The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-03
The "straightoutn Committee.

10 lttee, or what is left OF IT, OF the Republi- |
can party of Virgin ia. It will be seen from
them that a certa in kind of arbitrary rear
rangement of its members was decided
upon, by what authority. it is left for the
members to determine. Certainly no one who
feels any interest in the future Of the Re-
publican party of the State will manifest
the least concern about it. II was Just as
easy for it to read out certain members ap-
pointed by the last Convention OF that wing
of the party, as it was to adopt. in pre-
functory way, a set of resolutions, and then
declare for a policy the operation OF which
would have the effect 10 defeat the objects
for which the resolutions proclaim. IL was
well enough for this august body, while
in serious, if not solemn elaboration to
assume plenarv powers-usurp the functions
OF a Convention-and do all things neces-
sary to make up a mutual admiration So
ciety, with none to modest or make it
afraid. 1t would not have been out of place,
after having applied the knife to certain of
its peers nominated candidate for Con-
gresham at large placed the seal of IFS
condemnation upon the administration of
President Arthur formulated a platform
and announced policy, for it to have pro-
ceeded to declare the Executive Chair of
the State vacant, and requested the reaig-
nat ion of Gen. Malone from his seat in the
United States Senate. Its right was just as
clear to have done these things as it was to
| assume vacancies which did not exist, and
| to III them by the selection of gentlemen.
whom its wisdom endorsed. 1t might with
the same propriety have announced the
| next Republican candidate for the tPresi-
dency, and thus saved the expense and
| worry of the assembling Of National
Convention. Bewldered by the vacancy
that surrounded It-without Il record TO
guide it or future to inspire hope-it Has
poss ible for it to jump to ally conclusion,
however farcical, and pose in any att itude,
however ridiculous. At ime when every
| measure of State policy the Republican
party has ever declared for was at issue.
this comm ittee was as ilent as the grave,
while some of its members were directly
allied with the faction that WAS seek ing to
fasten upon the State the most odious leg
islation, which struck at the most sacred
rights of the colored citizen and stripped
h IN of privileges which the Constitution
and laws of the country assured him. And
now when one Of the most important Of
these measures is at issue and it will re-
quire every Republican and every Read
jlster vote to carry it to a successful con-
cluson, this committee introduces a pro-
gramme which can have no other tendency
than to defeat that which every Repul lican
and every liberal minded man in the State
wishes to see cOnsummated. And yet this
Committee, holding such relation to the
canvass and the questions to be decided,
assumes to reflect Republican sent iment
and champion Republican interests
For years past the Republican party Of
Virgi la had contended for the full perfec-
ton of the school system, in order to give
all the children of the State, of whatever
condition, a chance in the race of life to
emancipate the voter from the unconstitu-
tional restriction upon the ballot to pro-
tect the ballot box from fraud to inculcate
a spirit of fairness and justice towards the
negro in the exercise of his political rights
but all their appeals and arguments were
met with disdain, and defeat was the nev-
liable result-leaving their condition even
more helpless than when they enteredupOn
each contest. Not until the Readiust ers
organ lied as political force and declared
for the same measures of State policy that
Republicans had announced as cardinal
W it'll them, was the way made clear for the
pract ical realization of all we had contended
for. Throu gh their aid, the schools have
been established upon a firm and perma-
nent basis: the school-hOuses multiplied
and the school attendance doubled. The
whipping post law has been repealed and
as far as the Legislature could do so, the
ballot made free from the imposition of a
dollar restriction upon it. Every prom Use
that was made has been faithfully fulfilled (;
and it only awaits the verdict of Novem-
Der next, to complete the full measure of
the a inns and hopes of the Republicans OF
the State, or to again install in power the
bourbon faction that has so persistenly and
Indignantly opposed every proposition that
Republicans have advocated. Without
gle measure that Republicans had declared
for could have been enacted into law, and
not single liberal thought or idea intro
duced into the political economy of the
| State We were powerless of ourselves,
I'd every year imposed still greater OPP
pressions and wrongs. directed primarily
against the colored voter, to deprive him
OF the political privileges which had been
assured him by the fundamental law of
the country and the solemn pledge of tie
State.
1t is practically assumed by this commit
tee that the colored citizen Is incapable
of understanding these things and his re-
lation to the more important issues which
| have been in controversy between the Re-
| adjusters and Bourbons or more plainly
| speaking, it substantially declares that the
negroes are all fools, and ready to be lead in
any direction and to any extremes, il the
| leader be one of their own race. We
| have be fore lis the result of the present ar
rangement of forces under what is known
| as the Readjuster party, in the rescue of
the public schools from ruin and the return
to them of the moneys illegally taken from
them ; the repeal of the whipping post law,
intended first to degrade and then disfran-
chise the colored citizen the removal of
the restriction upor the ballot and the as
surance OF protection in the casting of the,
ballot thus made free. 1t is proposed by this
committee that the political power which
has accomplished these benefcent results
| shall be broken, and the faction that would
| perpetuate the wrongs thus removed, again
| be installed in power through the votes of
| those who have been the victims of Bourbon
malignity and prejudice. tafes ..s.
This is what the nomination of Mr.. Daw-
son, a reputable and intelligent colored
| man, means. Every vote that might be cast
for lin, would be. in effect, that much aid
given to the Bourbon faction. and cnntri-
butte that much towards the defeat of the
forces which have consummated the bene-
bor