The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-24

will show which would be most likely to
bankrupt the nation, the party which
plunged it into bloody chaos, or he party
which rescued 1.-THE party which left it
without credit and with an empty Treas
ury, or the party which surrendered its
control with full exchequer and a place
among the first powers of the world for
financial integrity and stability.
The resolution of Mr.. Franklin (Repub-
lican). of Appomattox, introduced in the
Legislature on the 18th, to repeal the Nc
Cormick- Anderson Electoral bill, was sum-
marty disposed Of Mr.. Franklin had but
two minutes to speak to the bill and urged
its immediate passage. Mr. Pollard
tDemocrat) thought it ought to be COM
mitted to the committee. Mr. r. A.
Wise (Republican) arose to speak and was
ruled out of order, as under the gag-rule
only two-minutes speech on each side is
allowed. Sothe resolution was committed
by partizan vote of 81 to Is, and there it
will sleep.
There Is not an intelligent member Of
the Legislature who is not at least morally
convinced that the bill in question was
enacted for partizan purpose-that its
operation has been to effect dishonest re-
suits, and that it is, as it was intended. a
constant menace to the purity Of the bal
lot. 1t was designed to place it in the
power of the Bourbon party to declare any
result Of the ballot that might be desired,
and this purpose was faithfully carried
| out at the last election. A fair and just
when the Whole election machinery was
placed under the control of one party, and
the officers chosen. selected as a general
rule, because Of their extreme partizan
character. Can the fair men of the Dem
ocratic party contemplate this partizan
measure with any degree Of satisfaction
or reconcile 1t to their sense Of duty to
the State and sense Of justice to their fell
low citizens of opposite political views, by
| insisting upon the retention of such a law
In the statutesy 1t is disgrace to the
Commonwealth and cannot but work in
calculalle harm to the State and invite
the condemnation Of liberal minded men
everywhere. Those who conceived and
had it enacted. will live to see the reac-
tionary effect 1t will certainly have on the
party that 1t is primarily intended to bene-
| it, Legislation not grounded in justice
and right cannot long be tolerated by a
free people. The time will come when
| not only the law but the trainers and pa
irons of it will come under popular con-
domination. and receive a rebuke from
which they will never recover. They may
gloat over the temporary success it has en-
abled them to achieve, but as certain as
truth is mighty and will prevail, will the
day Of judgment come upon the men who
could prostitute the agencies of govern
ment to such disgraceful ends as this cleo
tion law has been used to secure. The peo-
pie will not always bow submissively to the
yoke Of the plotters against the dignity
and reputation of the Commonwealth
will not always patiently witness the per-
version of power to the reckless purposes
Of party, regardless of all other interests,
but will rise in their power and assert
their honest intentions and their love for
justice and reverence for the rights of all
classes Of citizens. Remember the capita.
tion tax restriction on the ballot and its
results. and let lesson be drawn from it.,
applicable in the present case.