The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-02-22
Bourbon Convention.

We announced Last week that the State
central ComElitpee of the Democratic
party, which met in Richmond on the 14th,
mad detervI ined to call a Convention to as
sembie v Lynchburg on the 25th of July.
Inc cNl which is embraced in the resolu-
ton adopted, invites the attendance and
COG peration Of all who are opposed to
~ .adicalism and 3ossism,' without laying
Gown any line OF administrative policy or
'antag0nizing anything that has been
enacted by the party now in power. We
find no allusion to the debt question. to the
whipping post, the public schools, or any
Of the subjects in relation to which the
people have uttered verdict against the
Democratic party. They accept the results
ON these matrers--practically admitting
that they were wrong on all of them, and
ignoring them as subjects of controversy,
formulate their platform to be opposition
to ''Radicalism and Bossism." They seem
to forget that this issue, too. has beer passed
upon 1t. In the contest last fail, the policy
indicated in the resolution the committee
adopted, was made paramount, followed by
q result IS decisive as that attending the
other questions We have cited. The YER
dict was as pronounced against Bour-
bonism, when it sought to excite fears and
arouse prejudices as to Radicalism and
Bossism, AS 1t was on the tergiversations and
receptions of the Bourb0ns on the debt
question, their reactive and repressive pur.
i pose as to the ballot, their practical hos
| tility to the Public Schools and their effort
TO perpetuate the whipping-post as one Of
the evidences OF our civilization. The
campaign last fall, WAS made under more
favorable circumstances than will attend
them again for years, and to ordinary ap-
prehension the result will be even more
humiliating and disastrous than that re-
corded in any contest since 1879.
The date fixed for the Convention is in.
dicative of the fears which controlled the
deliberations OF the committee. They pass
over the Spring elections, and will allow
that campaign to take care of itself. The
hope is that dissensions may spring up
among the Liberals by reason of disappoint-
ments which always attend in the defeat OF
aspirants for public place. All of them
cannot be nominated. or support concen-
trated on them, and from this fact some
one Invariably thinks he has been treated
badly. In this way. it is hoped. estrange-
ments may be effected In the spring contest
and the Bourbons thereby benefited in the
fall campaign. The call is addressed to all
such, and the object is to draw into the
fold every malcontent, of whatever party
identity, to the end that Bourbonism may
resume its ruinous control of the State.
The people are familiar with such meth
DDS, and are prepared to give them just
such considerations as they deserve and no
more and no less. They have before them
results, looking to the good of the people
and the State, effected by the Liberal party.
They know what they have escaped from
They know the party which, for eight
years, accumulated burden after burden
inflicted wrong after wrong upon them
They have live remembrance OF the eight
years OF Bourbon admin istration and its
train of evils. They are familiar with the
fruits of few years of Liberal legislation
and policy. The contrast is impressive and
SO broad that no one can fail to observe and
understand it. We therefore have no fears
Of the sscendsncy Of Bourbonism, whatever
may be its concessions, admissions or comics
sions. Ir has been tried and found unfaith
full it has been weighed and found want
ing it has been tested and proved re.
creant and the People will never again
entrust them with power in Virginia. Ualess
the Liberals shall prove untrue to the trust
and confidence reposed in them, to the
record they have made, and betray the
| cause thew represent.