will be no State Convention of the repre-
sentatives of that faction. Two reasons
suggest themselves why this will be the
policy. First, that in a body Of delegates,
coming from the various districts Of the
State, the Emergencies on questions which
might be presented for consideration in
any platform to be formulated, would be 30
great that harmony would be next to Inn
possible. Second, the formal nomination
of Bourbon candidate, would crystalize
all elements OF oppOstion, and be distinct
announcement to Mr.. Massey that he must
look elsewhere for succor and support
This would leave the following Of the NOM
inee to the supporters of Daniel in the
Gubernatorial contest, and make defeat as
sured. The signs therefore discourage the
policy of straightout fight with the liberal
forces of the State, and suggest the policy
of some kind of expedient to inspire hope
in the forlorn ranks Of the faction the peo-
pie have so recently repudiated.
That sagacious and spirited journal, the
Lynchburg Aduance, intimates plan OF
operation, which, while it exposes the
straits to which the Bourbons are driven,
reveals, also, the desperate means which
may be called into action. That journal
says, ''the State can be represented in the
next Congress by eight Democrats and two
Republicans, all ti-Mahone and anti-Ar-
thur. 1t will only require the usefulness
Of 1869 and the activity of 1873" The ex-
PLANTATION OF this is that either Massey or
Republican may be taken up, as Gilbert q.
Walker, Republican, was accepted in
1869, and the brutal and outrageous cam
paign of 1873 against Hughes be repeated.
The low nature of these two conte sts and
the absence of all legit innate argument and
manly disputation revive the remembrance
of theconglomerate following and incongru-
Gus admixture which we're afterwards crys-
talized into the Conservative party, and the
vicious and wicked appeals which were
made to the prejudices of race and the
hates of passion, to influence the people to
the desperate work necessary to success in
1873. .s .....s
| 1t is true, the methods adopted succeeded,
but it should not be forgotten that the sue
cess then achieved inf icted upon the Com
monwealth wrongs and burdens from which
the people have not yet escaped, nor
will they ever escape, unless the YER
dict recorded last fall is repeated again
this fall, and the liberal policy inaugurated
becomes the settled policy of the State.
In view of the probable combinations and
coalitions which may be made by the
Bourbons, as indicated not only in the out
| givings of our Lynchburg contemporary, but
| from various other influential sources of
kindred political sympathy, what becomes
the duty of all who are opposed to Bour-
bon legislative record, Bourbon proscrip-
ton, and Bourbon hate? We have the
plain intimation that common cause
will be made with all who can be Sc
| duced, bribed or driven into a combina-
ton against the dominant political force liz
the State, and no appeal, no device or de-
ception, however false, corrupt and trans
parent, will be disowned or sighted
which can be availed Of to effect the ends
had in view. Republicans, especially,
should recall the wrongs which have been
inflicted upon them the ISLANDERS and in
suits they have endured, and the calum-
mics they have had to bear. They should
remember the insidious assaults which have
been made upon the public schools, simply
because they were designed to educate and
elevate the poor children Of the Common
wealth; the resurrection and practical en-
forcement of the brutal and barbarous
whipping-post law the practical violation
of the National Constitution in the disfran-
chising clause engrafted upon the State
Constitution by partizan trickery and de-
ception, and the prostitution of the ballot
box to the corrupt and dishonorable ends
of party. Let them but look back over the
contests of the past thirteen years and
bring in review the bitter trials through
which they have passed and the persecu-
lions they have been subjected to, in all the
relations of life-political, social aad in
dustrial-simply because they claimed the
privilege and right to think, speak and act
as their judgment and conscience dictated,
and then ask themselves what is their duty
in the emergency before them. In the
presence of such remembrances, surely,
all mere selfshness will give way to the
supreme necessity that confronts them OF
.defeating faction that has been capable in
the past of perpetrating such wrongs, and
which now has the unblushing effrontery to
appeal to the spirit of those wrongs to
give vitality to it's demoralized and desper-
circumstances, any obstructive methods.
reaching no higher than selfish ambitions,
and tempered by no purer motive than
selfish gains, should find no countenance
or support, with people who know what
the ''usefuln ess of 1869 and the activity OF
| 1872 mean.
And the Readjusters should calmly sur
vey the field before them, and manfully
take in the situation as it exists. They
should not only give thought to the fierce
I conflicts through which they have passed,
and the allies who have stood by them, and
given them their success, but they should
rise to that magnanimity which lifts cause
above individuals and eschews all selfish
aims, in contemplating the beneficent work
that has been and is yet to be accomplished.
There is way to crystalize the liberal
forces of the State into conquering power.
and there is way to disintegrate and
weaken and scatter, and dissolve into
sneering and jarring factions. Should the
| liberal elements come down to the work
with brave hearts and determined wills,
willing to subordinate personal iealousies
and aspirations to the vital and essential in
terests involved. there would be no difficulty
in consolidating and unifying the influences
necessary to success, and achieving q
triumph which will shape the political
destiny of the State, and be felt far beyond
the limits of the Commonwealth. There
must be the absence of selfish purpose for
this or that man to be preferred, unless the
=. I. <hok