The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-23
Gen. VIM. C. Wickham.


he looked upon the flag of the United
States, while fighting on the Confederate
side at the head of his cavalry brigade.
1t has also been iterated and reiterated |
that in voting for Wells for Governor, he
also voted for the DISTINGUISHING clause OF
the Constitution of 1869. These charges
were made by the Conservatives before
the disruption of that party and have been
made by the Readjusters and some OF the
CoalitiOnists since then. There had never
been any denial of them, that we had
seen, coming from Gen. Wickham until
his speech at Hanover Court House. The
report of his speech on that occasion has
the following He emphatically denied
that he had ever said he wept at the sight
of the old flag. or been wanting in fidelity
to the cause that he espOused during the
war. He called upon his old comrades
who stood around him to know Whetnef
in any of the cavalry charges that they
had made with him there had been any
time for weeping over the flag OF the enc
my. He challenged any man to point to
any act of his that would prove him I'M
faithful to his old comrades. and SAID
that the wounds he bore would prove his
loyalty to the State.
He said that. so far from his having
voted for the restrictive clauses OF the
| Constitution of the underwood Conven-
tion," as his opponents charge, he had
gone to General Grant in person, and had
been instrumental in having these re-
strictive clauses submitted to the people
| separately. by which means they had been
| defeated.
The above is very emphatic denial OF
the charges as preferred, and coming from
such a man as Gen. Wickham, will be ac
cepted by all fair-minded people as refu-
tation full and complete.
1t is likewise charged against him, as
count that should injure him with the peo-
Pile of Virginia, that he voted for Wells
against Walker for Governor. What is
expected to be made out of this allegation,
| insthe light of the Walker administration
and the woes it brought upon the State,
we cannot see. Wells left in the State
Treasury 81 800, 900, when he retired from
the Executive Mansion. The Walker ad
ministration managed to exhaust this; in
flict the Funding bill of 1871 on the peo-
pie. through bride money furnished by the
conspirators in the passage of that act, and
planted the seeds of all the offensive meas
ures that have pressed down the Common
wealth since that time.
1t is nothing but fair that Gen. Wick
ham should be properly represented in
this matter. Personally we have the high
est regard for him. and have in times past
cordially co-operated with him in political
contests. We think he made great mis-
take in 1881, and that he is repeating it in
a modified form, in 1888. We, however,
have no arraignment of his motive to pre-
sent. His policy we dissent from, nor
can we see how under the conditions which
existed in 1881 and those which now exist,
he can defend his consistency rs it
affects the measures in State matters
which Republicans have advocated since
1876. We think the questions involved
fected should have been and should now
be regarded as higher than mere personal
+, considerations. What he expects to gain,
as Republican, by the defeat of the
Coalition in the control Of the next Legis-
lature and passing it to the Bonrbons, is
past our comprehension.
While differing from him in his present
views and position, we will not withhold
our tribute to his high character as Il gen
tleman and ability as Il man of public af-
fairs. The slurs and ISLANDERS which are
poured out against him by men frequently
who are not fitted to button his shoe latch
ct, will do him no harm, nor compromise
him with those who are just enough to
recognize the qualities of the gentleman in
| those who are politically opposed to them.
| No good cause was ever promoted-no en-
during good ever effected for the State,
by methods which could not be recognized
| in genteel association OF defended before
the forum of conscience. This thing OF
traducing private characters, railing
against citizens of the State who stand un-
| impeached and unimpeachab!e in all the
private relations of life, simply because OF
political differences is one OF the most
baneful practices in these times of pOliti-
| cal, as well as personal decentralization. A
cause that cannot succeed without perso-
| nal defamation does not appeal to
| the conscience and patriotism OF the peo-
pie, is not likely to crystalize in public
confidence. We can see no sound policy
or justice in any such course, and the cause
we are now advocating in this contest
does not demand it. Certainly, SO far as
this journal is concerned. it will never be-
come a party to such ethics never be
prostituted to such unworthy ends. 1t
will aim to do justice to political friend
and foe and promote the political interests
it has in view by legitimate argument and
manly disputation, if disputation must be.
|
The Primary.
The Bourbons propose to hold a primary
on the Sth to select candidates for the
Legislature. This is their right and no
one will object to Bourbons participating
in the ceremony. We suggest to Repub
licans and Readjusters. however, to
leave it severely alone. Appeals will be
made to members of the Coalition to
''vote just this one time' with the pri-
mary, to secure the success of this OF that
personal friend, in order to get them COM
mitted to Bourbon machinery. When it
is done, the claim will lie set up that the
voter so participating is in honor bound
to vote at the polls for the successful pri-
mary candidate, or not vote at all. In the
last spring elections a number of Republic
cans and Readjusters were cajoled into the
Bourbon primary, excusing themselves on
the ground that their party would have no
republican candidates. Such is not the
case in this contest. We have our regular
nominees out for the Legislature
men entitled to the support and confidence