The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-27
Solid South.

The elections this fall are Of great impor
strongly indicate thejcurrent of popular feel
ing, although it is called an off year. There
will be elected full House of Representa-
tives, and State Legislatures which will
choose twenty United States Senators. Be-
sides the election OF Congressman and Leg
lslatures twenty States will elect Govern
ors. The Congressman elected will serve for
two years from March 4. 1888. and include
the counting of the vote for President in
1884. So while it is called an off year, there
will be political results of great significance
and influence.
Recent indications give assurance that
the Republicans i'll direct more attention
to the South in the Congressional elections.
Heretofore, the statements of Southern Re-
publicans as to the possibilities in the
Southern States of Republican gains, have
not been acted upon. 1t seems now that
there will be a closer investigation of the
chances and examination of the influences
to be invoked, with the hope of effectiDg
favorable results. The abatement of sec
tional and race prejudces and the impor-
lance of considering policies affecting ad-
ministration. all bring up issues of national
import, with the possibility of dividing
parties upon them. 1t would be for the
good of the South if such were the case, and
parties arrayed according to convictions as
to principles, instead of passion aid pref
udices growing out of races and sections
In such a contest the Republicans might
expect to make large gains. for majority
of the men of business know that the Re-
publican party is the conservative influence
of the country, and that the government
has been so conducted under its administra-
ton as to conserve business interests. In
fact It is only in this way that any perma-
nent break in the solid South can be eff |
fected. Any mere spasmodic eruptions, re-
sulting from local expedients, will pass |
away as the summers mist, leaving the |
problem of the solid South more difficult of |
solution than before. A few agitators and |
interruptions demagogues might thus get |
into position, but the effect would be to re-
volt the more conservative sentiment, which
by natural and legitimate processes would |
have united with the Republicans, because
OF the principle of the party, and make the
breach even wider than it was before. Nine
tenths OF the Democratic politicians of the
South can be bought with office, and when
a spawned racer of this kind enters the
field as reformer it is not safe to calculate
upon heavy following. Ra ilroads and
furnaces and factories will do more to lib
eralize and revolutIonize the political meth
DDS and associations of the South than all
The Independent movements that can be in
augurated. Men of conviction and of hon
EST purpose are not ashamed to recognize
n the Republican party and its principles,
he conservative influence which keeps bust
less in its proper channels and gives en-
to industrial enterprise of
I'll kinds. The capital and energy which
ire pushing the railroads of the South come
rom Republicans and as these are COM
,leted and facilities to market secured. the
anne class OF capitalists will embark in fac
cries and furnaces, These will be the Re-
publican missionaries, and will have their
fleet in changing and framing public senti-
nent. 1t is to these influences that we b
nust look for dissolved solid South. and
lot to few political mountebanks who are
verything by turns and nothing long I'M i
ess fixed by good fat salary. b