Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-11-16

Tic OfllcerS. me uelOJm6u uOuotci VI
Bourbonism is dying. Let it die! Let none
try to revive it and let no tears be Shed
over its timely DEATH"
The campaign just closed willleaye stain on the
escuteheon of this commonwealth which years will
not etface 1t marks period which every good
citizen in his calmer moments. would gladly have
blotted from the pages of history 1t tells tale OF
sin, of moral depravity, of the reign OF hate and
horror of the subordinaton of the finer feelings, OF
the bsence of principle and conviction Of the dis
regard for he material interests OF the State and
the objects for which political parties should be
formed ValEey Virginian.
We most heartily endorse the above
from our esteemed contemporary the Valley
Virqiniaa, with the reservation that the
escutchecn of the ancient Commonwealth
so far from being stained by it, has. for
the first time in four years, emerged from
the daub of mud and dirt which has COW
cred its fair face.
Instead of intelligent orators addressing
to the intelligent masses of the State arQu'
ment, we have seen high officers of the
Commonwealth heated with liquor. stir
ling up the passions and hatred OF
audiences of ignorant, lately enfranchised
slaves, screaming with delight at the
scurrilous abuse heaped upon their oppo-
nents We have have seen in our own
town the highest Law Officer of Virginia
frenzying gallery full of ignorant blacks
with delight, with the announcement that
he and some of his party co-leaders had
applied the toe of their boot to white peo-
pie IN office.
Instead of presenting programme for
the future placing of Virginia abreast with
the prosperous States of the American
Union by legislation in accord with the
spirit of the times, we have seen orators
addressing themselves wholly to the
hatreds, the prejudices, the race ambition
and the cupidity of the most ignorant race
in their State. interlarding it with exult-
ing pictures of how their white opponents
would appear under the feet of ignorance.
The State has seen one great land now
.riumphant) party IN the State assembled
in convention, with calmness and dignity.
moving how far 1T had progressed in the
cultivation of peace and amity in tn"
State by repudiating all political war
against men on account Of their race, and
by Offering to the lately enfranchised
slaves that highest of privileges the con
rol of their own education. And she has
seen the olive branch flung defantly
back.
The State has seen the highest executive
officer of the Commonwealth stoop to the
trick of the ward politician and appoint.
in highly civilized and cultured commu-
nifty. two men, wholly untitled for the
position. to act as co-laorers in the super
vision and direction of the education of a
superior race-an appointment of black
men made solely to secure the black vote
The State has seen revered ministers Of
God called by their names In public print
and jeered for their political beliefs. and
he temples of the Most High profaned by
the language of blasrhemy.
The State has seen some of her promI-
ent men drunk on the hastings, making
use of utterances only fit for brothel
and which caused the blush of shame to
mantle on the cheek of even their most
devoted political friends.
We have seen printing presses running
on the holy Sabbath to send out circulars
deDouncing as infamous the piteous
appeals of the white people of Virginia
town for aid from the people of the same
blood and race.
Instead of appealing to principles to pro-
cure the suffrages of the people, the pat
ronage of the State within reach of the
heuchmen has been used to buy votes.
Instead of there being ''free ballot and
a fair count" employees of the State were
intimidated by threats of dismissal !;
negroes were marched up to the polls in
lines of ten with red badges on, and not
permitted to leave the ranks until they
had cast their votes; colored ministers of
the Christian Religion appeared at public
meetings and in voices ,hoarse with passion
announced that the Negro who didn't
vote certain ticket ought to be hung
and his body cast so far into space that
no ray of sunlight should ever reach it
the churches of the colored people were
used as political instruments to bulldoze
voters into line, and the black men of the
State were reduced to abject political
slavery-so abject that they actually mob
bed other black men who would not be
made slaves like themselves.
Printing presses have been run through
the Sabbath to help to bring about MUIR
der at the polls by such vile and incendia-
ry circulars as this one distributed in every
county in Virginia where there was
large black vote:
six colored men murdered by Bourbon mobs.-
Colored men, ayenge by y ur ballots on Tuesday
the 9Th of November the murder Of FIVE colOred
men at Danvllle Saturday night and the murder of
Robert Robertson in Hanover by a Bourbon Fun
der mob Go to the polls and avenge by a solid
vote the murder of these men,"
Rowdyism and ruffiAnism among the
whites supplemented murderous docu-
meDts circulated among the blacks. At
one poll in Virginia U. s. Senator was
announcing by Cd and l have pistol