The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-07
Timely Warning.

NdCdt0 dill tllo ICSiotIdlo3 CUullllloSlOucIo
and clerks of elections, and take their APP
pointment from the County Judges and
place them with commission of three
from each county to be elected by the
Legislature, was under discussion in the
Senate on Saturday last, Mr.. Koiner init
mated that it would be best to move eau
tiously in so important matter. This
warning was met byMr. Gaines with notice
that he would introduce resolution vacat-
ing all the offices in the State held by Read
justers. This last proposition would be in
strict keeping with the revolutionary
spirit which has controlled the majority in
the Legislature ever since it has been in
session. In disregard of the expressed
will Of the people and the law and consti-
tuition it has .unseated fairly elected repre-
sentatives and seated in their places per-
sons whom the people had repudiated at
the polls, in order to get the power to
override the Executive branch of the
government. With .this.power thus lille
gally secured, the policy has been inau-
gurated of vacating all offices appointive
by the Executive and filling them with
partizans of the dominant party in the
Legislature. The Boards of the Charita-
bic and Educational Institutions, and of
the Public Free Schools, and the officers of
elections, ARE all to be recognized in the in
terest of radical partizanism, and even the
judges of the Courts, where's pretext can
be suggested, are to fall under the same
malign influences.
We call the attention of the conserva-
tive citizens of the State, of whatever
party identity, to these revolutionary pro-
ceedings, not that we have any personal
| or party interests in them, but simply to
invoke the calm and thoughtful reflection
| of the people. We are Republicans and en-
deavor to reflect Republican sentiment as
nearly. as we can. In the offices of the State
Republicans have very little participancy.
In the Charitable and Educational Boards,
Solar as our knowledge extends, they are
meagerly represented. In the County
| Judgeships, out of ninety six they had but
four. In the Supreme Judgeships out OF
| five they have but one. In the officers
elected by the several Boards referred to,
they have very few. In the officers elective
by the Legislature, known as the basement
officers, they had one. And so, throughout
all the departments of the government,
under the control of the Executive and
Legislative Departments, the Republicans
have not representatives enough to make
| their removal a matter of serious consid-
Grafton, notwithstanding they comprise
three-fourths of the voting strength OF the
party recently in power. 1t is not there
fore from any party considerations that
we protest against the reckless and revo.
| lutidnhry action of the Democratic major
ity in the present Legislature. And Mr.
Koiner reflected the sentiment Of the best
element of his party in this portion of the
State, when he uttered his warning on Sat
urday last. Whatever may have been the
faults of the Readjusters: and the extent Of
their arbitrary exercise of power and we ad
nit that they went beyond the point where
we could approve-there is no justifica
tion.in the extremes they may have in
dulged for the radical action of the pres
ent Legislature. If the precedent is to bt
established that the party in power is tt
revolutionize the State government re
CARELESS of law and the public interests
and evict from office and place all who art
not it's partizans, we will not have to wal
many years for a condition of anarchy
When insane partizanism disregards the
will of thep people and enthrones itself as the
supreme authority of the Commonwealth
despite statutes and constitution, it il
only question OF time when government
must become farce, the most vital in
terests of the people the plaything of har
4 lequins and demagogues and the State it
| self by-word and reproach. Politica
differences have never before been regarded
as sufficient justification for revolutioniz
ing government and trampling down the
safeguards of society. When one party has
succeeded over another patronage has fol
lowed to the successful organization, but
always within the limits of the law. Ii
the most frenzied condition of politica
feeling never before has there been shown
such supreme contempt for the rights Of
minorities, such scornful Indifference tt
the restraints of statutes and such bold de
fiance of the rights of organic sanction.
Mr.. Koiner's warning was timely, and
we hope was not merely lip-service. We
have high respect for his sound judgment
his genuine conservatism and moral cour
age, and if ever there was time for every
faculty of his independent manhood to be
brought into play, it is now, when his
party is rushing needless and headlone
over all the guards of government and the
sanctities Of law. If not checked by the
better reason and conscience within that
party, an example may be given that vii
be of infinite harm to the State, lessen thu
restraints of law in every department Of
government hereafter, and invite to {
condition Of things that would shOcl
and unsettle the very pillars of our polit
ical fabric.
What more deplorable spectacle couli
be conceived than body claiming to rep
resent the intelligence, the wealth and the
conservatism of a great Commonwealth
delegated by the people to preserve thu
dignities and the traditions of the State
and to enact laws for the public veal ani
maintain order and peace-for sucha body
to recklessly rush after political revenge
and in the mad pursuit to override boil
the law and the constitution, which eacI
and every one of it's members is sworn tt
support? 1t is one of the most fearful
precedents ever offered for the contem
plation Of an intelligent. law-abiding con
stituency, and we much mistake the pop
ular temper, if a severe rebuke is not in
store for those who have been so unmind
full of the public welfare and the reputa
tion of the Commonwealth. We know
that some of the most consistent Demo
Gratis and influential citizens of Stauntor
and Augusta county are free in their de-
nunciation Of the revolutionary action OF
the Legislature, and have declared theil
purpose to give expression to their disgust
and Indignation in the most expressive
way when the opportunity presents itself
Senator Koiner, who has represented this
people so frequently and faithfully in both
branches of the T,eoiSlatllra knows ful]