The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-08-27
Al Bourbon Device.

A Bourbon Device.
il IS now given out that. President
Cleveland and his Cabinet, at ths invita-
ton Of Col Robert Beverley, are to at
tend the Virginia State Agricultural
Fair at Richmond, in October, about
two weeks before the November election.
and that the President would make
speech on the occasion. It is further
stated that this exhibition upon an occa.
sion, presumed to be non-partizan, will be
worth 5000 votes to the Democratic State
ticket. This latter conclusion accounts
for the invitation and acceptance. It is
to be an electioneering mission, in the in
terest of the Democratic party, and the
Virginia Agricultural Fair to be convert
ed into political machine to promote the
interests of party that has done more to
parayze the material development of the
State than ever did flood, fire and war
Whether the President is aware of the
trick or not, we cannot say, but the whole
scheme was devised for political effect
Col. Beverly is gentleman about whom
we have had many pleasant remarks to
make--we had taken him to be sincere
and earnest friend of the agricultural in
terests of the Commonwealth, and thought
he was capable of approaching the impor-
lance of divorcing politics from the exhi-
billions of the Mechanical and .'Agricultu-
raj advancement of the State. For him
and his board of advisers to deliberately
seek 10 make of the President and his
Cabinet parties to the transformation of
this industrial Exhibition into political
device is neither creditable to his candor,
| his patriotism, nor his common sense
And if the President accepts the invita-
| tion and attends, with the knowledge of
the fact that his visit is to be contorted
into a political demonstration, it will
exposea vast deal of insincerity in his
professions Of reform. The whole thing
will resolve itself into petty, contemptt-
BILE and disgusting political trick, which
the people will understand, and deal with
it as an unworthy pretense, discreditable
to both the President and the management
of the Fair. The Bourbons are in great
straits, we know, and realize that all the
votes they can get by whate yer means
will fall short of an honest majority Of the
qualified voters, but this is no excuse for
the miserable farce of the President of the
United States and his Cabinet appearing
upon the platform at a State Fair to influ-
ence the result in local election affecting
local interests solely.
The Bourbons presume too much ON the
ignorance and weakness of the people,
| After the statement that the President 5
visit would be worth 5000 votes to the
Bourbon ticket, it would not go far of the
truth if the result would show that the re-
verse was the fact. Let the show commence
and we will see who reapS the benefit.
The Norfolk Landmark is very much
mistaken if it thinks the loss of the post
Office at Staunton in the least diSturbs the
equanimity of the editor of the VIR-
GINIAN, or in any way can influence any
suggestion he may have to make. Nc
one ever accepted office more reluctantly
or retired from it, after eleven years Of
credltable service, more cheerfully. The
suspension we believe was illegal as wei
as unconstitutional and that we are the
only legal postmaster at StauntOn to-day
we have not q particle of doubt. Ii The
question is judicially passed upon we be-
lieve such will be the conclusion of the
| Courts, although we would not take its
cares and responsibilities again for any
consideration. We had only an ambition
to serve out the commission we held, and
with that would have ended our con
nection with official position Of every
kind. But that in no way temperS oul
opinion of Mr.. Villas as the person to de-
liver an Grafton over the death of Gen
Grant. The man who could conceive and
write the confidential circular he sent
out to members of Congress is unfit to
hold any position under our government.
and utterly disqualified to speak in the
name of the people of the virtues and
deeds of the dead hero. Our acquaintance
was sufficiently intimate with Gen. Grant
to justify us in saying that he would have
scorned the man and the act connected
with the issuing of that circular. 1t was
an insult to the moral sentiment and the
manhood of the Nation-a reflection upor
the high office Mr.. Villas holds and a fla
grant perversion of its duties and priv
ileges. No manly man would have writer
it, and no manly man can endorse it. The
vilest criminal is permitted the privilege
of facing his Iaccusers and answering te
Indictment. This was not allowed by Mr.
| Villas to men against whom no charge
could be truthfully made, affecting officia
integrity or fidelity to public trust. Il
was a sneaking device to arraign in secret
try and condemn, without the party to be
affected knowing anything about it. Il
was the plot of the assassin, stabbing IL
the back, allowing the victim no means Of
defence and no opportunity of redress.
That kind of man could not reflect the
sentiment of the American people at the
grave Of Gen. Grant.
- @--
! We would not attempt to discourage
the impression now sought to be made
that we are on the eve of business revl'
val were there any reliable facts to justi-
fly it. The barometer for business is the
demand for money. In New York there
is more idle cash in the banks than has
ever been known, and the demand for it is
more stagnant than eyer before. In some
of the rural districts of New York and
Pennsylvania the banks are offering
money at 2 per cent. with very little Ia
ken. Politicians have no scruples in
times of political contests, and the con-
certed statements of the Democratic press
that business boom is at hand, may have
been designed to affect the fall elections.
We do not look for and do not believe any
noticeable improvement in business will
be realized until the administration turns
its attention to more important matters
than dispensing offices, and gives to the
country an outline of its policy in regard
| to important questions relating to COM