Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-17
Attention Democrats.

Attention Democrats.
To the Democratic Voters of the State OF
Virqinia
The Democratic State Executive Com
mittee, in view of the general interest |
connected with the pending political cam
vass and the important results involved
IN the approaching national election, are
impelled to invite the serious attention of
the Democrats of Virginia to the status
of its political affairs, and to respectfully
urge the full recognition of the patriotic
duty which rests upon them, to perfect
that thorough organization and earnest
preparation for the conflict which is al
ways the guarantee of success.
The confidence which has been created
by the signal victory of our party in the
a5lection of last year is a legitimate conse-
procure similar results IN the future.
At the same time this sentiment must
not be too much relied upon, and is SUBJ
ject to the qualifications that the favor
able conditions can only be maintained
by the employment of the same effective
agencies and the exercise of the same un-
ceasing efforts on the part of our political
associates.
In politics, as in war, too much conf
dence is source of danger, and often
opens the way to surprise and unexpected
defeat.
The Democratic party Of Virginia has
too much at stake, both in the present
and future conduct of affairs, to relax its
efforts to carry the State for Cleveland
and Hendricks and the Congressional
| nominees. s
To paraphrase a remark of Thomas
Jefferson: "Continued vigilance is the
price of safety" the position OF Virginia
| in the Democratic column of the Union
must be retained, or the old State will re-
verse it's past traditions and imperil to
great degree its present and future pros
| poets of moral, social and material pros
| peiity.
Our very civilization is at stake. We
cannot afford to give the State up to
| party whose whole stock in trade con-
sists of two elements, viz: The negroes,
whose support is claimed for the Republi-
| cans as Of right, and the white otfice-hOld-
ers who owe an allegiance to their supe
riors, which 20 argument can reach. Not
| content with the platform and principles
of the National Republican party, the
management of that political OrganiZa-
| ton in. Virginia, through its chosen chief,
has descended to the low plane of an at
| tack upon the Democratic party in the al
| legation that the result of the last cleo
| tion was brought about by preconcerted
plans to intimidate the colored voters by
violence and bloodshed as manifested by
the unfortunate riot between the races at
| Danville.
This malignant charge is not only with
out foundation in fact and in truth, and
unsupported by any evidence which could
! influence any impartial sentiment, but is
brought for ward only to lnfame the pas
sions and preJudics of the colored people;
to induce them to throw their votes at the
polls in mass against the Democratic
party, and to excite sectional animosities
elsewhere. 1t is but repetition of the
policy pursued by the carpet baggers OF
past years, in which the negroes were
sought to be used by concentration to
dominate the majority element of the
white population of the State, and some
of the old leaders are now part and parcel
of the preseLt movement, with new asso-
ciates in the game.
The whole thing in substance and eff
feet means that a minority of the white
! people propose to combine with the united
negro vote to control the voice of Virgin
| ia and to make it Republican State.
| 1t means, also, if successful, supremacy
hereafter in both State ard Federal affairs
and the restoration to power Of party
whose capacity for future mischief will
be only partially measured by it's past
transactions and history.
| The representations to the Committee
are that the opposition are actively at
work throughout the State organizing
their forces and preparing to carry Nlr-
ginia in the Presidential election. Fore
| warned is forearmed!
| We appeal with confidence to the DEM
| rtv of MI
| plshed such glorious results in the last
campaign, to look to their laurels and
stand by the cause. No question of tariff
4 or of Federal policy must be permitted to
divide our party at this time. More i'm
portant and vital consequences to the peo-
pie of Virginia and to the county are in
| voived.
The success of the Democratic party
and the eldctlon of Cleveland and Hen
bricks will ensure reform of the Federal
| Government, the arrest and change of
the restoration of the Union as founded
by the fathers of the Republic.
To attain this result there is every in
| centive to exertion on the part of the
| Democratic party of Virginia, and its
| failure to respond at this crisis of our pO
litical fate would be SOURCE of incalcuv
liable future loss and Of permanent State
| and national injury.
The county committees throughout the
State are appealed to in the most earnest
manner to organize the party thoroughly,
and to adopt such measures as will best
promote success at the polls on the 4th of
November next.
1t is specially recommended that the
| brief intervening period from now to the
| day of election be devoted to strengthen
| ing the party lines and to devlsing such
| arrangements and facilities as will enable
every Democrat TO cast his vote in the
great national political struggle now
pending.
The supreme effort made by the Demo-
Gratis saved the State last year-a similar
effort now may save the nation.
By order of the Democratic Executive
Committee of Virginia.
JoHN S. BARBOUR, Chairman.
Alexandra, Va, Oct. I'd, 1884.