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

Inc campaign.
If the people of Virginia were yet in
their swaddling clothes, there might be
some excuse or palliation for the character
and methods of the Democratic campaign.
But for grown up men, who have du ties of
State to discharge-who have all the re-
sponsibilities of citizenship resting upon
them, to allow themselves to be controlled
and influenced by the childish and sense
less exhibitions and displays which have
the progress of Gen. Fitz. Lee
through the State thus far is unaccounta-
BILE upon any rational theory or assumption
of intelligent appreciation of the political
situation or the condition of the State. It
is an admission, all fair-minded men must
concede, Of weak cause-that they can
not rest their claim to popular confidence
upon real merit, or upon the record of the
party they speak for, as to any of the con-
troverted and vital questions involved in
the contest. If review is made of any
of the important interests at issue, affect
ing the public welfare, it will be found that
the Democratic party has proven false and
harmful to that interest. With natural
advantages unsurpassed by any State,
Virginia has. under almost unbroken
Democratic rule, refrigerated until she is
the eleventh Commonwealth in wealth and
population, instead of the first as she
might be, and was at the formation of
the Union. Democratic theories and Dem
Ocratic practices and Democratic admins
tration have worked results for this State
that are pre-eminently exemplified in her
present condition. Whatever has operated
to her injury can be traced to Democratic
sources. Her debt. her poverty, the DESC
lation that swept over her territory, the
crude, expensive and oppressive laws
which stand upon the statute book,
the absence of capital and enterprise, the
want of active development Of her i'm
mense resources, the prejudices and hates
which repel immigration and force emf
grafton, which estrange neighbors and de-
ny freedom Of thought and expression,
the deprecated credit, the restricted sup
port topublic education, the condition of
her highways, are all the fruits of Demo
cratic ascendancy, stupidity and maligni-
ty. There has been nothing good come
out of it. 1t has been a perpetual menace
to peace and quiet and the orderly con-
duct of public affairs and standing OBJ
struction to progress and prosperity
Calmly review the history of the party,
and the truth of this arraignment will be
amply demonstrated. And it is because of
this, that the methods and agencies EN-
divert the attention of the people from a
record so offensive and SO despicable.-
Haunting banners. prancing steeds. bur-
nished epaulettes, passionate appeals to
war memories, the invocation to the pas
sions and hates of sections, which long
since should have been buried with the
brave boys who fell in the unhappy con-
fiict, are arrayed to infame the feelings
and peryert the judgment in contest
wherein vital practical questions of State
policy are at Issue.
Let thepeople consider what was the
condition of the public debt, the public
credit, the public schools, the charitable
institutions, the ballot, and every grave
interest relating to public concerns, under
Democratic administration and policy, up
to 1881. Let them not forget the fearful
accumulation of debt, the humiliating
discredit that had been fastened upon the
State, the empty treasury, the protested
Obligations, the impoverished schools, the
deplorable mismanagement of our public
institutions, by reason of the absence of
funds to properly care for them, the cor
rupt and disgraceful restriction upon the
ballot, the brutal and barbarous whipping
post law, and the change that was effected
In all these interests after the Readjusters
and Republicans assumed the administra-
tion of affairs. Let them not forget that
every measure of relief and reform pro-
posed by the Republicans was bitterly OPP
posed by the Bourbons, and not until
whipped into subsection and compelled by
the force of public opinion did they abate
their opposition. Let them not forget
that after Bourbonism had again come
into power through fraud and violence,
how they mutilated the laws relating to
the public debt,peryerted the public school
fund, impaired the operation of the school
system and placed the State again on the
downward grade.
When the banners are flying and the
cavalry marching, when Lees bugle blast
is being sounded and pyrotechnic exhibi-
tions going on, let the honest voters Of
Virginia recall the record of the party
which hopes to profit by such display, and
rebuke the insult to their intelligence,
their courage, their manhood, and pa
triotism by casting silent ballot for the
candidates who represent the only party
that has shown willingness and capacity
to legislate for their good and administer
the affairs of the State in the interest of
the people of the State.
1t will be a sad, a sorrowful day for Vir-
ginir when Bourbonism is again en-
trenched in power. 1t will be proclama-
ton against enlightened progress, liberal
sentiment, free thought and free speech,
and that tolerance in the discussion of
public questions which is the safety of
the State and the assurance of righteous
government. If there can be no unassailed
liberty for the citizen-if a man cannot
think and vote as he believes to be right
and patriotic, without being bounded
down as though he were an enemy of his
race and the community where he lives
IF conviction and conscience have to be
subordinated to the hates and passions of
reckless and corrupt partizans-if the
frenzy of misguided zeal in bad cause
has to be the guage of every mans duty to
his State and country-then indeed will
our political institutions have become an
engine Of oppression, the ballot a farce, and
government trayesty upon true Democ-
ratio principles.
Certainly it IS foreign to all the legiti-
mate uses Of party, and all the conserva-
tive influences of government, to institute
a campaign of villifcation and abuse. Ig-
noring every measure of practical public
.opcarn the Rourbon speakers and papers |