The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-06-14
The Pres ident and the Ohio Repu b
licans,

The Ohio Republicans, in State Conven-
ton, did righteous thing in adopting
resolution endorsing the administration of
President Arthur. The significance of
this action is found in the fact, that in
no State of the Union is the Republican
party freer from can't, abstract sentiment
talism, and fractional dissensions. than is
the great pivotal Commonwealth Of Ohio.
The Republicans there are not divided
into half-breed and stalwart wings, or in
fiuenced by other considerations than the
success OF the principles of the party as re-
fiected in the history of that organization
for the past twenty years. John Sherman.
the embodiment of the wise and beneficent
financial policy of the government, which
has done so much to advance business to
it's present unparalleled proportions, to fix
it's genuine, steadfast basis, and contribute
to the prosperity and welfare of the peo-
pie, presided over the Convention. The
resolutions comprehend all that is essen
tial in a Republican declaration of prin-
ciples land the proceedings throughout were
so well freighted with patriotic sentiment
and governed by high aims of public pol
icy, that it was more than passing COM
pliment for this great representative body
of the best type of Republicanism to en-
dorSe the administration of President Ar
thur.
1t was timely and proper action. Com
ing into power under circumstances the
most embarrassing, and surrounded by
influences that hedged his path with huge
and WeightY difficulties, President Arthur
has measured fully up to the demands of
the occasion and met the expectation of
the best ambitions of the Republican
statesmen of the country. He found the
party rent and demoralized by contending
factions the passions of the constituent
elements aroused and resentful, and the
apprehension for future harmony deep
and portentous. With such surroundings,
and with the whole atmosphere impreg-
mated with doubts and miSgivings, he en-
ties of his high office. 1t required grasp
of intellect, force Of character and a
moral courage rarely demanded in any
previous emergency Of the country, to ap-
proach the situation, comprehend its diff
culties and to master its necessities. Calm
ly, cautiously and with a firm will, he
marched to the duty before him. Every
act was closely scrutinized-every express
sion received with jealous suspicion by
one faction or the other. First the ''stal-
wart'' element had its fears aroused-then
the ''half-breed" wing of the party saw
lurking some occult purpose to drift away
from the inspiration of the preceding
| administration. But self-pOised cool,
deliberate and resoute tine President pur-
sued the even tenor of his way. Turning
neither to the right to appease the fears of
the ''stalwarts," nor to the left to allay
the suspicious Of the half breeds" he has
demonstrated to the country that his pur-
pose was to do exact justice to both inter-
ests, and to administer the government,
with its vast patronage, primarily in the
interest of all the people and then for the
harmony and solidarity of the great party
to which he owes his position. Fierce
criticisms and ungenerous suspicious fol-
lowed almost every acthe performed, either
from one faction OF the other. until by de-
greeS the popular consciousness began to
rebuke the spites of partiZans and resent
the selfish motives that magnified imagi-
nary wrongs and sought to provoke dis
sensions where harmony should have been
invoked. This sentiment has grown as
time has progressed under the steady infu-
ence OF wise, careful and conscient ious
administration of public affairs, until the
Ohio Convention has given form and force
to it in the resolution of approval adopted,
which voices the conviction of the better
element of the party throughout the coun-
try.
That the President has made mistakes,
in dealing with persons, and interests Of
minor import, he will himself not dispute.
He would be more than human had he
not. To reconcile conflicting views as to
what was beSt-differences growing out
OF fierce encounters and passionate re-
the degree of success which has attended
his administration has been reached is the
marvel. Guided by strong common sense
inspired by patriotic motive to subserve
the best interests of the nation, to pro-
mote the prosperity of all the people and
encompass the common good, as well as to
bring into accord the constituent body of
the great party to which is due the sim
gular progress and healthy condition of
the country, factious spirit has been al
layed, aggravated embarrassments re-
moved and the administration crowned
with the most gratifying success.
The impartial judgment of the nation
will endorse the lltterances of the Ohio
Republicans. The time and the occasion
were suitable for this declaration of con-
fidence, and sustained by the approval and
sympathy Of the great mass Of the Amer
can people, the President will be encour-
Jagged to reach even to a higher standard of
administrative duty and with intenser con-
Germ, study the wants of the nation and
the best means to meet their demands.
With the developments and lights of the
present to improve upon the past, we may
safely assume that the remainder of the
President S term will still more signally
demonstrate his devotion to Republican
principles and the policies legitimately
flowing from them, and give assurance
that whatever of imperfection has
marked the past, will be avoided in the
future and still higher ideal of Of
fetal duty reached for.
The case of the Commonwealth against
w. L. Dodson, was closed at Danville on
Saturday last. In many respects this is one
of the most remarkable cases in the Grim
inal records of the State. Its history is
briefly as follows On the 23d of April the
house occupied by Dodson in Danville was
discovered to be on fire. After the flames
had been eXtinguished the dead body of a
negro man named James Read was found
in the building. Blood was running from