The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-25
Bourbon Organization.

The Bourbon faction in Virginia contin-
ues to he greatly exercised about the pro-
posed Convention to re-organize its broken
columns. Correspondents and editors
differ widely from each other as to the adj
visibility Of the movement, which forbids
an intelligent conclusion as to what will be
the outcome of the discussion. Some of
the writer's freely express their opinion of
Mr.. Massey and his prerension to leader
ship. and plainly intimate that the sooner
he takes back seat and practices rea-
sonable degree of modesty, the better it
will be for him and the party.
Whatever may be the result of the agi.a-
ton on this question among the scheming
and demoralized politicians, one thing NAV
be assumed as true, that the people have
no desire to see the old political barnacles
and fossils of the late Democratic party,
thrust themselves to the front again. They
remember too well the recent history of the
State under their control. They have not
forgotten that in 1870 these same leaders
came in.o possession OF the State gov
ernment with one million, eight hundred
thousand dollars in the treasury ,bequeathed
by the Wells ministration-that this
amount was disposed Of, and that when
they were kicked out Of power, there
was deficit of over five millions of dollars,
and every interest of the State damaged
and impaired. The public schools were on
the verge of destruction the public credit
so low as TO constitute a reproach and dis
grace to the Commonwealth the people
disheartened and discouraged; industries
stagnant and enterprise suspended, and cap
ital refusing to invest in a community the
administration of whose affairs were In the
hands of those who cared for nothing bit
their own selfish greed for office and the
exercise of authority such as official posi-
tion conferred. The taxpayers, and the
honest toilers OF the State, have no wish to
see the return to power of party that pos
sesses neither the ability nor the honesty
to do Justice to the people and subserve
their best interests. They know the State
continued to retrogade from 1870 to 1879
that the revenues fell short of the demands
on the State nearly million dollars annu-
ally; that the schools were fast moving on
to destruction that The debt was accumu-
lating, taxes were Onerous, and everything
conspird to assure future of bankruptcy
and rum. These things are fresh ia their
minds. and the party which caused them
known to the world. The scheming poll
ticians may plot and appeal for re-organi-
zation, but they will find that the great
mass of the people have no idea of placing
their necks under the yoke again. Conven-
lions may assemble; orders may be issued ;
leaders recogn lied, but the people will not
allow themselves to again become the obe-
dent; slaves of the cou rt-house rings, who
constitute themselves the opponents and
spokt.smen of the Bourbon faction.
The issues which will be presented for
deter mination in the next State election
will draw the lines between the people
aud their worst enemies. the court house
ciqu es, and the canvass be made to expose
the manner in which the one is robbed by
the other under the forms of class legislation.
There will be no mincing of terms, either,
in the discussions. The truth will be told,
let the hurt fall where it may, and the
rights of the people asserted and pro.
tected.
The contrast between the results Of Bour-
bon administration and those under Liberal
auopiooc If 10 MT nonoccarv RI duail ,no,,
They are so palpable and impressive that eve
ry one is cognizant of them and these results
will be made prominent as the canvass pro.
crosses, SO the great mass of the voters
may be instructed as to their duty to them.
selves and the Commonwealth. They will
therefore keep aloof from Bourbon organi.
cation and hold themselves in readiness to
rebuke those who in the past were so I'm.
faithful to public trusts, and proved them.
selves enemies to the public welfare.
Party has lost its power, save as the
agent of the people to consummate public
good, and as Bourbon ism is the expression
of all the evils which have befallen the
Commonwealth for the past dozen years,
appeals will be in vain to bring the people
into its embrace and bind them by its or.
ders and edicts.
| Bourbon reorganization means an at
tempt to again inflict upon the people the
wrongs they have suffered under Bourbon
| administration. 1t means return to old
methods. to the corrupt practices, the in
tolerance, the prescription OF the past, and
the assertion of the right to rule of the
pretenders and pinchbecks, who pose in the
role of the ''best people," This must be
met at the Threshold, and the political
| tricksters and court house clans taught that
the People have rights which they mean to
protect, and whose conservat ton will not
be entrusted to those who have heretofore
so grievously betrayed them.