Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-10-28
A Republican on Virginia Politics.
(From the Lynchburg Virginian.

[From the Lynchburg Virginian.l
The subjoined letter was addressed to us
by Pennsylvania and Republican, who
is known by us to be such. He urges white
Republicans to vote for Gen. Lee, and hon.
est State government, as he would do, if
he were citizen of Virginia. The writer
is man of property and intelligence, who
properly appreciates the situation in this
State. Read his letter.
BALTIMORE, Oct. 16, 1885.
Editor Of the Vrginian:-
l cannot understand how any white man
in Virginia, no matter what his politics
have been, can, upon serious reflection, re-
fuse to vote for Gen. Lee.
The vital and important question to be
settled, is-Shall Virginia be ruled by the
intelligent or ignorant element of the State,
the latter being guided by INSCRIPTIONS
politicians thirsting for power and office
The ballot unfortunately put in the hands of
the ignoraut colored population of your
State, is constant menace to good govern
ment and of questionable advantage
To the negro race; in fact,
am firmly convinced that if the ne
gro had never participated IL poliJics
there would now be much more harmony
between the races. I have as much chris
Gian Kindness for their race as any one and
| would accord to them all the protection of
| the law that l would demand for myself,
and yet while / am Republican,, | am not
willing to submit without protest, to their
power to make laws to govern the whites;
but as they are now enfranchised, it be-
comes the duty of evsry white man in your
State, be he rich or poor, to cast aside all
old party prejudices and combine their
votes i'll opposition to the votes of this ig-
siorant and mise uided class. Is there one
| honest Republican in your State, SO party
blind, as to doubt the purity, honesty or
| capacity, OF Gen. Lee, or that he will give
you good, pure and honest State govern
mentf Now as all this must be admitted
and as the State government has no bear
ing upon the national Legislation, can not
= see why every white man should not vote
for him. have nothing to say in condem-
nation of Mr.. Wise, for on the contrary,
admire him for his national political views,
but as | heretofore stated, this election is
solely question of home and State rule
and you must decide as to whether the in
telligence OF ignorance of the State shall
govern.
& Some may say am too bold in my ex-
pressions, but as | am not politician and
never expect to ask votes in my own behalf,
| am free to express my honest convictions,
and many who think as | do have not the
courage and manliness to express their
views. The negro vote has and always
will handicap tbs Republican party in the
South, and the sooner they leave it, the
stronger that party will be, nationally
sre are large number of whites in the
south who, outside of this racee question,
ire Republicans in doctrine, but are forced,
through selfprotec ion to vote the Demo-
aatic ticket. If lived South of Maryland
should vote the Democratic ticke. iu 81
State and municipal elections. Ii l lived
IN your district aud -lr. John s. Wise was
running for Congress against your present
free trade representative, Randolph Tuck
sr, should most certainly vote for Mr..
Wise; but there is no tariff or United States
bank question in your State election at all;
it is simply question of which shall
rule the State-the white and Intelligent
population or the black and ignorant p0pu-
lation.
| saw in the papers that there were fifty
white men in your city who will vote
against Gen. Lee, and much as l regret to
hear it, l trust they will unanimously
change their minds before election day, and
further sincerely hope that you will give
Fitz Lee such rousing majority as to def
nitely settle the question at ISSUE
If any of your readers doubt that this
was written by Republican, and believe
it emanates from a Democrat for campaign
effect, you are at full liberty to give them
my name and address. REPUBLICAN.