The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-12-06
The Solid aouth--Nhy ii is Solid
published by Request

q He SJOAAGA w AZ IA ~ tNOEHN
Published by Request
MARYsvILLE, VIRGINIA. - In the
days when the old whig party, led by
Clay and Webster, and other intellec-
tual giants, gave the democracy many
a lively tussle, the political affiliations
Of the Old Dominion were very differ
ent from what they are to-day, The
democratic patry did not then contain
ninety-nine hundredths of all the
property and intelligence OF the State
It was not then considered as II politi-
cal and social degradation for Il man
to avow himself an opponet OF that
party, for the wing party was known
as the "gentlemen's party" and many
# its adhereuts were men who owned
lordly estates, and who boosted Of ped
igrees as long as the moral law. In
those palmy days OF Virginia, "bcforC
the wah," every county court house
rang with the fiery sentences ard fierce
debates OF well trained and well match
ed whig and democratic orators, ant
''protection" and free trade" had TO
the people a significance and impor
lance which. in latter days, has beer
lrawn aside to other questions purel,
local, but no less pressing.
When the Wing party went down
when the question of slavery absorbe
Ill others, when the Southern State
attempted to secode, and when tn
'iyil war began, the people OF Nirgini
'ound themselves in a new position
3 md former party ties were no longC
admissible. During the four years tn;
=. followed, they had no connection Wit
the Federal government, and con
mon cause bound them togethe
When the great struggle ended wit
r. he surrender at AppomatoX, and Il
yOrnout troops OF the ConfederaC
struggled hemcward, it was to fiji
themselves no longer citizens OF Il
y, Commonwealth Of Virginia" forr
ng no part OF any political COVER
- ment, but existing, merely throul
difference, in "Military District No.
IN the lapse of time new State CO
stitution was formed, the State &c
40 ernment was remodellcd, and after
+, number Of years, the people OF Virgin
found themselves endowed with t
right to govern themselves, as agf
=, a part of the Federal Union, with t
privilege of once more IDENTIFY
!, themselves with a national politi
:, party.
- - But the political situation Of
nation was also changed. The w
party was defunct In its place '
:, the national Republican party, ado
ing many of its tenets, though add
anumber OF Others more progressi
- and more fully Illustrating an
l = lightened civilization, The denocl
~ ic party still existed, but sadly den
allied and with only a shadow Of
former glory existing. What sho
the old wings do? Should they
hands and fortunes with their forl
p" political enemies, give their allegia
to principles and policies whose sou
IN ness they more than doubted or she
they join the ranks of the victor
party, a part of whose creed was Il
own, and, by shutting their eyes
10 swallowing the remainder, prove
''le they fully accepted the results of
war? 1t was difficult question,
there is no doubt great many
nos Line Wings would have pursued
ciselv this course had it not beer
'ant the fact that an insurmountable b
tied er had been erected For this the
but publican party was solely respons
'latt And not alone would many W
have offered their allegiance to
national party, but many life
Pa Democrats, who, looking out upon
beloved State torn and bleeding
have devastating war, felt that it won
dred good for her and for them to fee
: the fostering care Of a parental Go
,ston ment, and, also convinced that
political principles for which the!
long fought with ballots had now
i. finally settled by bullets, would
Rev. have offered their fealty to this
not had it not been for this same ba