The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-14

son. 1t was the unwise use Of power and
the inconsiderate and selfish dispersal
ton of patronage, which, i'll great de-
gree, operated to their overthrow. How
much more certain and pronounced must
be the condemnation of the dominant
party in the Legislature, if the pop
ular judgment is measured by the excuses
which have characterized the proceedings
OF the law-making power OF the govern
ment within the past two months?
The people will not remain Indifferent to
the abuse of power which they are called
upon to contemplate. Many of them are
already aroused to the fearful precedents
that are being established, and look with
grave apprehension to the changed rela-
tions of parties in the future, when retail
.iation may become the rule and confusion
and disorder, if not virtual anarchy, the
result, with all the great concerns OF the
Commonwealth overlooked, or subordi-
mated to the wild passions of partizans and
the reckless greed of place hunters. We
can only hope that out of the nettle dan,
ger that threatens, the conservative, law,
abiding, order-loving citizens OF the State
may pluck the flower safely, and assert
their authority in the rebuke of fanatical
partizanism, whether found in one politi-
cal organization or the other.
There could be no more fitting illustra.
tion of partizanism run mad than is fur
nished by late editorials in the Richmond
State. In the face Of the recently pub
lished testimony in the investigation OF
the Western Lunatic Asylum by the leg
islatiye committee, it wildly rants about
partizanism in the Asylum, and demands
that the present officers be turned out to
make room for more pronounced partizans.
Of course, such talk hurts no one except
|. the parties it is intended to benefit: but it
does show to what extremes political pref
udice will carry some people. One has but
to refer to the sworn evidence before the
Committee to see how utterly groundless
is every charge made. 1t was shown in
that evidence that political assessments
were not allowed {: that the Superintendent
told employees that they need not give il
they did not choose to that but one single
employee was discharged on account Of
politics and for other reasons, and that the
condition of the Asylum, its capacity fol
accommodation and general discipline, were
better now than it ever had been. If the
Committee had alloaced a comparison Of
administrations to be instituted, it would
have been shown that there were not more
Readjusters in the employ Of the Asylum
now than there were Democrats before
that the former Superintendent was moi
only more pronounced party man thar
the present one, but that, if we mistake
not. he was chairman of Democratic
committee and made some very partizar
speeches.
The ''honest people of Augusta" whom
the State alleges are protesting against the
continuation of the present administra
ton, are doubtless the members Of the lit.
Il
tie cliques and rings about Staunton, who
expect to be the beneficiaries OF a change
They are the only ones we have heard OF
making such protests, whilst opposed tc
them are the conservative and non-politica
elements all over the State. Patients dis
charged during the past year, and promi
nent Democrats who have friends at the
Asylum, are writ ng that they are striving
with all their might with their representa-
tive to have the present officers retained
But for the officers preventing it, a petit
ton urgently praying their retention, and
giving reasons for the same, and signed by
nearly every convalescent patient in the
Asylum, would have been sent sometime
ago to the legislature.
Let any impartial man institute a COM
parison in discipline, management, COM
fort of patients, and improvements be-
tween the present and former administra-
ton and he Will be forced to the conclu-
ssion that the interests Of the State, and
especially of the unfortunates-wh are
the parties most ,concerned-cry out against
any change. ~.