Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-11-13
GLORIOUS DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.
THE PEOPLE REJOICING.

THE PEOPLE REJOICING.
IMPORTANCE OF THE vICToRY-THE COLOR
ED PEOPLE SAVED-WHf TIE OoAo7no
SHOULD REJOICE.
When our last weeks paper was issued,
we were on the eve of one Of the most i'm
portant contests that ever occurred in a
free country, and whilst we were hopeful,
almost confident, yet we were anxious about
the result, and now, when this weeks pa
per is issued, THE battle having been fought
and the victory won-our hol es have been
more than realized by the grand and over
whelming victory, and, from the mountains
to the sea, the exultant shouts of exuberant
freemen, who duly appreciate the vital i'm
portance of the victory, make the Weikn
ring and awake the echoes in the valleys
Throughout the State there is joy and hap
piness, and every night there are grand
demonstrations in celebration of the victory
bands of music, torch-light professions,
booming Of cannon, congratulatory speech
es, &c-in a word, perfect saturnalia OF
patriotic thanksgiving, and heartfelt joy
business. Since the white man first planted
his foot upon the sacred soil of Virginia,
there has never been so much heartfelt re-
ioicing within her imits-so many truly
happy people-as during the past week.
Let the trumpets sound, for this is verify
time of jubilee not only for ali the true sons
of Virginia, but for all other iberty-loviug
people.
Virginia, our dear old mother, God bless
her, has been true to her character and his
tory, and has triumphantly indicated her
right to her coat Of arms, with the figure of
Liberty with her foot upon the neck of the ty-
rant, bearing the appropriate inscription
Sic Semper 1yrannis--let it ever be thus
with the tyrant. That is the brief, but earn
est prayer of every liberty-loving heart.
We congratulate the Democrats generally
throughout the State on the noble manner
in which they acquitted themselves in the
vital contest of Tuesday last, but we would
especially congratulate the Democrats of
this and neighboring counties on the gal
liant manner in which they acted SO we'll
their part.
"Old Augusta" did better than she prom
Used. Some thought her extravigant when
she promised to give a majority Of 1850; bat
the result shows that she gave more than a
hundred in excess of that number.
Our little mountain neighbors--A llegha-
ny, Bath, and Highland-all honor to them
covered themselves with glory. Our un-
wavering confidence in them has been jus
tilted.
The Democrats in Rockingham made a
gallant fight, and If they did not win sue
cess, they did more-they deserved it. In
the future, she will be ''right side up with
care
We would especially and particularly
congratulate the good Democrats Of Rock
bridge on the manner in which they met
and overcame the enemy; for in her case ii
was an enemy-a party that had ruthlessly
and outragiously trampled upon her rights.
But there is time
when BertraTn's right
And Bertrams nigh:
Shall meet on Ellengewan height"
We hope and believe that Rockbridge,
now in the Democratic column, Is as firmly
fixed as that grand arch Of stone rom which
she derives her name. She deserves spe
cial congratulation.
Our neighbors on the east-Albemarle
Nelson, Greene, &c--all did well. where
all did their duty SO nobly, it would be in
vidious to discriminate.
We congratulate the Democrats here anC
q everywhere on the glorious result, for il
was indeed and in truth q ''famous vic
tory''-one that marks an epoch in the his
tory of this State, and will be memorable az
long as liberty survives to triumph over ty
Tanny and misrule.
Thousands, during the canvass, did not
appreciate the situation, and there are
thousands now who do not realize the i'm
portance of the victory. They have not
studied the condition OF affairs sufficiently
to understand the dangers which threaten
cd and the salvation which has been secured
From the beginning Of the canvass, the
only thing that caused us 10 doubt of thG
result, WAS the fact that the masses Of tbC
people did not then appreciate tie situation,
aud the fear thar they would not be suiif
GENTLY aroused and awakened to the real
condition of affairs to enable them properly
to do SO before the election.
We felt sure that if the voters fully ap-
preciated the situation, there W uld be nc
doubt of the overthrow of Mahonesm,
which expresses in a single word all that is
most inimical to the peace and liberties Of
the people.
Many do not appreciate the Importance
of the victory gained. They do not realize
that the triumph of Mahoneism meant the
ruin of Virginia, as it really did; and many
voted under the impression that it was
merely contest of opposing political par
ties, and that no very great consequences
were dependent upon the result. Voters
never labored under a greater mistake.
TWAS revolution, though not accom-,
plished with sword nor sabre, but with a
mo1c PodCeIul, yeI do eHeObual d "edPon
the one which the poet Whittier describes
as
The weapon that comes down as still
AS snow1akes fall upon the sod;
But executes lreeman's will,
as lightning does the will of God;
And from its force, nor doors nor locks
Can shield you; tits The ballot Dor.
As great reason as the white people have
to rejoice over this victory, the colored peo-
pie have still greater; for they saved not
only their liberties, but their lives; for the
triumph of Malone would have produced a
condition of affairs which would have led,
almost inevitably, to a war of races in
which the colored people would have been
the greatest sufferers. This fact should be