The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-21
Notes of Warning

only fayors his nomination. 1t CLAIMS
that his identity with the cause of Read
justment and the fact that all parties now
profess to accept the measures inaugurated
by the Readjusters, make it polite and
just that Mr.. Massey should now be des-
ignated as the recognized leader OF the
Democratic party, inasmuch as the debt
question is mot settled vet. 1t says "a
mere fancy man. without any record, will
not do, be he ever so popular, person
ally. The people want a man OF de-
cided CONNECTIONS Oh this debt question who
and a man they can trust to carry out their
views. We venture to say, continues
our contemporary, THAT no original debt
payer can OF will fill the BILL This is evil
require. says the Neae Era, Il good Demo
cratic Readjuster like John i. Massey or
Samuel II. Newherry to beat the Republi-
can nominee. for whoever he may be. he
will be Il good Readjuster. Further COM
ments the Neac Era, If the rank and file
of the Funder Democracy, wish to beat
Malone in the next canvass, they must lay
aside their l3rGudices. The Readjuster
Democrats most cheerfully aided their
Funder brethren during the fight of last
year and helped them to achieve great
victory over the black radicals. Why will
they still look with suspicious eye at
each Readjuster Democrat who dares to
raise his head above the level of the sur
rounding multitude of honorable aspirants
for public favor? The Readiuster Demo-
Gratis have fairly won their spurs and they
want their old chief nominated, not SIM
! ply because he is a great man and good
man and the best man for the Office but be-
cause he is the most ardad6le man. Are you
willing to concede that Readjuster Demo
Gratis are more patriotic than Funder
Democrats? that the former, for the sake
of country, can rise superior to their pref
udices, but the latter cannot? We like
| to see men faithful to honest convictions,
and for that reason the people cannot now
trust a Funder or any original debt payer
IN the gubernatorial chair. The times
are too critical. We want u Readjuster
| for Governor, one died in the wool and
the people are going to have him, even if
| he is to come in under the orders of Ma
hone We want Massey, he is the man to
| beat Malone. = And concludes with the
following warning, addressing the Demo
cratic Funders 1T will be said. with
good reasons, if you are sincere in your pro-
| fessions in regard to the debt settlement,
| why did you not nominate Mr.. Massey, the
father of REIMBURSEMENT and the ablest
man in your party, and against whose
name there is not q blot or a stain BY
endorsing MI. Massey's platform the
Democrats carried Virginia in national
election. but in order to carry Virginia in
State election. they have now to prove
they were in earnest by nominating Mr..
Massey for their Governor. 1t may be a
bitter pill to some few cranks but it is the
only medicine that will save Virginia and
the Democratic party, in State election.
Massey or Mqhoae, that is the issue. .
The Southwest EXAMINER published at
Abingdon and edited by Judge George W.
Ward, at one time prominent light in the
Readjuster party, but of late acting in behalf
of the Democracy, sounds another note OF
warning, in sympathy with the spirit OF
the article we clip from the Neao Era. IF
the Bourbon Democracy wiSlf-~to throw
off, on the Democratic Readjusters, let
them, like cowardly spaniels, hide them
selves behind their Bourbon Democracy.
We are for Smelling the woods y and flno-
ing out where the enemy is.
Thes outgivings plainly indicate that
there is to be some interesting music in
the Democratic Convention furnished by
original Readjusters. and if it is not needed
they will want to know the reason why.
The position of the Ne,v Era is logical,
if not unanswerable. AS Massey was
designated as the father of Readjust-
ment," and IS the Democracy has ac-
cepted REIMBURSEMENT as cardinal prin-
ciple or it's political faith, it ought to fol-
follow that the father be recognized
in the care of his bantling. The nominal
ton of Mr.. Massey for Governor by the
Democratic Convention would emphasize
the sincerity of its profession in the en-
dorsement of REIMBURSEMENT. and not to do
SO would justly expose it to suspicion. The
Readjusters, who left their party and
made common cause with the Democrats,
and thus enabled them to succeed in
1855 and in 1885, have been used as long
as they ought to submit to be. Whether
they have the courage to demand their re-
ward, in the nomination of one Of their
number for the leadership of the coalition
will be demonstrated on the 10Th OF June
when the Convention assemblies. They
have it in their power either to compel
the recognition of their claim, or to show
their pluck in another way. And what
more appropriate recognition could be CIV
EN- than the nomination of Mr.. Massey
They can have their choice in the Conyen-
tion if they are treated as equals. and if
not, they eah show their self-respect and
manhood 10y washing their hands of a par
ty that would use them simply as the mon
key did the cat,t draw the chestnuts from
the fire for him to eat.
There is ev identity something meant by
the utterances of the Neu Era and the Ea-
anaiaer. They look like business, and that |
the question. will have to be decided in the
Democratic State Convention, whether
the former Readjusters are merely to play
second fiddle to Bourbon masqueraders, or
are to be invited to the position of master
Of ceremonies, in performance where
their absence would work disaster.
England and Russia
The negotiations between Russia and
England Iii regard to the Afghan frontier
are still progressing. While nothing posi-
tive has happened to justify serious
alarm because of the the tardy progress
~ 4olN 1o1, ,orD \