The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-04
Present Issues and Duty.

Present Issues and Duty.
The interests involved in the election
in Virginia, in November, may be stated
very briefly and boiled down to small pro-
portions.
1t is whether the debt settlement is to be
disturbed, by placing in power the party
that opposed it.
Whether the Public Schools are foreman
in the interest of their friends, who have
rescued them from ruin.
Whether the Legislation which repealed
the dollar price on the ballot and the
whipping post law is to be guarded by
those who enacted it or those who opposed
it,
Whether the Ubiquitous road law shall
remain on the statute book, which places
the burdens of keeping the public high
ways in repair on the poor people OF
the State who own neither vehicles nor
horses, or be shared in just proportion
by those who own the lands that are i'm
proved by good roads, and the wagons,
carriages and horses which travel over
them.
Whether the chancery practice shall
continue as it is now, imposing unnecessa-
ny and onerous burdens on litigants, or be
so modified as to simplify the settlement
of estates, reduce expenses and meet the
ends of justice.
Whether the railroad corporations are
to be regarded as above the people, the
laws and the Commonwealth, or be re-
stricted within proper bounds and made
subservient to the power that created
them.
Whether the court house rings are to
rule and govern the State, or the People,
who constitute the government.
Whether the Bourbon faction shall be
again placed in power to repeat its destruc-
tive methods and class legislation, or the
Readjusters shall be continued in Assem-
dancy, to guard the interests they have so
well preserved, and legslate for the relief
of the people in u still larger measure than
has yet been realized.
| We are engaged in this contest not as
Republicans, in a party sense, but as Vir-
ginians, looking to the welfare of the
State. This is 1888, when no Federal is
sues are to be passed upon-nothing but
State interests to be considered. When
| 1884, and its issues are upon us, persons
and parties will be arranged to meet the
occasion. A vote for the Readjusters in
November next has nothing to do with
our vote in 1854. Republicans then can
choose their course, us can Readjusters. If
| the Readjusters do not wish to identify
themselves with the Republican party in
that contest, there is nothing in the pres
ent issues to obligate them to do SO. 1t
will be time enough for them to determine
| that matter when the occasion is presented
to do so. What is demanded now by eve
welfare is that Virginia shall not again
be placed under the ruinous rule of
the faction that has inflicted so much
harm on the people and brought so much
trouble upon the Commonwealth. If a
Readjuster is simply satisfied to continue
in the Coalition arrangement for State
purposes, he will be at liberty to dissolve
that connection in national politics, and
affiliate where his inclination may lead.
That shall be our course in 1884. This
contest stands by itself and separate from
| that of 1884. 1t is the State now. 1t will be
| the Nation then. In State matters. and
in this supreme crisis, we can justly at
ford to ignore the demands of 1884. Sufli-
cient unto the day is the evil thereof. Let
each and every one discharge his duty
now, and when new conditions arise and
new demands are present. the same liberty
and duty will call to action.
Let each voter examine his tax-tickets
for this and last year, and see the relief
that has been secured him by the party
now in power. Let each voter consider
that he can vote as a freeman now, when
year ago there was a price on his ballot.
Let him examine the school interests and
learn the number of schools in operation
now and the pupils in attendance, and
what it was under Bourbon rule. Let him
look into the public treasury and see over
a million and half dollars to the credit OF
the taxpayers, under the present admins
tration, and compare it with the empty
treasury, destroyed credit and increasing
| floating debt under Bourbon rule. Don It
allow 1884 to disturb your equanimity. Let
us get the State right in 1888. To do this
will require the united efforts of Republic
cans and Readjusters, and when that con-
summation devoutly to be wish shall be
reached, then the demands Of 1884 may be
calmly and dispassionately considered, in
the lights that 1884 may shed upon the
country.
In conversation with an intelligent gen
tleman, few days ago, who is familiar
with the outgoings and mornings at Dem
Ocratic Headquarters in Alexandria, he
gave graphic description of the people
who come and go there. He stated that
when Mr.. Barbour first opened his rooms,
and for some time afterwards, he was be-
sieged by whole host of patriots, burning
with zeal for the Democratic party, who
were anxious to get passes over the rail
roads and expense money for campaigning.
So numerous and unceasing were these ap-
plicatiOns that not even the equipoise of
Mr.. Barbour could stand it, He. at times.
slipped away, and went to his railroad Of
flee in Washington. But there, too, they
appeared, not in such numbers as at first
in Alexandria. but sufficiently strong to
cause much worry and impatience. Each
of these statesmen wanted, no doubt, to
make record, SO as to present his claims
to the next Congress, in it's organization,
for position; or in case of Democratic
success this fall, to the Legislature for a
place to serve his State.
Mr.. Barbour, we suspect, has found that
running railroad is u different thing
to running the Bourbon party in Virginia.
His Craftsmanship has given him vast
amount Of information as to the condition
of his party and the many disinterested pa
triots who compose it. He never dreamed
before that there were so MANY patri-
otto, self-sacriicing orators as he has
had to encounter But singular to say.
we have seen very few appointments for