Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-09-25
OLD AND NEW VIRGINIA.

One of the most practically damaging
results of the New Republican party in
Virginia, is the persistent effort Of Its can
vassers and press to depreciate the State
in the eyes of the world, and then hold up
the alleged depreciation as result of
Democratic rule. This, with the denunci-
alton of the mass Of its white citizens as
murderers and assassins, may be cOnsid-
cred the stock in trade of that party. And
very damaging stock in trade to the
Commonwealth it is. It is a mode of cam
paigning that costs the people of Virginia
both Democrats and Republicans, many
thousands of dollars day for every day
of the fall campaigns, and proves that The
most expensive men ever reared on the
soil of our State are Malone. Wise, Rid
dleberger and there confederates. On the
other hand, the most casual observer must
have noticed the opposite policy OF the
Democratic leaders in campaigning. To
their lasting honor and credit be it said,
the Democratic press and orators, what
ever may have been their faults, and they
may have had many, have always stood
by the State, its good lame, its adgantag
es as place to invest capital, the good
name of its people, and its advantages as
place to immigrate to. During the four
years that the Republican party has had
control of the government, the Democratic
eanvassers have bitterly opposed it, but
never have they given out to the world that
the supremacy of Republicanism, or rath-
er MahOneism, made the Commonwealth
an unfit place to live in, or to invest in. In
the whitest heat of the hottest campaign
under Republican rule. no Democratic Or
ator or paper that we can recall has ever
adopted the line Of argument calculated
to drive off immigration OF capital from
Virginia. Come what might they stood
old story of the true mother before Solo
mon, who, rather than see the child slain,
would give it to the false mother. 1t is
not very hard for any man interested In
making livelihood inside the limits of
Virginia, to decide which political party,
in this matter of preserving her reputation,
has been serving his interests. One siugle
utterance alone, of the Republican party,
issued last July in Richmond as its "plat-
form" and circulated and quoted all over
this country, has done more to impair
the prosperity of Virginia than the wild
est cyclone or greatest food that ever WIS.,
tied a State, The money value alone of
the damage it has done the State is meal
culable.
A most timely statement. and fortunate.
ly appearing in nom political field, has
recently been made, which will give our
own people and, we trust the world at
large, good idea of what the real pros
perity of Virginia is to-day. It is SO
excellent statement, so clearly and fair
" made, that we should like to see the
Democratic State Committee publish it at
length as campaign document. 1t
appears that not long since Hon. H. K.
Ellyson, ex-Mayor of Richmond, former
representative of the metropolis in the
legislature, and man of affairs well
acquainted with all concerning Virginia,
addressing the Baptist Dover Association
of Virginia was credited by reporter
with having in his address said that
Virginia is more prosperous to-day
than in any previous period Of her histo-
ry.'' DIR. Robert RVland. a distinguished
minister of that denomination. excepted
to the accuracy of the assertion and asked
for the proof. In the last "Religious
Herald Mr.. Ellyson gives clear. mode
rate ard iud eious state ment from official
sources, giving not only proof, but indis-
putable proof, Of the statement attributed
t. him. And in doing SO he avoids the
political complexion and comes squareIy
to the practical side of the question. |