The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-10
A Letter from Alexander Hunter.
CoBB's ISLAND, VA, July 81, 1882.
Messrs. John Campbell, Wm a. Pahte, W. III

CoBB's ISLAND, VA, July 80, 1882.
Messrs. John Camp5eu VIM. A. Pahte, w. H.
Strother, and others:
Gentlemen, Your letter enclosing the resolutions
adopted by the Coalition mass meeting netu III
Warrenton on the oath Instant instructing the del
egates from Fauquier county to vote for my homi
nation In Congress, is before me.
acknowledge the compliment of so large coun
ty as Fauquier endorsing for so responsible
position.
My purpose is now to briefly define my position:
am In the fullest sense OF the wofd fHsihi"
Conservative. .
By this do not mean 1t to be inferred that am In
sympathy with the ultra wing Of that once si"nu
state organization.
have never given my full approval to the policy
pursued by the Extremists, known as the bour oon
wing.
In 1879 the State Committee, with an arrogance
never Witnessed IN this country before, fuieo gu. VI
the Democratic party all who would nor Mns starttna
with a blunder, their State policy mas COMMUNIST
course so ruinous to Virginia. 80 unjust 70 us opp
nents, and devious in its craftsmanship thtt ~
has driven away or aienated large minority OF lts
voters, and Its State Committee on july iien, ioo
practically disbanded the party by adjourhlhg
without any action misunderstanding no nomfna-
ton for Congressman at large drawing up 10 pay
form OF principles or Of he peop5e
y shall therefore give my hearty support to capt..
Wise. 80 ,l s.,.a.,
I The era Of sentimental politics has passed
We have reached the practical. Not he VINO can
make the greatest display Of feeling over bloody
and unsuccessful war should be chosen, put ne "ho
o Gent,emen' love Virginia, outside of her broad
limits have neither hopes nor aspirations' anu
would give every ounce of blood from my veins,
suffer any hardship or face any peril for her sake;
but recognize that her onward march C1 advance
ment is retarded by her present poitlcaI course IN
national affairs, and that 1t Is time Tor now de
parture. ..,a, .,,,o,,. * -.
gage In Its Issue, pure and simple Is allatlon, or
u. organization, with the Northern Democracy:
Politics should be destitute of passion they should
be viewed as any business matter, wherein each In
7Jvtdl for those men anu measures most
conductive to his interests.
thoughtful and practical men understand this,
Int the mass of people are apt to be wrought up in
frenzy by the artful appeals OF demagogues who
play upoE their ignorance or their predtudces for
their own selfish purposes.
l. for one, am done with a coalition with the
Northern Democracy. That unholy alliance has
been the Had Of all our woes By false pledge
war, and then filled armies for her sub!ugato on.
In 1868 trusted, and, instead OF electing their
IN 1872 the Northern Democracy again called upon
the Southtor assistance and for the third time we
believed and helped them, and our trust was mis-
placed. l-
: In 1876 this same Northern Democracy, singing
the same siren song, won the South to her way and
we gave her solid vote and elected their President
as Chief Magistrate Of America Now see the result.
They lacked It'll the courage and the nerve to In
augurate their legally elected President Of the
The Northern Democracy had at least the ma1ori-
of both houses in their control In 1876 and did not
pass any substantial act relieving the South from
unjust and oppressive taxation.
Four years aferward these political tricksterS for
the fifth time cajoled the South into aiding them,
pedging her sufficient support to their solid vote to
elect their president and make victory sure. 1t was
the sad tale Of betrayal Hancock received the
whole Southern vote, and two great Northern States
staunchly Democratic, went Republican.
And yet this political Delah will kiss the Souths
lips again and strive to her mighty strength for
her undoing. False treacherous, selfish, the North
Democracy will ever prove tribe Of Judases to
all those who put faith in them.
How long shall we continue this course? Life is
too short for such folly.
hope shall live to the day when the mem
bers OF Congress from Virginia and from the South
will hold themselves aloof from either and
vote and support the Administration whenever they
conscienttously can, thus securing to their people
and their States that aid and assistance from the
National Government that the impoverished Com
monwealths are so much in need OF.
