Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-09-26
From the Fincastle Herald
Hon. g. M. Reynolds,
WHY HE LEFT THE CoALITIoNIsTs-
AN OPEN LETTER, REPLETE WITH
STRONG POINTS,

WooDBoURN, BoTEToURT
COUNTY, VA, Sep. s. !
Benjamin Haden, Esq, Fmcastle, Va.
NY Dear Sir-Having been assailed
as traitor to my party and its princi.
pies, I beg 10 say word to you as nv
friend and relative, and through you Ia
my brother. .Readjusters Of Bote:ourt, in
vlndi cation of myself. l shall en-
deavor 10 give you plain statement ol
facts without any feeling Of malice or
bitterness towards any man or set ol
men with whom l may differ upon
political. questions.
1t is known TO you that was an
original Readjuster, aud for over two
years held an important State office,
which was rendered me as a Readjus-
ter, aud which office l resigned at a
time when l had the warmest and most
positive assurance that | could retain
it If desired 10 DO so. l was a Re-
adiuster after the srAitest sect, ac-
cording TO my understanding Of Read
juster principles, and under similar
circumstances would still be a Read
iusler. l was in favor Of a settlement
OF the debt question:; in favor Of sus-
tanning our school system; of giving TO
our asylum the necessary aid for their
proper maintenance; in favor Of sbolish-
ing the capilation-tax as a prerequisite
to voting, and in favor Of such reforms
as were necessary in order 10 give us
a government "by the people and for
the people," Twas opposed then and
am now 10 rings. clieues, Bourbonism,
and star-chamber edicts. was opposed
then and am now 10 trading upon the
cupidity or ignorance of the colored
man for selfish purposes. was in
favor then and am now of giving TO the
colored man al the rights and privl-
leges 10 which be is entitled under the
law, and opposed 10 pandering for his
vote by creating the hope and aspira-
ton of becoming socially and political
ly,the equal of the white man-hopes
and aspirations that will surely culmi-
nate in the most deplorable events; for
the social and governmental rule of the
white race brooks no peer from another
and inferior race.
The Richmond Wing claims-and !
acknowledge the claim-that the IRE.
adjuster party has done all that il
pi omised 10 do, and MORE" and has
been Of great benefit to the material
interest Of Virginia; then YOU would ask
why l resigned my Office and left the
party ? answer that resigned my
Office first because l was tired Of public
life and preferred my home among the
mountains 10 any Office, and because l
considered the mission Of my party as
| filed, and that there was no longer
any need for its existence, and l could
in no way and in no sense be connec-
ted with party that, after having ac-
complished its high purpose, was being
led into the Republican ranks. most
highly respect the man who is a Re-
publican upon principle, and want all
such 10 have a free vote and far
count; but, as my principles are more
Democratic than his, l can't 60 with
bim; and [ tell you now that the present
struggle for State supremacy is simple
contest between Republicanism ant
| Democracy, aud the DISCUSSES OF Re
adiusterism and Liberalism are only
used to lead you into the Republican
ranks, there to serve the purposes of
selfish ambition. National Republican
| ism and Republlcanism in the northern
States is a widely different thing from
Republicanism IN Virginia. There it
means craftsmanship and respecta-
bility, with many sharp practices in
State craft and a general feeling Of dis
trust of the South and disposition TO
degrade and fleece her people by a sys
! much and will do more in this direction
Already we see the signs oil a moY'
ment for the agitation OF mixed schoo
and when that is achieved, there wi
only remain the stumbling block
b casle churches, Tor which the negroe
themselves are responsible