Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-12-05
A ID ID II E S S
OF THE
DEMOCRATIC STATE
COMMITTEE.
TO THE
People Of Virginia

| tull rein 10 the feelings OF the hour'
their congratulations must extend
farther and embrace all the people OF
this State and all the friends OF repu0'
lcan government in every part OF the
Union: for an ancient Commonwealth
has been redeemed, a travesiy OF Tree
Institutions will no longer disgrace the
earliest home of political liberty in
America, Virginia has shaken oil the
degrading chains of corru2: and cor
rupting tyranny.
The late election illustrated many OF
the best features of popular govern
mont. None ever more deeply stirred
the hearts of the voters; yet. in sub
stance, the peace was nowhere broken
A revolution in the government was
effected; yes the machinery OF the
election was under the control and abb
solulcly in the hands Of the party now
driven from power.
The colored race, inhamed by ambi'
uous demagogues, with unreasoDlng
prejudice against their white fellow
citizens. were led, with rare exceptions,
in solid ibattalions to cas-; their votes
against the party now triumphant; yet
no trace of passion or resentment
against the colored people will fed any
Mace in the conduct or the legislation
of that party: The liberal declaration
Of principles to which the Democratic
party pledged themselves in July last,
when they asked the votes of the peo-
ple. will not cease to be their guide 10
The hour of victory. Every pledge OF
that declaration will be fulfilled as the
most sacred promise.
These general statements would
suffice in Virginia, where the facts are
known, to give the only answer needed
An indignant denlal-to the uuiound-
ed charges against the good people OF
this State contained IN recent address
from the leader of the Coalition party.
INT as that manifesto was meant to
affect the opinion Of distant commune
,ies, its principal allegations must be
noticed in detail.
1t is not necessary, however, to ex'
pose minutely the mistakes in figures
and fallacies in argument which pervade
and yitiate all the bOastful claims there
is made as TO what the Coalition party
has accomplished for Virginia.
1t is sufficient to say that the public
schools, both 10 the acts establishing
them and the later legislation which
prevented a diversion OF the funds
rishlfully their OWN, are the creation OF
tie Democratic party.
The railroad and Industrial progress
Of the last few years has been achieved
in Virginia IN sympathy aud coopera
lion With the great movement OF ener'
gy and enterprise which has enriched
nelghboring States during the same
period, and in spite OF bad laws and
worse administration. The boasltul
uuerances of the Coalition manifesto
NAV be thus dismissed with fe"
words, but its charges OF Intimidation
of voters and systematic violence and
bloodshed shall have more careful
and detailed refuiation.
If the voters were intimidated, as al
legged, the result ought 10 appear IN q
diminished total vote, or, at any rate,
in a diminished Coalition vote, What
are the facts?
The total vote cast in Virginia in
I87G-the largest ever cast before this
year-was 235, 220.
The total vote cast this year was
272 654, or 81, coo more than in 1876.
Ia 1876, as at this election, the pay
ment of a capi,ation-tax Was not a
qualification of voters.
In 1880 the entire vote cast was 81,
600 less than the vote Of this year. In
1882 it was $4,000 less. Que sixth in
number of the entire population, white
aud black, minors and adults, male and
female. voted in the late election.
Upon these figures alone the ques'
ton may well be asked. Where are
the voters VIC we're deferred from yot-
ing? Intiulidaton at elections by Sec
ret ballot must operate almost exclu-
siyely TO prevent voters from voting at
all. Now, the enormously-lncreased
agcregate Of the total vote must alone
20 far TO remove the suspicion OF such
undue influence; but, when it further
appears that the Coalition party actual
ly increased th,ir vote by more than
10 900, if the comparison is with the
election of 1881, and by more than
26.OOO-ihat is, by more than one
fourth-as compared with the COali-
ton vote of 1882, it may be fairly as
serted that all the general indications
which ought to disclose intimidation Of
voters as absent from this election. In
truth, The only ground on which the
charge rests is the partisan necessity
OF suggesting some reason other than
the natural reason to explain the de-
feat Of the CoalitlOnists at the polls.
Now, it Is fortunately possible 10 ana
I'VE the votes Of certain counties in
which the perfect purity of the election,
80 far as the Democrats are concerned &.
has never been impugned. and in which
the negro element is comparatively un.
important. Take the votes OF the
counties shown IN the following table,
many of which had been strOngholds
of the CoalhOnists
c.l882.-o c-lS83.--
Coali- Demo- Cosli- Demo-
tonsts. Gratis. tionists. Gratis.
Buchanan, 800 AZ So6 1919
n =