We have sent Mr.. Johnston to the Senate a
Northern coalition Democrat for twelve years. Du-
ring that time he has drawn for his salary sixty
thousand dollars yet he has not gotten for Virginia
sixty cents. Yet within one year an Independent
Senator has obtained an appropriation for her, in
the building Of two posto1ices alone, of $15O,0OO
The Eighth district sent Gen. Eppa Hunton to
Congress for four terms. During that time he drew
S4UUOO as his pay, yet he has not given Virginia In
return farthing. Joining his vote with the ultra
the Administration, he even failed to obtain free
bridge across the Potomac river, thus to give the
citizens of the Alexandria and Fairfax counties free
transit to and from the National Capital.
Virginia needs appropriations and internal i'm
provements at the expense Of the National Govern
lnent She has many claims upon the National
Government which Will never be paid under the old
order OF things. The Old Dominion loaned the Gov
eminent in the dark days of the Republic certain
moneys that have never been refunded. With her
Representatives supporting even In modified
form its administration every demand would be
met generously
Virginia needs new postonice buildings in almost
all the country towns within her borders, and un-
less she bindly rejects the hand held out In amty
she will get them.
Virginia, II she even in passive accord with
the Administration, would receive an appropriation
to educate the freedman, thus giving them more
generous allowance and greater facilities educa
ton than any State could possibly extend And 1t
would lift from the citizens great burden OF
ton.
Our State needs the abrogation of the tax on to-
bacco thus saving to our farmers over two million
of dollars annually. She wants repealed tax on
brandy distilled for use by the owners of the land
Virginia wants capital She needs her waste
places built up, her mines opened, her quarries
worked, her superb water power Utilized her rivers
and harbors improved.
How Is this to be done?
By simply, IN my humble Judgment, following
such policy In National affairs as have outlined
We have tried one way long enough let us try
other during1our lifetime.
In State politics have always supported the car
dinal principles Of the Readlnster party voted IN
Henkel School bill. l think the prosperity of the
State is vitality interested in the passage Of bill for
the protection Of its people against monopoltes-
similar to the one known as the Georgia law.
favor public schools-with colored teachers for
coored schools and white teachers white schools
All the cry OF mixed schools Is simply bosh. Mel
Their race desire them.
The Readjuster party, though it has made mis-
takes, yet it has kept its pledges sacredly to the
people. 1t has settled the State debt 1t has ad
ministered the State Government honestly and
wisely. 1t has opened to the young men Of Virginia
chance of political preferment which was, under
the old regime, Theoretically sealed against them
1t has done for Virginia in two years than che
Funder party has in ten. And 1t has gwen us
Governor that the State may well be proud Of These
are 1nd1sputable facts.
Every fair minded man has witnessed with con-
Germ the canvass as made by the extreme Funders;
they have rarely used argument but instead yitu-
peration and abuse. Thousands of voters have
STOOD alOOr from a D1tGor, S6CGOnal warfare LQaL
their conscience condemned, and they wish devouty
for the time to arrive when any citizen can vote
any ticket he chooses just he canJoin any church
he pleases without having his motives condemned
and his character blackened.
Indeed 1t is come to such a pass that the Bour-
bons of the Funder party, both the press and the
lawyers, have stirred up such bitter passion that
rival orators most frequently go upon the hastings
with hatred in their hearts, defiance their tongues
and pistols in their pockets.
IL the Eighth district this intolerance Is most
signal, and the nominee of the Alexandria Conven-
ton will be marked man. He should, whoever he
is, take high and firm stand He should treat all
of his political opponents with kindness and cour
tesy, and he should rigidly exact from them the
same course of conduct IL t.s.i.4-t
letter. the old Issues that divide the two great
National parties are dead-utterly dead-and that
Republicanlsm and Democracy are little more than
name. In the next Presidential contest the issues
will be the tariff, anti monopoly, taxation, and the
stronger consolidation of the Government. The
Southern question will never be mentioned or
thought Of.
AS it Is now, what Is the difference between Sena
tor Bayard and Senator Sherman, or Mr.. Edmunds
or Mr. Voorhees,? Wherein does the Northern Dem
ocratic high priest, Sam Randall, differ from Speaker
Keller? : - u IA
Both old parties are rapidly disintegrating, and
from the fragments will be formed two great parties
with live issues not dead ones. 5i.,4 t7. 'lal
In conclusion gentlemen, congratulate you
upon the certainty of great victory this fall for
Liberalism and Conservatism. VIZ
Very truly, yours,
Ar raxyAlS T,usTH HINT