Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-05

JOHN N. OPIE, of Augusta.
EDWARD ECHOLS, of Staunton.
HOW LONG CAN FREEMEN
STAND 1T?
The old stale cry of stand by the party
will net silence the people of the Coalition
who are crying out for voice in their own
party. The mandate of one man cannot
stife the demands of thousands: nor can
the mercenary threats of little county and
revenue rings reduce the white Readjusters
in the Coalition party to the enforced 81
fence Of the political poltroon. They went
into the Readjuster party to be free. They
did not propose to merely exchange mas
tiers, The old aristocratic Bourbonism of
which there was so much in tie old Dem.
ocratic party was disgusting and irFita-
ting to them and they left it. They went
where they thought the people would have
some voice In the government of the State
of Virginia. And now what do they find
we speak especially of the Readjusters. g. i.
our own county-Augusta. Tney find
themselves like Sampson, chained to the
mill and their drivers enjoying all the
fruits Of their work. Will they stand this;
will ana people submit to it +? Never.
Like Sampson they will put forth their
strength and destroy the whole political
organization which could never have been
erected without the aid of that strength.
Bourbon aristocracy Of the Democratic
party! Why, where was the like ever
seen of the Coalition aristocracy of Au-
gusta county j? Recognition of the peoplel
Why, the people are chained to the car of
the ssbest families'' and to make it more
concentrated and easier Of management
the sbest people" of the Coalition in this
section are divided into two families of
the county. A Readjuster gives us the
information, which we didn't have before,
that two families in Augusta and their
connections have held since the coalition
party came into power siStees public posi-
tions Of honor and profit. Did you eyer
see anything like that In Augusta, even
under the rule of the ld-time Democracy?
Does any man now living recollect when
the Democracy of this State picked out two
sets Of favoriCes in Augusta and gave them
all the places worth having in and out of
che county. It won't do to say that these
things are written because of personal
feeling against the incumbents, for the
writer Of this has as warm personal friends
among the Coalition oficeholders of Au-
xusta az he ever had among the Democ-
racy. It is not the men we protest against,
1t is the systematic undemocratic, I'M
republican. unpopular system that denies
to the people who after all are the real
bone, sinew and brains Of every party, any
participation in the affairs of government.
We don't protest on behalf Of the Negro
Coalitionists. for they are as yet untitled
by experience or education to participate In
the government of State; but it is Oh
behalf of the white people of that party.
And. further, it is on behalf of the white
people of our State, for as sure as the sun
rises there is no more certain path to bad
government. oppression, and corruption.
than the suppression OF the voice of the
peopie In any party-Coalition or Demo-
cratic.
This is not the opinion of Democratic
editor merely. It is an opinion rapidly
becoming general among the people. On
Tuesday Of last week MIR. Geo. G. Round
the leading Coalitionist of Prince William
county, former member of the legislature
from there. and the Chairman of the Goa
lition County Committee of Prince Will
liam, published card resigning that posi-
tion, and adding that: "Without any re-
Fiction in any way upon the judgment
aud conscience of others, I desire to state
that do not wish to be considered here
after as member Of any party" Here
was man so disguised with the manage
ment of the Coalition party that he did
not wish to be considered a member of
any political organization. What, think
you, brought this resignation of much
coveted position by man Of prominence
in his party? 1t was the very system OF
s,tppressinq the yoice of the people Of his
party now practiced in Augusta county.
in the Seventh congressional district and
throughout the State of Virginia. Here
is an extract from his letter giving the
policy which he had been disappointed in
not finding carried out by the Coalition
party:
My policy in brief was an assertion OF the right
of the people to control their own Congressional
District, without dictaton undue influence from
any person or any authority. high or low, from ont
side.
claim that this was the policy marked out by
the mass meeting above named when they formed
the party and placed the following in their decara
ton Of principles by unanimous vote Of the larg
est meeting OF readjusters ever held in the county
1--WE claim that In republican form of govern
nent the people, and they alone, ale the rightfui
source of power and In party matters. and public
matters the people aoaose local Interests are to be
Observed should be SUPREME, and all should be en-
titled to equality Of rights and privileges, and SUBJ
ject to equal duties and obligations"
The things of which the INDICATOR
il writing are not alone observed by Dem
ocrats; they are noticed and resented by
Read listers as well. ALI people in po-
iitical party want to be free. No man
likes to be put into the chains and made
political galley slave of, simply that the
good results Of his efforts may secure to
the benefit Of few personal favorites.-
No free x.s,ite Readjuster wants collar
put around his neck whether the owners
name inscribed on it is Malone, or Brown
Allen. or John e. Hamilton or E. A. Full
cher. The people of that party don't be-
long to the party managers. The humble
Readiuster who drives his little wagon load