The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-25
For the People to Think Over.

ol6ulOA dlitl UllC llluCiCoUo VI OhN hCpescSs
Their past record they cannot defend, no
more than they can assail that of the Re-
Idjusters.
In spite of the opposition of every Bour-
ION speaker and writer All equitable basis
or the settlement of the debt question
was adopted, and would forever dispose OF
that issue, were it not for the efforts OF
Bourbon lawyers and judges to defeat it.
The schools have teen rescued from ruin
and made prosperous and permanent,
and will so remain, so long as the friends
who have saved them are invested with
legislative power.
The ballot has been made free.
Taxes have been reduced.
The Treasury replenished.
State credit restored.
The jails emptied of the insane.
The charitable and educational institu-
lions relieved of large floating debt, ac-
cumulated under Bourbon administration,
and ample provision made for their success
full operation hereafter.
The penitentiary, instead OF cost to
the people of 100000 annually. under Bour-
bon rule, is made to pay revenue OF
$4,000 under Readjuster administration.
All the interests of the Commonwealth
have been wisely and economically adminls-
tered since the Bourbons were driven from
power by the people and the ReadJusters
invited to take their place.
Capital and enterprise have come in,
large investments in mineral lands have
been made. furnaces established, values
created, and taxable resources multiplied,
so that the next Legislature, if Readjuster
may, with safety. order still greater reduc-
ton of taxes.
These are some of the results which
have been assured to the people by the Re.
adjusters, in defiance of Bourbon opposi.
tion.
They propose, if the people shall again
entrust them with authority. to so legis
late as to make secure the debt settlement
against the insidious assaults Of Bour
boniSm.
To protect the people against the unjust
determinations of railroad corporations
and enact such laws us will recognize the
property rights of the citizen and compel the
corporations to respect them.
To legislate so as to compel the banks t(
respect the law of their creation and de-
sist from usurious charges, OF suffer heavy
penalty.
To modify the chancery laws so us to re-
duce the costs of proceedings in chancery
causes, enforce speedy settlements of es-
tates, and secure to the creditors and debt
ors that which properly belongs to them
These and other reforms will command
the attention of the next Legislature, ani
laws be passed to give them practical eff
feet, if the Readjusters shall have a work
ing majority in both houses.
Here is something tangible and practica
for the people to think about, both as tt
what has been done, and what is yet to bt
done. The Readjusters are committed tt
these things. and will as certainly legislatt
to give them effect as they are entrusted
with power do so.
The Bourbons can offer nothing salts
factory on any single proposition enumer
ated. Their record in the past is against
all the good that has been accomplished
and it will be against all the good that j.
promised.
To offset the beneficent legislation an(
administration which have distinguished
the Readjusters, and that which they yet
propose, the Bourbons have but one plea
false, wicked and cowardly plea-that Of
the negrO-negro trustees, and mixed
schools. They know that all their clamol
about the negro, is the veriest deception
They know that the schools are not as neal
being mixed now as they were under Bour
bon rule when white lady teachers were il
charge of colored schools. They know that
there is no white person and no colored
person in Virginia who would not deplort
any such policy, and that it is a condition
that will never be brought about by any
action of the Readjusters. They Enou
this, and yet to deceive and mislead the
ignorant and prejudiced, they are constant
ly prating about negro rule, negro teach
ers, mixed trustees, mixed schools, and
even go so far as to insult every white lady
in the State. by intimating the possibility
of mixed marriages.
When party leaders are driven to such
Disqualification wicked and malicious
EXTREMISTS it not time for the voters of
the State to visit them with the severest
condemnation, and give them to under
stand that the low devices and slanderous
appeals of which they are guilty will invoke
upon them the Indignation of an insulted
and outraged people If the spirit mani
tested by the Bourbons in this canvass
were to be crystalized into laws. it would
stamp the people of Virginia as worse than
savages. 1t would build a Chinese wall
around the State, that would forbid the
entrance of every enlightened citizen of the
country. 1t would crush every liberal as
piration would repel every generous ad-
vance. and throw back the Commonwealth
twenty years in the march of civilization.
No interest could thrive andprosper under
such malign influence. We would stand
out as the incarnation of all that is malig-
nant and wicked in human nature. 1t
would throw a dark shadow over the future
of the State that would array against us
the whole civilized world. and invite to us
the rebuke and condemnation of the intel
ligence and enlightenment Of the age.
The people should calmly and deliberate
ly think over these matters, and consider
cal faction that has been false toevery trust
whether they are ready to place themselves
in position hostile to all their best inter
ests, in order to advance to power politi-
in the past, and promises for the future
nothing but race hatred and the rule of
malignant passion.
The BOurbons talk about Bosses Well.
they have one of the typical kind. Bar
bour is the most complete Boss we have
ever known in politics. And be has each
county dotted over with little bosses. or
dered to drive to the polls their tens and
vote them for the Boss's candidates. We
will have fallen on evil times when Rail-
road Bosses and courthouse bosses. and
whiskey bosses shall order the farmers of
Virginia about like slaves, and drive them
to the polls in squads Of tens. That is