The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-24
w ise and Temple.

Under this caption we publish elsewhere
a communication from Danville to the
Richmond Dispatch giving an account Of
the reported words between Hon. John S. |
Wise and DR.. Temple. The propriety of
Mr.. Wise's course is to be commended by
every right thinking man. First, because
he is candidate for Governor, the Chief
Executive officer of the State, and by rea-
son of this the chief CONSERVATION of the
peace. And second, it is far more cour
ageous and manly to decline an encounter
such as was offered by DR.. Temple than
to engage in it. There is higher duty
resting upon Mr.. Wise than that of the
representative of aparty in an important
State canvass. He is the head and natural
protector of an interesting family. and he
has no right to deliberately engage in a
broil or conflict, which might jeopardiZe
his life, in obedience to false and wicked
and mendacious public sentiment, and thus
deprive those whom Providence has placed
under his care of their natural protector.
Mr.. Wise s deliberate determination not
to engage in duelling required more moral
courage than to go upon the field with
deadly and murderous intent. 1t is hard,
we know, fora man of spirit and pride to
stand the sneers aud jibes of coarse and
savage natures, because of this conclusion.
But he owes more to society. to his fam
class Of men, and he does himself infinite
ly more honor in declining to fight, under
the circumstances. than he could possibly
achieve by a successful issue Of the Kind.
The ''Danyille affair has two sides to it,
and Mr.. Wise has the right to his
opinion Of it. Whether the killing of
inoffensiye and non-resisting negroes was
premedItated or not, the fact remains that
six or eight men were murdered, and that
no one has ever been brought to trial and
punished for it. The use made Of the sad
and bloody tragedy, however, was almost
as bad as if it had been premeditated. Cir
cularS were printed, IN startling. headlines,
announcing that war of races had COM
at the churches on the Sunday morning at
ter the occurrence on Saturday. Instead
of deploring the sacrifice of life and con-
demning the frenzy which caused it, the
horrid detai were sent broadcast
through the Valley for partizan pur-
poses and to influence votes to the Demo-
cratic party. That much is indisputable.
Mr.. Wise may have been severe in his
structures and unguarded in his language.
OF this we know nothing, but the conduct
of the managers of the Democratic cam
paign of 1883 was inexcusable, to say
the least, and indefensible to the last de-
gree.
1t was a deplorable affair throughout,
and it would relieve it of none of it's hor-
ror to spill more blood or jeopardize other
lives, in its discussion. We know nothing
Of DR.. Temple, OF the immediate provoca-
tion which incensed him. But we do know
chat no good to community and no credit
to the State could come out of the course
he suggested. 1t would only have
added crime to crime-made no one hap
pier, and might have made others misera-
BILE. So in whatever way it is considered,
the declension of Mr.. Wise to engage in a
murderous conflict is to be commended,
and this we know will be the judgment of
nine-tenths of the people of Virginia, ir-
respective of parties.