Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-16
Results Of the Election.
SHALL THE STATE BE SAVED /?

fore maintained, the present is much more
than political contest between opposing
parties, and that the result of the election
will ultimately. affect the interests of the
people more deeply than that of any cleo
ton that has heretofore been held-that it
will be the beginning of the end' Of the
veal or woe of the Commonwealth-that
the salvation or destruction of the very life
of the State is involved-that its social Or
ganism is threatened with destruction-that
evils will follow an adverse result that ex-
coed the powers of the imagination to con-
ceive. To our vision, the horoscope is dark
and appalling, aud the only hope is that
the masses of the people will appreciate the
situation and 'turn out to a man. on the
day of election and vote for the Democratic
ticket, the only means they have of saving
their State from the saddest fate that ever
befell any people once free. The views we
entertain are so well expressed and so ably
presented IN a contributed article to the
Richmond Dispatch that, in lieu of what
from it, which we wish our readers to
tread, mark, learn, and inwardly digest:''-
coalition success means negro police
men on the streets of our towns and cities;
negro aggression in the direction of our ed
ucational system, which is equivalent to
its destruction; gradual encroachment upon
every social prerogative by an inferior race;
and ultimately, perhaps, mixed schools. 1t
means iconoclism and retrogression from
every standpoint from which it is viewed.
Democratic success means the entirety of
the social structure and educational pro-
gress and development, on which conditions
depend the life of any community. 1t was
the recognition of these facts that impaired
such heartiness and earnestness to the re-
organization of the party at Lynchburg
that has caused such men as Wickham 90
subordinate the party convictions of years
to sense of duty and align themselves
with the Democracy, and that has led orig
inal Readjusters all over the State to for
get and forgive the bitterness of past con-
troverSies and come out from among the
allies.
Yet there are those who should be with
US who are still blindly infatuated with Goa
lition, who are lethargic, or who have not
| risen superior to personal feeling or ambi-
tion-who have not awakened to a full
realization of what is at stake. And for this
reason it would seem to behoove our speakers
not to mince matters. In the light of re-
cent developments we cannot afford to in
indulge in distractions. As the canvass
progresses it becomes more and more evil
dent that the time has come for calling a
spade spade, and discussing the social as
poets of the struggle in language that cannot
be mistaken by the dullest. This is the plain
lesson taught us by the negroes. All is to
be gained and nothing can be lost by such
a course. With no intention of debating
to the Democratic leaders, we would sug-
gest that the people must be made to un-
derstand that we must win the fight for the
honor of the past, for the hope of the future,
for the protection of our firesides-that the
superior race must dictate the social policy
of Virginia or make up their minds to be
like
"Slaves turn'd DER to the vanquish'd by the
victors."
We have faith enough in the integrity
| and manhood of Virginians, however, to
believe that If this aspect Of the canvass is
presented as our canvassers can present it,
and recent events justify them in presenting
it, short as Is the time between now and
election the most Indifferent can be thor
oughly aroused, and hundreds induced to
renew their allegiance to the Democratic
party who now affiliate with the Coalition
lists. Daily evidence is accumulating to
show that the negroes of Virginia consider
this their fight, and the Coalition leaders
their champions. Only Thursday night
negro meeting held in Richmond, in re-af
firming the allegiance of the race to the
Readjuster party, made the following dec
laration:
Whereas the present political status Of
the State ofVirginia has assumed so impor-
tant al aspect in so far as our political
rights are concerned, and our debt of graf
itude is so apparent, we deem it now pro-
per, timely, and expedient TO show our ap-
probation and gratitude by a united and
unfaltering action in behalf of the great
Liberal party"
Every sensible man in Virginia knows
that as far as the negroes political rights
are concerned they are sufficiently guaran-
| teed; and he has only to read between the
lines of the paragraph quoted, and keep in
view the agitation over the appointment of
negro school trustees to understand that
the negroes look to the social results of the
canvass. Crediting the Coalition leaders
with all they claim, that they are opposed
to mixed schools and their concomitant So
cial evils, the fact is not disproved that their
negro constituency are in favor of them,
and that they regardHa victory as the be-
ginning of the end in social aggression.