Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-31
Are You Ready?

The election is very near-next Tues. |
day, as the Old Commonwealth says, be- |
ing the day when the fate of Bossism is
to be decided in Virginia; the day
when Mahoneism will be thrown off, or
Virginians will take upon themselves a
character of servility that is disgraceful
to manhood. Are you ready. Patriots
and Democrats, for the battle to be de-
cided on next Tuesday? The issues are
too important to have single vote lost.
No matter how strongly Democratic
your precinct may be, yet we adjure
you to get out every vote. Let there be
an unmistakable verdict of the true peo-
pie, of manhood and of principle, against
the ways and acts of the miserable auto
crat who sits in his Office at his hotel in
Washington, and issues his orders to
contemplate minions in this State, to
enslave the free people of Virginia. If
there be spark of manly feeling in your
breasts, fellow Virginians, it will surely
assert itself now, for Malone and his
supporters would fasten on you chains
that no freemen would willingly wear.
In Gods name we urge you to work as
you never worked before, to leave no
stone unturned to thwart the aims of
this upstart tyrant, who is lording it
with high hand over the people of Wiz
ginia at this hour, by the use of Federal
patronage and money collected from Of
fice-holders by means no more credita-
BILE than those adopted by highway
men. Money is against us !-money with
which to buy votes and corrupt the bal
lot land by that party that lyingly
cants about "free ballot and fair
COUNT" Such mockery; such effront-
| cry! The biggest thieves crying 'Stop
thief"
There is no time to lose-not an hour,
not moment. We must free ourselves
from the shackles that the creature Ma
hone would impose upon US. To do this
we must work, and in no Indifferent
manner. And we must watch every
precinct to see that we are not counted
out. There is not much danger of that
in this locality, but in other parts of this
State the Boss's henchmen will Try it,
and in some places, perhaps, succeed
The more necessity, therefore, that we
put In every vote that soe possibly can.
The cry of "free ballot and tail
count" was started by our opponents.
See to it that the Democrats have it this
time. Invite the aid of every man, Of
whatever color of face or shade of poll
tics, to help to crush Bossim. That is
the supreme struggle. Our opponents
are fighting for life. They will work
desperately. So must we. We are able
to gain the victory if we will. If every
man does his duty, we can send an an
swer back to the Democrats of Ohio
that will cheer the hearts of that gallant
band who gave us an example of what
can be done by hard work-Ohio has
been gloriously redeemed, and now let
Virginia be redeemed from the auto
cratic and mercenary sway of q dis
graceful bossism. The eyes of the whole
Union are looking to Virginia. Let US
show that we are not mercenaries mol
cravens! that we may have been de-
ceived, but that we are upright enough
to put the brand of infamy on those who
deceived US. Rise, therefore in youl
might, we invoke you, patriotic Virgin
ians, on Tuesday next and put down
Bossism, asserting the motto on the
shield of your grand old State-,Sic Sem
!. per- Iyrdmais.