The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-11

more has consented to the use of his name
as an independent candidate for mayor of
that city. Reform Democrats and Repub-
licans united in the call on him, and both
will support him against the regular Dem
oeratic nominee MI LatrObe. This move
ment has grown out of the wrongs and OPP
pressions inflicted on the people by the
democratic rings Of that city. They be-
came SO glaring and outrageous us to force
out protest i'll this form, with good
prospect OF its being effectual. 1t is alike
IN the causes which produced it. to those
which justified the coalition in Virginia,
between Republicans and Readiusters. In
this State, like i'll the city Of Baltimore il
was to emancipate the people from the cor-
rupt rings which ruled mall the depart
ments OF goyernment-rued for selfish
ends, and to rob the people Of their rights
and property.
We call attention to this Baltimore
movement for Il purpose. 1t is to point
| the Baltimore american to the practical
reasons which influenced the Republicans
| in Virginia in supporting the Readjusters
In Virginia, us in Baltimore, the Republic
cans are poWerleSs by themselves. They
both have felt the expressions and hostile
determinations of ring power, and in each
case they have cheerfulIy joined their forces
with their political opponents to effect
change IL methods and administration so
us to bring common relief. The difference
is that the american supports the Balti-
more coalition and denounces the Virginia
coalition. 1t willingly joins hands with
Democrats to defeat the ring power which
it sadly feels in Baltimore, while it con-
dennis the Republicans of Virginia for
uniting with Democrats to accomplish re-
Orms in the State. and relieve them in
common with all the people from even
worse state of affairs than Baltimore
can plead. The conditions are very
much alike i'll that city and this State,
and if the american pretends to anything
like sympathy for the right and against the
wrong, it will change its course towards
the Virginia coalition. The Republicans
of Virginia would have been justified in
coalescing with any body of men to throw
off the despotism under which they suffer
ed. All the reforms they proposed were
accepted by the Readjusters, and by the
coalition they were practically enforced
If the Republicans of Baltimore shall be
as successful in their coalition, they will
be amply rewarded for any apparent sacri-
flee they may make. We hope the Amer
| Virginia as itnow looks at the conditions
in Baltimore, and instead of condemning
the coalition in this State, it will give it its
cheerful and earnest approval. The ends
in both instances to be accomplished will
! justify the means.
! We were about writing a paragraph eX-
pressing the opinion that Hon. S. j. Ran
dali would in all probability be the Demo-
| cratic candidate for the Presidency in
1884, and that he would be the strongest
candidate that party could present. This,
because of his heretofore known views on
the tariff question. But about the time we
were getting ready for such an expression
of belief, Nh. Randall opened his mouth
and put his foot in it. We thought that
his protective tariff record would render
him the most acceptable man that could be
named to the protective Democrats Of the
East and West and the South and that the
simple fact that he would be the nominee
of his party wonld have commanded all
others of his party utilization, giving him
a better chance to carry a solid South,
New Jersey, New Y ork, and possibly Penn
sylvania, Connecticut, Indiana and several
of the Pacific States, than any other prom
inent man in his party. But Mr.. Randall
was called to stump Ohio. In his Youngs-
town speech he virtually declared for tar
iff for revenue only. In his Cleveland speech
he sdnarely placed himself on the Ohio
platform, which means anything or moth
ing, on the tariff question, and in another
speech he announced both for protection
to American labor and revenue tariff. with
such protection us might be squeezed out
OF 1t. In other words, Mr.. Randall an
nounced himself u vaScillating demagogue
"a political trimmer, willing to adjust
his sails to any breeze to capture votes in
the Democratic National Convention. He
has not only, in the past week, gone back
on his protection record, but he has ex-
posed himself to unfriendly criticism from
both the protection and free trade wings
of his party, and injured his prospects ma
! terially, for the Speakership of the next
House of Representatives. When a man
gets the Presidential bee buzzing in his
hat, it is very apt to befuddle him if he is
not well balanced. If there is a weak
spot in him, it is certain to come to the
surface. and Mr.. Randall has developed
a very exceedingly soft pIace.in his head,
and illustrated the trte saying that vault
ing ambition sometimes o'erleaps itself
AS Presidential timber he is no good. and
the disconnected and perplexed Democracy
will have to look for another Moses than
him to lead it out of the political wilder
ness.
The EiRdicdtOr having appropriated a