The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-30

time. 1t represented the conviction of a
majority of the masses Of the party, and
had the candidates accepted the nominal
tions, we believe would have polled at
least two-thirds Of the voting strength of
the Virginia Republicans. We had it
from the lips of two of the most promi-
nent and influential of those who were op-
posed to q Republican ticket being put
in the field that if the nominees had ac-
cepted they would have felt bound to have
them, and with ..one of them do
ing SO, the ticket headed by Gov. Cam
eron would either have been withdrawn or
been overwhelmingly defeated.
After the one body had endorsed the
Cameron ticket and the other had failed
in placing ticket before the people, the
question came up with those who acted
with the Holcom0 Hall body, what was
their duty in the premises-to support
Cameron. or by abstinence from the
polls, allow the Bourbons to elect their
ticket? The Readjusters had placed them
selves squarely on the Republican plat
form, except as to the debt question. The
Bourbons pronounced against every prop
osition the Republicans had declared for,
and advanced even more Objectionable
views on the debt question than the Re-
adjusters entertained. With parties thus
arrayed and represented, the great mass of
the Republicans, who believed in the policy
Of running and voting for Republican can
didates, deemed it their duty to support
the most liberal wing of the Democratic
party, and with very few exceptions did
so. We remember but one white and
two colored members who were in ac-
tive sympathy with the straight-out
policy, who declared for Maj. Daniel
against Col. Cameron. The result of
the election plainly demonstrated that
the straight-out Republicans voted with
the Readjusters, and that it was their
strength that made success possible Had
they done as the article we are comment
ing on would have the public believe
either voted for Daniel or abstained from
voting-Cameron would have been de-
feated by at least 10000 votes.
There is misapprehension too, as to
the position of President Garfield. The
Journals to which the Republican refers,
had created public sentiment in the
North in favor of what they deemed a lib
eral movement in the South, which might
result i'll breaking the political solidity of
that section. In Difference to that, he felt
disposed to favor the movement. His adj
vice was that the Republicans of Virginia
should maintain their organization plant
themselves upon the National Republican
platform, decline to nominate ticket, and
then support the Readjuster nominees ''for
this time only" were his own words His
idea was to break the Bourbon power, re-
peal the capitation tax restriction on the
ballot and the whipping-post law, which
he regarded as political monstrosities, and
then for the Republicans to resume their
position us a part of the great Repub-
lican party of the country, so as to main
tain the symmetry of the national organi-
cation.
The Straight-out Republican Conven-
ton at Lynchburg in 1881, was represen-
sentative of the Republican sentiment of
the State, as would have been fully demon
strated had "a test been made at the polls.
The Internal Revenue Collectors. with
one exception, and United States Mar
shals in Virginia at that time, were
in sympathy with the Readjusters, and
through the powerful and ramified ma
chinery which they controlled and worked
with consummate skill, they succeeded
in defeating the popular will of the party.
as to Republican candidates, and placed
those Republicans in the position to either
elect Cameron, representing the Liberal
wing of the Democratic party. or Daniel,
speaking for the proscriptive, vindictive
and reactive element of that party. They
chose to support Cameron and it was to the
Straight-out Republican vote that he owed
his election.
We might with propriety bring this ar
ticle to close, as review of the 'polit-
ical history the Republican seeks to palm
off on the country as accurate. But it is
proper to state that during the contests
that have been waged in Virginia. from
1881 to the present and that which is now
engaging the attention of the people, the
Republicans of the State have remained
Republicans, while cooperating with the
Readjusters in State matters to effect State
reforms, which could not be consummated
without them. 1t must not be inferred
from this that they propose to sever their
identity with the Republican party of the
country. They supported Grant in 1872,
Hayes in 1876 and Garfield in 1880, and
they propose to support the nominees of
the Republican National Convention in
1884, let them be whom they may. They
have no war to make on any of the prom
inent Republicans who are in the public
mind in connection with the next Presi-
dency. They expect to be represented in
that body by regularly appointed Republic
can delegates, pledged to observe the dis
cipline of that body and to the support of
lCS llollllleeS. lnere are not less IMAM
100000 Republican voters in Virginia, at
least 10000 of whom are white-many of
them men who have faced all kinds of pro-
scription and persecution--som
from friends and sometimes from foes
and who have no idea of abandoning any
of the distinctive principles of the Repub-
hcan party, or submitting to compromise
III anything that relates to the national Or
ganlzation. They have been instrumental
IN effectng great revolution in the State
OF MISUNDERSTANDING liberal thought
into laws, and realizing the fruits of the
seeds they had sown, when it required
courage and determination to confront
the mad passions and inhamed prejudices
of avindictive, powerful and insolent DOM
inant party. They still have the nerve to
stand to their rights and maintain them at
any ost,and if all who are basking in the
favor of Federal and State power, Sc
cured through Republican votes, but never
themselves cast one, and are fighting the
battles of reform in Virginia will be true to
themselves and their cause, the electoral
vote OF this State will not be cast for the
nominee of the Democratic party in 1884.
The discussion of these matters at this