The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-18
Party Necessities.

ion of that body. 1t advised against the
of the race issue or any
# the questions which had divided parties
n Virginia in the past, since the organiza-
Jon of the ReadjuSters. 1t assumed that
he debt settlement was final, and accepted
What it had bitterly opposed before. 1t
conceded that the Readjusters were right
II removing the dollar price on the ballot
md repeating the whipping-post law. and
lid not intend to controvert either. 1t ac-
,epted all the legislation the Readjusters
lad enacted, and announced pious de-
lire to bury the past, and to get out of the
I'D ruts and pass on to- new subjects of
controversy and causes of party action.
With this new born zeal for something
original and fresh, it presented the deceit
Jul resolution of the Lynchburg Conven-
lion for two school systems, one for the
colored people under the exclusive control
Of that race, and the other for the white
people, under their control, although it
knew that the Constitution and laws of the
State would have to be. changed before any
such scheme could be practically enforced.
The purpose of this was not to encourage
a better system Of teaching or one that
would benefit the colored people more than
the prosecution it would have been the
first step towards the destruction of the
colored schools-but to deceive the colored
people into the belief that the Democratic
party was devising great boon for them,
and upon that claim their support in the
fall election. That was the design, clear,
distinct and indisputable. 1t was to win
the colored vote by deceit and false pre-
tense, although the result might he to de-
stroy the colored schools.
But this did not win, nor did the other
device of announcing the debt question
settled and appealing to the Readjusters
to come back to the Democratic party and
make common cause against the Republic
cans.
Having failed in both of these mislaid
schemes to entrap the unwary, and fortify
the sinking cause of Bourbonism, the YIN
Dictator of last week leads off in one of the
most ungenerous and unjust articles we
have ever read in political campaign. 1t
is an assault upon Messrs. Hamilton and
Fulcher, without particle of reason or a
fact to sustain it, and an attempt to draw
the color line, and place these gentlemen
with the colored people as against the
white people, and as at war with the in
terests and proprieties of their own class.
The Kaadicator is not ignorant of the So
ciaf standing of Messrs. Fulcher and Ham
ilton, their relations to this community as
intelligent, progressive and useful citi-
zens, and hence the assault it makes is
totally indefensible. They are both pro-
gressive farmers, creating values every
year, in the improvement Of the produc-
tive capacities of their lands and stock, as
a basis for increased revenues to the State.
They promptly and willingly discharge all
the duties of good citizens, are respected
and confded in by their neighbors, each
has large family of children-one of
them nine and the other ten, nearly all
of whom are girls, and who are either now
OF will as they grow older, receive their
preliminary education in the public
schools of the county. No one will dare
assail the personal character of either one
of them. They stand in the estimation of
their fellow-men, of all classes and par
ties, without reproach and without fear.
Notwithstanding these facts and the deep
personal interest these gentlemen must
necessarily feel in the success of the pub
lie school system, they are charged with
advocating a policy that must logically
tend to mixed schools-that must array
the whites against the blacks, and bring
dire calamities upon the Commonwealth.
While we feel perfectly confident that
there is no sincerity in these extreme ut
terances, but that they are the result of
dire party necessity, we cannot but regret
that even the demands of political emer-
gencies should so far mislead the judg-
ment and prey upon the nervous sensibili-
ties of any one, as to arraign such men
as Messrs. Fulcher and Hamilton, as they
have been by our contemporary. Upon all
public questions that will likely come be-
fore the Legislature for consideration they
have pronounced views and have frankly
announced them in the platform of the
party, but in no utterance or declaration
of theirs has there been syllable or word
that would justify the conclusion that
they are in favor of mixed schools. In
deed, to every intelligent, impartial citi-
zen Of the county, such allegation must ne
cessarily prove offensive, and no argument
or assurance will be necessary to acquit
them of the implied charge. So unreason-
able, unjust, and even ridiculous is the
imputation that we do not deem it neces-
sary to further allude to it.
But when party is driven to such ex-
tremities to arrest a sinking cause-when
all legitimate and relevant argument is
abandoned when every practical question
of probable legislative cognizance is thrown
aside, and this shadowy suspicion and un-
supported allegation resorted to, it is time
for the people to consider the cause the
desperation of which requires it and to
enter their protest at the ballot box against
such injustice. Augusta county has no
truer sons to the best interests of all
the people, than Messrs. Fulcher and Ham
ilton.g
In war and in peace their record is with
out blemish. When their State called,
they offered their lives in her Defence
When white winged peace spread it's infu-
ence over the country, they resumed their
relations to the material interests of the
c Commonwealth, as Industrious, progressive,
intelligent farmers, and in every hour and
day since the Confederate flag was furled
at Appomattox, they have been endeavor-
ing to make two blades of grass grow
where one grew before and build up the
fallen fortunes of their native State. They
have not sought refuge i'll corporations to
suck the life blood Of community, but
have been active tillers of the soil, giving
their time and attention and the labor Of
their hands and heads to advance the gen.
eral good and contribute their share to the
wealth and prosperity of their county and
State. Is it reasonable to suppose that
such gentlemen, with their family, bust
ness and social relations. would favor mixed
~, oY,x, NV fl,ok would