The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-16
Consistency.

SOuSlSU6uCy.
The Norfolk Firginian is informed that
the VALLEY VIRGINIAN does not aim to
please the hide-bound journals of the Bour-
bon party. While we may not approve all
that has been done or may be done by the
Readjusters, there is nothing that they have
done or are likely to do that is not or will
not be an improvement upon the policy and
practices OF the faction to which our Nor
folk contemporary owns allegiance. The
views of the VALLEY VIRGiNIAN may be
''vascillating" and ''cowardly," according
to the estimate Of the Norfolk Virg,naa.
but they are neither to those who have the
fairness to Judge honestly, and are not in
fiuenced by the blindest partizanism. We
have maintained the necessity for certain
reforms In State policy and correction of
some Of the many wrongs which have been
inflicted upon the people by the Bourbons,
and if these reforms are effected through
the Re-adjusters we shall give them. our
earnest support. We profess to be Repub-
l'cans, but If that party OF itself is power
see effected, then we will direct what infiu-
ence this paper may have to crystalizing the
power Of the coalition forces, so as to per.
petuate Its control in the State, to the end
that such results may be accomplished. 1T il
not so much the party name we care for as
it is the objects for which parties are organ.
lied. When we find the Re-adjusters seeking
| to do justice to the people of Virginia, an6
to remove harsh, illegal and unconstitu
tional restrictions upon their rights, we
shall not stop to debate about the name un.
der which they act, nor sickle about the
\ party association with which we are dent-
| fled. Results are what we desire, and net
| a mere nominalism that cannot accomplish
| results. 1t is not an uncommon thing for
| the Bourbon press to charge the VALLEY
| VIRGINIAN with inconsistency in support
| ing tie RI. adjusters, but this does not dis
turb us In the least. 1t is safe to give aid to
any organization which promises t, change
| the methods Of the Bourbon party and con-
| tribute to the liberalization Of public
thought and respect for the Consultation and
laws of the country. Because we favored
the nomination of Republican State ticket
last fall. 1t did not follow, when we failed
in concentrating that object. that we
| should oppose the very measures we wanted
adopted and carried ito e fleet, for the rea-
son that they were supported by another
organization. Had We advocated the cleo
ton Of Daniel, upon a platform that was
both deceptive and cowardly on the debt
| question, and with the record of his party
directly antagonizng every reform that we
believed good faith and public POLICY de-
manded should be provided for and carried
Out, we no doubt would have been considered
and so heralded by the Bourbon press as
consistent and courageous But this we
did not do, for the reason that Cameron
stood upon platform which proclaimed for
most Of the very legislation the Republi-
cans favored. and even on the debt ques-
ton his position was infinitely more honor
| able and commendable than that maintained
by the BourbOns. There was something
| definite and tangible in the measure of set
Element proposed by the Re-adjus.ers. while
the resolution of the Daniel Convention on
this subject, was contradictory, evasive and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES to deceive. and giving
| no assurance to the creditors or the people
1 disturbing controversy to an end The
views of the Re-adiusters have passed into
law, and the whole matter now stands de
4 termined, unless the Courts shall decide
that this measure of settlement is not con-
stitutional. The Norfolk Virgnian advo-
Gated the election of Daniel upon plat
form that expressed nothing but decep-
tiOns. 1t wrote for and urged the elec
! ton of State ticket. when the second
name on it was identified VI 18th measure
| which the party with which our cotemporary
| is identified pronounced unconstitutional
and the essense of reputation, and de-
| nounced as fiercely as it does the Riddle
| berger bill. 1t was very brave for the Vir-
gilman to srultify itself by such a course
while. in its estimation, it is ''cowardly''
for us to support party that has given the
| testimony OF its sincerity in the practical
/ enactment of legislation, apart from the
debt issue, which we as Republicans be-
lieve to be light and essential to the well
fare OF the Common wealth.
I As we stated in the article quoted by the
| Vrgintan, the general objects of the Re
| adjusters we approve. 1t is not one of
! these objects to pervert power to initiate
| against the very ends declared for. nor do
| we believe it is the policy. of the party to
encourage anything OF the kind. So far
| as the practical citation of the Re-adj busters
to National and State legislation is con-
| cans can reasonably object to So far as
| the attitude of that organization relates to
the Bourbon faction in the State there is
very little that Republicans ought not to
approve, and when the whole policy of the
party shall be matured and the results OF
its deliberations and actions presented for
public judgment. We expect a majority of
the people of Virginia to give it their sane
ton.
The Bourbon press is so much in the hab-
~ Va uCuOuHCiuS cVcI yIHiIS dhu ever uouy
that dare to question the fnfallibility of thai
faction and to resort to epithet instead OF
argument in referring to public questions.
that we are not surprised that our usually
courteous contemporary forgets what is due
to itself and the proprieties of a criticism.in
the discourteous language it has INDUCED
and the ugly spiri manifested. We are at
all times ready and willing to discuss a
question Of fact or theory, and especially
prepared to defend the CO rise of the VAL
LEY NIRGINIAN as perfectly consistent in
principle, in the support it has given to the
Re-adjusters, and proposes TO give, but we
cannot be led into mere exchange of epi-
thets or harsh expressions not justified
either by fact or theory. We leave that
kind ofindulgence to those whose taste may
so incline, not doubting that if they really
had a defeDsible cause to support they
wonld prefer to cultivate higher style of
literature and inculcate nicer public NOR
atty.
Bourbonism dies hard, but its cortor-
tions and gyrations cannot arrest the GER
tain doom that awaits it. We advise our