The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-02
The Lynchburg Convention.

iCoOluUlOnS duOpteu ny tIlo LyucHuuIS
Convention. In this day of demagogical
political literature. we come in contact
with much that is insulting to public in
telligence, offensive to public morality,
and reprehensible in any light it may be
considered as it affects public interests.
but of all the insulting, offensive and rep
rehensible productions. the formal utter
ances of the Lynchburg Convention sur
pass anything we have ever read.
The platform opens with declar ration
against any increase of taxes for whatever
cause. This is an announcement so preg-
nant of dishonesty and so plainly designed
to pander to a low public morality, that it's
exposure is scarcely necessary. 1t is pre-
sumed that the Legislature of State has
the exclusive right to deal with the ques-
ton of taxation, and in framing a tax
bill it must necessarily be governed by the
conditions and emergencies which are
present when it's action becomes necessary.
While the administration of State affairs
by the party now in power has been so
wise and sagacious as topreclude the prob
ability of any necessity for an increase Of
taxation, and has made it possible for any
party to announce against an increase OF
taxation. conscious right and genuine
craftsmanship would forbid that such a
declaration should be made in any party
platform. While there is no probability
of any contingency arising that could ne
cessitate an augmentation of taxes, yet to
formally announce against it, without
knowing what extremities may exist in
the future, is the essence of unprinci-
pied de lnagoguism and the evidence of a
depraved political morality that will find
few supporters among honest men. 1t is
declaration of self -distrust' in the party
that makes 1.-THE testimony that the
people are afraid to trust it and that it is
not entitled to confidence. While the
Coalition party has so managed the affairs
of the Commonwealth as to justify de-
crease in the rate of taxation and at the
same time meet all the demands upon the
State.-to give the assurance that it the
present wise administration is continued.
a further lessening Of taxation is sure to
follow. it is by no means certain if the
Bourbon Democracy should get the con-
troll of the Legislature that such would be
the case. We have it's past history as the
only guide for it's future conduct. and
if that is to be the criterion by which its
public acts are to be judged, its advance
ment to power would mean either an in
crease of taxation OF a bankrupt treasury.
The declaration we refer to is dishonest
the motive at the back of it is dishonest.
and the party that makes it is dishonest.
The acceptance of the debt settlement
of the Riddleberger bill and the presump-
tuous announcement that any alttnl to
disturb it will meet with Bourbon con-
demnation is the quintescence of effront-
ery and an advertisement of the impu-
dence and insincerity of the party that
makes it. Having denounced the bill as
measure of reputation and those who
supported it as public thieves and robbers
having fought it's validity through all
Tile UO-UllS lCChlCOo dlltt OiihS OSA AL b
party has the audacity to come before the
people with a resolution Substantially en-
dorsing it. and proclaiming its purpose to
maintain it's inviolability against all as
saults. Could impudence go further ?
Could there be palmer or more palpable
declaration of dishonesty in motive and
resolve?
With equal false pretense and absence
of sincerity is the announcement concern
ing the public schools. The Republicans
in the Convention of 1868, incorporated
the public school provision into the Con-
stitution, in despite of the opposition of
nearly every Bourbon member of the Con-
vention, yet the Lynchburg body had the
audacity to claim to be the patron of the
system, the author Of it's active machine
ny and the guardian of it's interests 1t is
true the Walker Legislature did inaugur-
ate the public school policy, through the
influence and demands of the Republican
members thereof and under the scrutiniZing
eyes of the country which were watching to
see how the policy of President Grant, :"
through which the Conservative party was
passed to the possession of the State, would
be carried out. But this was a mere
blind-a deliberate deception, as the sub
sequent history of the public schools and
the threatened destruction of the system
Bourbon party and the rescue OF the State
government from it's ruinous clutch, the
public schools of Virginia to-day would be
dead, and the system a complete and mel
ancholy wreck. 1t is to the Coalition alone
that the people of Virginia are indebted
for the present prosperous condition of the
public schools and the promising future
that awaits them, unless the State again
should fall under the malign Influence of
Bourbonism, which blighted everything
that pertained to the welfare Of the peo-
pie. There is no security for the public
schools OF the efficiency of the system, ex
cept in the perpetual exclusion of the
Bourbon faction from controlling infu-
ence in their management.
With like insincerity and desperate in
tention is the position taken in the Lynch
burg resolutions in regard to the colored
people and the public schools. But a few
months ago every Bourbon paper and cross
road politician was denouncing the Board
of Education for placing two colored trus-
tees on the Richmond School board. 1t
was proclaimed as the first step in a pro-
gramme for negro domination mixad
schools, mixed marriages, and all the dire
calamities that would necessarily follow
such condition of things. Now, in the
desperation of it's case, that same faction
declares for negro trustees, negro teachers,
negro management, with separate fund
under their control, and the exclusion of
the white people from all suggestion or in
terest in such management. The very
extreme of this miserable, contemplate
and dishonest device, exposes it's insincer-
ity and the reckless partizanism that is at
the bottom of it. The sole object is to in
fluence the negro vote for faction that
has for ten years past directed its power
to the oppression and degradation of the
negro and to deprive him of the rights
which the laws and constitution of the
country give him.
Intelligent, honest white people of Vir-
ginia, wi II not be slow in discovering the