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

gent people Of Virglnia-Democrat and
Republicans turned with disgust from the
disgraoeful exhibition; from such CHASTITY
mockery of political government Is 1t
any wonder that men of all parties turned
their backs on demagoguery. public drunk
enness, rufianism, blasphemy, bribery and
intimidation Does it surprise any one
that the old Democratic Readjusters al
most in body left such an indecent orgy
which could not be dignified with the
name of political campaign Mol The
result surprises no one. For a political
party to command popular respect must
possess public character, political prin-
ciple and regard for decOrum. The Co
alition instead presented hope OF spoils. 1t
was union of two minority factions to
secure political plnnder, and bound to
each other by no tie of common beliefs.
by no vital principle which could Outlas'
the division of the spells. The spOils haU
been divided with an indecent disregar
of the People and had At last come to b,
the personal assets of one man. The intel
llRtHC6 VI DOuu loOVAOAc LOU OOCA VAACh
sively treated. and towards the last th.
strength of the party, mostly relied on y.
the polls, was confined to the most ignor-
ant of one faction. The tyranny and per-
sonal favoritism of the leader had DISCUS
ted all and the last campaign of the I'm
natural coalition was fit ending to its
brief career.
Far away may the day be before the peo-
pie of Virginia shall be called upon to
witness another such party and leaders.
Far off be the day when Virginia shall be
called to pass through another such CAM
paign. But, mark you, her escutcheon
has not been stained. There it shines,
her shield glistening in the sunlight OF
victory, white and stainless. There blaze
the old letters stainless and undimned,
SIC Senper Tyrannis. Many dints are in
her armor. Many latchet of Der breast
plate has been loosed by the blows. Her
sandals are covered with the dust of the
battle field. Her spear has had hard
usage: There Is the sweat Of the hard
fought battle on her forehead. but no
stain Of shame; no stain of shame. Under
her feet lies bound the cowed tyrant, and
as she proudly turns her face to the great
American Democracy, her eyes glowing
with victory. and points to the chained
tyrant at her feet, they read on her shield
the old legend that came down from the
fathers without spot or stain; the old le-
gend that has been lifted up in front of her
troops in every battle that centuries have
witnessed Oh American soil; the old legend
that every Virginian wears next to his
heart of hearts and for which they have
died from the days of the English King
down to the fight for civilization of to-day;
the old legend that has been the watch word
of the American Republic for century,
glowing with crimson light in war and
shining with golden radiance in peace, un-
stained forever-Ssc Senaper Iyrannis.
The tyrapt may be ashamed; those who
have sought to place him in power over
the very liberties of the people may be
ashamed; those who have resorted to de.
bauching the public mind, to fraud, to in
timidation, to instigating an ignorant
race to murder, may be ashamed, as they
ought to be, but not Virginia. Not Vir.
ginia, her escutcheon IS stainless.