The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-06-21
The Race Question.

bon party of Virginia. The indefensible,
insane position it has taken, or rather
that a few of the assumed leaders have
taken, in regard to races, and the virulent |
language and sentences with which they
thrust it before the people, indicate a
desperation and an absence Of reason that |
must revolt the sense of decency, morality |
and social order of the great mass of the |
citizens Of Virginia regardless Of party. |
We publish elsewhere the views of lead |
ing Democratic papers OF the North Oh |
the subject. They reflect the sentiment !
where. We append the comments of the
two leading Bourbon Metropolitan papers |
of the State. They are the expression of
blind, misguided passion and the outbmst |
of an evil, devilish prejudice that would in
yoke political isolation, social chaos and
material ruin. The convictions of en-
lightened craftsmanship and conservative
ambitions throughout the Union must
condemn and ignore them, as will the
common-sense and catholic interests of
the people of Virginia.
Even from mere selfish, mercenary
point of consideration, the views advanced
by the Richmond Bourbon organs must
bring results fatal to their hopes. In
State matters the effect must necessarily
be an overwhelming disaster. The people
of Virginia have gone through the ordeal
they are again invited to encounter. They
have not forgotten that the same issue was
forced upon them before to intlame pas
sons and excite preiudices. that reckless
partizans might thereby ride into power.
They remember we'll what followed in the
administration of public affairs-the i'm
poverished condition of the treasury, the
augmented public debt, the destroyed
credit, the paralyzed and almost ruined
public school system and the gloom and
dependency which hung over all the in
terests of the State, in order that q few de-
signing politicians might enjoy place and
plumber at the expense of the taxpayers
of the Commonwealth. These things are
fresh in their minds and the wicked de-
vice presented by the same class OF lead
ing politicians to repeat such a history will
be met by the indignant protest of those who
bear the burdens of government, and are
ambitious only for the public welfare, with
out regard to who holds this or that position,
so their own interests are conserved and
the State advanced in material prosperity.
Not all the mad appeals of all the veno-
nous marplots of the Commonwealth can
blot out the record the Bourbons have
| made-the disasters it inficted-the cor.
ruptions it representative sad and dis
heartening condition Of the people it re-
fleets. Contrast the relations of the State
now with what they were few years ago,
| and it requires no argument OF appeal to
make prominent the difference and i'm
press public judgment with the benefits
which have followed change from Bour-
bon to Liberal administration. In all re-
spects the peoples interests have been
| Observation-Disclosures and confidence
prevail where disgust and distrust reigned
| Our relations at home and abroad are the
most propitious for material growth and
conditions, except where Bourbon malig-
nifty has been encouraged and partizan
desperation injected. These things can
not be ignored. The people are conscious
| Of them. and will resist the devices and
plots of dispairing faction, to draw
them away from their duty to themselves
and the State.
In national relations it will be seen from
the views of the New York World and
Philadelphia Times, how the Virginia
Bourbons are regarded in the attitude
| they have taken on the race question. Not
only will the people of Virginia condemn
! it at the ballot-bOX in November next, but
the sentiment Of the Democratic party
| throughout the North and West will in
dignantly repudiate and spurn it. And
thus it will be that this defeated, democrat
lied and wicked faction will remain pros
| trate at home, while it invites the rebuke
and hostility of it's own political associates
from abroad-without hope OF preferment
either in local or national affairs.
| And why has the unsuspecting and trust
| ing following Of the Bourbon marplots
been placed in this menviable position !?
Simply because GOV. Cameron did what
his three Bourbon predecessors did, ap-
pointed several intelligent colored men on
the public school boards to look after the
| interests of the schools of their own race.
| Walker, Kemper and Holiday each did
the same. and yet there was not one word
of protest from any source-nO public
wrong was intlicted-nO insult taken-nO
| complaint made. With no important
ment looking to public interests to appeal
to-no record to invite approval-con-
demned by the people and driven out OF
power because of iniidelity topublic trusts,
they have been compelled to take up the
race issue as the last despairing re-
sort of a desperate, defeated, overthroWn
faction. 1t is sheer desperation, and
the very violence of the invocations
which have been made to arouse pas
sion and excite prejudice, shows that it is
the last hope-the last gasp before the
| close of wicked and ruinOus career.
| There is great moral force underlying
the political relations in Virginia that
Bourbon stupidity is incapable of compre-
hending and Bourbon malignity powerless
to arrest or check. Malone and Ma
honeism'' are simply the surface exhibits
the accidental instruments to give it
momentum. The freedom of the slave
meant more than striking the shackles
from hisperson. 1t was an invitation to
| a higher life-to moral and intellectual de-
| velopment-the employment Of the mind
and soul implanted in him by his Creator,
to work out destiny commensurate with
the high dignity Of that humanity which
was ennobled by Him who took upon Him.
self our nature that He might feel our
! imperfections and measure our needs. Two
hundred years of oppression and ignorance
"a debasing slavery unparalleled in the
history of the world, lily fits the negro for
the duties and responsibilities of citizen
ship. His moral and intellectual percep
| tions have been dwarfed and perverted,
but not eradicated. and it is right here
that the duty of the more highly favored
race comes in-placing on trial not only the