The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-13
What we wrote in the paragraph ouot,

udo WO hlOtc III Guc paragraph quoted
| by our cotemporary of the Charlottesville
Chronicle, we regret to say, has too much
foundation in truth to require modifca-
tion. The people of the State. without
respect to party, when they express their
calm, deliberate judgment, will condemn
what we there condemned, and unless
there is radical change in the methods of
conducting political contests in Virginia,
the worst has not yet been realized. Very
few of any class of conservative citizens.
approve the revolutionary acts of the
present Legislature, or the means en-
ployed in the last canvass to secure a
party triumph. 1t is not from any party
point that we have considered the situa-
tion, but as citizens of the State, with
all we own and expect to own, bound up in
her destiny affected by the general pro-
gress or stagnation.
The politicians are not the people, and
while parties are held responsible for
what their recognized leaders do, the
great mass of the people instinctly shrink
from excuses, especially when such ex-
cesses partake Of a revolutionary charac-
ter. There is not one in ten of the better
class of Democrats, who endorses the &C.
tion OF the Legislature in practically abol-
ishing the Executive branch of the gov
ernment-not one in ten who approves
the waste Of public funds in the foolish
and spiteful Investigations, which have
distinguished this session-not one in ten
who will defend the disfranchisement of
Senatorial constituency in order to Sc
cure two-thirds majority, to nullify the
authority of coordinate branch of the
government-not one in ten who will sus-
tain the unseating of fairly elected dele
gates, fol. merely partizan purposes, and to
the better consummate party ends. When
the record of this Legislature is made up
and it's acts arranged in conspicuous order
for the study and judgment Of the people.
it will present such catalogue of partizan
actS-Such picture of extreme and arbi
trary legislation popular rebuke
will be as sure to follow as the sun rises
and sets. And unless this is:done-unless
the people themselves manifest purpose
to repudiate what is wrong and approve
what is right, we need not be.surprised if
dissatisfaction and distrust are not made
known in ways that will seriously af-
feet our material interests and the |
character Of the Commonwealth as the
representative of justice and right. Par
TITAN zeal, blooming out in disregard of
popular rights and doubtful, if not reyo-
lutionary invasion Of legal and constitu-
tional barriers, is not an element to COM
mand confidence at home or inspire respect
abroad. 1t may for the time blind the
leaders, while passion is infamed and rea-
son shaken, and cause spasmodic appro-
val from some of their followers. but
when the calm comes-when time is given
for the majesty Of law and the sanctity of
constitution to assert their influence, there
will be a rebuke administered that will
vindicate the conservatism of Virginia
and teach lesson to partizan bigots that
may be of infinite value hereafter.
Did we believe that the methods of the
asst canvass and the revolutionary acts of
she present Legislature were a true refiec- /