The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-01

which the Bourbon press and speakers oh
Virginia are leveling against Hon. John
Sherman and Judge ]. ,. Foraker, because
they have discussed an important ques-
tion relating to representation in Congress
and the Electoral College, based upon the
census enumeration. We have done SO in
no controversial sense. 1t is for the pnr-
pose OF calling the attention of the people
to animportant, and, in our opinion, soon to
be the overshadowing issue of the country
It involves Tho fundamental question of
State equality. and will have to be practi-
caIly met by either the observance of the
right of the citizen, whether living in the
South or the North-whether colored
or white, to cast his vote as he may
please. without coercion, intimidation
OF restriction. except as the law may
direct, and have it counted as cast, or a
reduction of representation in Congress
and the Electoral College, in the ratio that
the popular vote is suppressed. Upon
this important question three great
States have already spoken, Ohio, Iowa
and New York In the recent Repub-
can Convention of the latter State, the
the following resolution was unanimously
adopted
THAT while we cordially endorse the
dying sentiments of the great soldier and
citizen, Ulysses S. Grant, in favor of har-
mony and good feeling between the North
and South, we insist that an end shall be
put to the criminal evasion of the guaran-
tees of the equal civil and political rights
promised by the constitution to every
freeman. The right of suffrage must be
maintained free and untrammeled, and if
that right is unlaWfully denied to any part
of the people of a State, its representation
should be reduced"
This is the deliberate Judgment calmly
expressed of one of the great parties of
the great State Of New York. It but re-
iterates, in unimpassioned language, what
has been uttered in Ohio and Iowa, by the
State Conventions of those States. 1t
will be the platform of every Repub-
lican Convention and will reflect the senti-
ment of the great mass of the people of
those sections Of the Union, irrespective
of party. 1t is sentiment and utter
ance which are amply warranted by the laws
and constitution of the country, and can
not be whistIed down the wind by violent
vituperation and malignant villifcation.
It is serious question, and it is the duty
of every patriotic citizen to consider it
apart from the infammatory appeals and
violent denunciation of reckless dema-
gogues who care for nothing but the spoils
of office. Let the methods and the means
of 1860 be recalled. Let the consequences
which followed be considered. for the
question involved is as pregnant of the
peace of the Nation as any that was
brought to the attention of the country
in that trying period. 1t is folly, it is
madness to suppose that the great Com
monwealths of the North and West are
going to submit to be shOrn of their equal
power and influence in the control of this
country by the agencies which are en-
ployed in some Of the Southern States to
determine party ascendancy. The House
of Representatives is dominated by the
Democratic party through these agencies.
The President holds his office because of
this denial of equal representation at the
ballot box-the suppression of the vote
upon which State representation in Con-
gress and the Electoral College is predi-
Gated. With such results to contemplate
such great interests involved, it seems
that the earnest, thoughtful considera-
ton of the people ought to be given the
matter, free from the influence of design
ing politicians, who hope to gain. power by
exciting prejudice and denouncing those
who feel and believe that the welfare Of
the Nation depends upon a faithful and
honest observance of the laws and Consti-
tuition