The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-12-04
An Unhealthy Sign.

ltepublcan party and It's prominent lead
ers after the election is over. In the heat
of political. contests it is not surprising
that those engaged in the activities of a
campaign should oyerstep the bounds of
prudence aud discretion. and indulge in
harsh Words and Suubecoming epithets.-,
Their minds are i'll an abnormal condition,
feelings aroused and passions excited. and
under such influences the tongue and pen
become unmanageable and frame SEN
fences that under other conditions would
not be INDUCED. When. however, the
contest is over and the victory won. it is
strange that the sictors should continue
III the expression oi bitter partizanism
| and the manifestation OF unnatural preju-
dices towards their political opponents.
1t argues the existence of 4 wrong motive,
the cultivation of Il bad spirit, an inhe-
rent littleness OF soul Inconsistent with
patriotic Intentions and good citizenship.
| Throughout the country the Republicans
have accepted the result Of the recent cleo.
tion without undue murmur or harsh criti-
cism. However much they may regret it,
| they have quietly submitted to the deter
mination reached and turned their atten-
tion to business pursuits, as though moth
ing unpleasant had occurred. 4 general
desire is expressed that Mr.. Cleyeland's
administration may prove all that his par
ty friends predict fol- it., and the purpose
made known to support him In all the re-
Communications and measures which may
look to the common good. Never in the
history of the country has more manly
surrender been witnessed, nor has the
chosen Chief Executive OF the Nation
had less to disturb his equanimity or ex-
cite his apprehension from those who 0p.
posed his election. Everywhere and from
all classes the purpose is expressed to give
the incoming administration fair trial,
to judge it impartialiy, and to commend
that which is wise and only condemn that
which may have a pernicious tendency And
from the President-elect.n nothing has fallen
since the result was definitely known that
has not justified this generous disposition
on the part of his political opponents All
his utterances have been conservative and
non-partizan and ii they are to be taken
as the evidences of his administrative
policy he may find less of opposition from
the Republican party than from the ex-
treme element of his own political house,
hold 1t is from the Democratic press Of
Virginia, with here and there an excep-
ton. more than from any other State or
section of the Union, that we find the
most Incorporate and venomous abuse OF
Republicans and the Republican party.
They seem to have lost all sense of fair
nessand given loose rein to the political
prejudices, without offering a reason or
excuse for their insane rawlings.
OF course this hurts no one but those
who are weak and foolish enough to in
dulge in it, 1t certainly does not help the
State or place us in position to invite the
!, sympathy and kindly feelingof the outside
, world 1t manifests an intolerance that
is agreeable to no class Of conservative PEG
Pile and is we'll calculated to repel from
us even those of their own party faith, who
have sense enough TO know that material
prosperity cannot obtain where such intense
partizanism prevails. 1t is zeal that viii
consume those who encourage it,and defeat
, the very object they seek to accomplish
We all know what it is for, and if We are
not very much mistaken ia the influences
that will control in the incoming admins
tration, this class of patriots will find The
cold shoulder turned to them and a gentle
hint that they are not the kind of reform
ers the country wants.
Il Virginia can never prosper there Can
be no earnest cooperation among all thu
Ipeople for the common good, so long as
such spirit of vindictlye spite and in
] tolerance finds utterance and willing hear.
ers and readers. The rebuke must come
from our own people-their real sentiment
, must find expression in condemnation
they mast enter their emphatic and salu.
| tary protest, or the efferyescing place hun
. tiers and political time-seryers will be ac
, cepted as rejecting the sentiment and
feeling OF the real people, who make the
values and conduct the business Of the
Commonwealth.
The calm resignation of the Republicans
to the inevitable may have had something
to do in provoking the wild rage and
senseless rantings of our Democratic
friends. They may have expected the de.
; feated Republicans to rant and fret and
Ifume because of their disappointment. A
termagant always grows furious in the pres
ence of unspoken, dignified submission. and
as the Republicans have accepted the sit
and promised their aid in making the
: Democratic administration success il
every good movement, this may have
had the effect to enrage some of oul
irascible opponents. But they should re-
member that the Republicans believe in
obeying the laws, unfolding the authori
ties, and respecting the lawfully expressed
| will Of the people. 1t is a party of Law
| and order and can show its courage and
| patriotism as prominently in submitting
to defeat, as it has done in bringing the
country from chaos and ruin to order and
prosperity.
Both branches Of the Legislature passed,
on Friday last, the McCormick-Ande
son bill over the veto of the Governor and
it is now a law. 1t is..a measure designed to
place the entire election machinery Of the
State into the hands Of the Democratic
party, and for partizan purposes. We have
heretofore criticised it, and we are sure
the great mass of our readers, Of both par
ties, sympatbize with our condemnation
of it. As in several of its feature s, it is
believed to be obnoxious to the constitu-
ton, it will be ut once taken to the courts,
and q judicial opinion asked upon it,which