The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-07-26
A Few Plain Words.


but, then, he. was for the Funders, and,
Of course. the Funder cry was and is: 'We
are for Hayes because Hayes is for us"
The above paragraph is taken from the
Woodstock Varyiaaiaaa, a leading Readjuster
paper, and edited by Hon. H. H. Riddle
berger, United States Senator. Not long
since, the Richmond Wing, the central or
gan of the Readjusters, referred to ex-
President Hayes as His Fraudulency, r.
B. Hayes These papers profess to rep
resent party, three-fourths of the voting
strength of which is composed of Repub-
licans who believe that President Hayes
was the legally elected and lawfully inau-
gurated President Of the United States
The experience of the editors of the pa
pers referred to with Bourbon methods in
Virginia should at least have given them
a slight understanding of the influences
which were invoked to create doubt as to
the result of the election in 1876 in the
States of South Carolina, Florida and
Louisiana 1t is well known that the Re-
publicans have popular majority in each
of those States. 1t is equally well known
that the Republican electors were chosen
in those States under the laws of each State
and Of Congress, and that every legal form
was observed in declaring that choice. 1t
is well known that President Hayes was
declared elected by a tribunal created at
the suggestion of Democrats and the dis
puted question of the Presidency SUBJ
mitted to it, by the approval and concur
renee of the Democratic party of the
country. No President ever occupied the
Executive chair of the nation by strong
Ell fortified claim. both in the legal form
observed in the States in the declaration
of the choice of the electors and in the
Electoral Commission where the final
Judgment was rendered. The Republican
party of the entire country believed in the
justice and Righteousness of the verdict,
and maintain to this day, and will do so
for all time to come, that r. B. Hayes was
the rightfully, legally and constitutionally
elected President of the United States.
The indefensible and unsupported as
sertions of the Virginia,a and the Wing,
come at an inopportune time. when the
party is dependent for it's existence upon
the votes of Republicans who believe that
the Republican party was right in the con-
test of 1876 and its result. If those jour.
nails are sincere in their belief that Tilden
was elected in 1876 and that the Republi-
cans defrauded him out of the Presidency,
then their plain duty is to join in the de-
mand for avindication by the denomination
of Tilden and Hendricks in 1884, and to
support them.
To assert that Tilden was elected in
1876 and that Hayes was fraudulently
seated, is to declare in favor of the
crimes of every hue committed by the
Democrats aga inst the colored people of
the Cotton States in that memorable con-
test, and justify the wholesale murders
which were perpetrated in order to keep
Republicans from the polls and defeat the
popular..will by the most unblushing frauds
that ever disgraced a people. The Repub-
cans of Virginia will stand by the record
of the Republican party Of the nation in
1876 and will resent any and every assault
made upon it. let it come from whatever
source it may. They will not quietly sub
NIT to the charge that they have been par
ties to the greatest crime ever perpe-
trated against American institutions, -"
and the party OF which they claim to be a
part has been guilty of committing a
crime, which, if so, should long since have
consigned it to an infamous death. Let it
be understood, once for all, that they will
recognize no political association that
would attempt to brand with infamy the
great national party to which they are at
tached, and for the sake of which they
have endured so much Of prescription,
contumely and denunciatiOn, not only::from
the Democratic party of Virginia, as it
was constituted before the Mozart Con-
vention in 1877. but since. 1t is time there
was an understanding about this matter,
and if Republicans cannot be recognized
as equals in their present association. then
they have the right to determine for them
selves what course their self-respect and
their allegiance to great national party
should point out. All the Readjusters
have-and they have gotten much-they
owe to the Republicans of Virginia, and
if the returns that are to be given, are
such contemptuous sneers and infamous
charges as the Vrgnian and Wing in
dulge, then their manhood should be in
voked to resent it in the most effective
manner that the emergencies of the case
may suggest.
We have supported the Liberal move
ment in Virginia earnestly and actively
because we believed that the reforms in
State legislation proposed and effected
would be promotive of the public good.
We have done so without conditions and
with no direct reference to national poll
tics. In doing so, we have had no idea of
surrendering our allegiance to the Repub-
lican party OF compromising our relations
to it. And while still willing to contrib
ute whatever of labor and influence we
can command to secure other reforms we
deem essential to State prosperity, we are
not disposed to patiently endure Demo-
cratic ISLANDERS of the Republican party
Oh tacitly admit that the Republicans, in
1876, OF at any other time have been guilty
OF actions which should forfeit public
confidence. Ii there was any attempt at
theft in 1876, it was by Mr.. Tilden and
his agents in their efforts to steal the cleo
toral votes of Oregon and to sustain the
bold usurpation of Cronin in electing HIM
self an electOr, and constituting himself
the Electoral College Of that State. That
was regarded by fair men of both parties
as deliberate purpose to commit a great
crime land which Mr. Tilden and the Dem
ocratic party generally were willing and
anxious to avail OF to secure the great
prize of the Presidency proposed fraud
without parallel in the annals of the
country and of such magnitude as to shock
the conscience of the nation. That was
the only crime against American institu-
tions" that was attempted in 1876, except
those committed by the same party in the
Cotton States. 1t was. of Democratic
origin and support, and at this late date to
resurrect that remembrance, and openly
charge that the Republicans stole the
Presidency in the SEATING of Havac iS tho