The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-03-27
REFORM. .

press la the coming canvass. COMPOUNDED
and demoralized on the tariff question,
with an indefensible record on all the car
dinal questions Of administrative policy,
they hope to delude the people with pre-
tense of s'Reform," and thus escape an
exposure of the purpose they have in view,
should they succeed. They know that
Free Trade, which is now the accepted
doctrine Of the Democratic party, would
prove fatal to their hopes in national
contest, and to avoid this risk, they intend
to draw upon their impudence and false
pretense, by clamoring Reform - with
the ultimate purpose of Free Trade, should
they succeed in getting control Of the gov
eminent.
1t would be an odd thing, indeed, to see
the Bourbon Democracy of Virginia
masquerading in Reform colors.-
We do not exactly believe in the doc
trine of universal depravity, and hence
do not think it impossible for the Demo
cratic party to attain to some degree Of
REFORM :. But the process must be insti-
tuted internally. It must show some
fruits meet for repentance, before it can
be accepted as AMI apostle Of. reform in
others. Take it's history in Virginia, as
an illustration of it's obduracy in sin and
unrighteousness. Its administration of the
State government, from 1870 to 1881 was
one continuous 8: succession of wrongs
upon the people. 1t found an overlooking
treasury and left it empty, with over fiy e
millions dollars Of increased Indebtedness.
1t had neither the capacity to comprehend
the wants of the people-the needs of the
State, nor the disposition to study and con-
suit the public welfare. From. the day, it
took charge of the State, that it was in
vested with unchallenged power in all the
departments of government, until it was
thrust from authority by an outraged and
indignant constituency, the tendency of
all the interests of the Commonwealth
was backward and downward. 1t left
public credit impaired almost ruined-the
public schools paralyzed the public debt
increasing at the rate of nearly million
dollars every year the people confounded
and depressed, because of the complica-
lions which unwise and corruptslegislatio
had imposed and 1.-THE. future Swallowed
with.gloom and despair. There was, the
demonstration of the complete absence
of craftsmanship. There was no high, pa
triotic purpose to stimulate unsellish en-
deavor. Everything was made subordi-
nate to the greed of rings and spoilsmen.
| Partizan bitterness favored every move
ment and every enactment. There was no
federation. for honest political differences.
fostering venom permeated every channel
of political influence, and from the high
est to the lowest of Fpublic trusts, the
more relentless the partizanism, the strong
Ell the claim for official favor. The whole
power Of, the State government was peryert-
ed from it's legitimate uses to punish those
who happened to entertain different views
from the ruling class, and to promote par
TITAN ends. The fruits of this insane pol
icy, this malignant partizanism, were
shown in the condition we have described.
A great State PROSTATE, writhing and
| f1oundering under wrongs and outrages
which were pressing her down to inevita-
BILE ruin, the people driven almost to
despair in contemplating the past, and
shuddering from the future as from an i'm
pending calamity.
A revolt came. The popular conscious
ness could bear the oppression no longer. In
sheer desperation they threw off the yoke
and emancipated themselves from the
thraldom. Brave hearts and wise heads
came to the front-grasped the situation
and addressed themselves to righting the /
wrongs which had so sorely afflicted the
people.
=. Two years of labor and of earnest effort
brought a marvellous change, inspiring
hope, giving assurance and concentrating
results in the interests of the people, and
for the credit and prosperity of the Com
monwealth.
But maddened by the loss of power and
the emoluments attending it, the Bourbons
determined to regain what they had so
flagrantly abused and to accomplish this
inaugurated campaign Of. desperation,
with no limit to it's excuses, and no scru-
pie as to the means to be employed to
achieve success. All are familiar with
the methods of that contest and the crimes
| it entailed. All are familiar with the man
ner of the exercise of power thus attained,
the ruthless disregard Of law, of constitu-
tion, right and justice, where they con-
tinued as barriers to the ends that were
sought. Never, lin the history of this or
any other State, was paftizanism so reck-
less, SO unscr upulous, SO brazenly defiant
of the restraints Of government so intent
upon spoils and power at whatever cost.
Never was such record Of desperate
greed and shameless absence of decency
inflicted upon any Commonwealth. 1t
stands out to itself as a monumental of
Tense against Republican institutions and
the fundamental principles of popular
government, and will attest for all time the
blind rage of a party that could attain
power only through violence and use it
only to satiate revenge.
| Turning from State to National relations
the claim of Bourbon Democracy as the
friend and champion of Reform is equally
ridiculous and presumptious. Had it
succeeded to the control of the govern
ment and carried into effect the ideas it
supported, national honor would have been
sacrificed, national credit destroyed and
national growth and prosperity arrested.
Bourbon Democracy opposed every meas
ure that has given security to business,
stability to credit and prosperity and con-
tentment to the people. 1t opposed the
national banks and favored State banks. It
opposed specie payment and favored green
backs as the currency. 1t opposed protec-
ton to American industries and favored a
policy that would have given preference to
foreign labor and products. 1t has been the
foe of every measure that has aided in the
development Of our. country. Americana
ing our policy, and strengthening and ele-
waiting our national character. 1t has been
aggressive only to tear down-never to
build up. Itdare not formulate national
policy, for it favors no controlling Ameri
can principle. Its shibboleth has been OPP
position, never counting the cost or address