The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-17

monied monopolies, z referring to the land
subsidies to aid in securing the construc-
ton Of four railroads across the conti-
neut to unite the Pacific and Atlantic
States. When it is remembered that these
lands were waste and worthless until they
were donated in alternate sections to the
construction of these great highways, and
that as result States and Territories have
been organized and cities and towns built
up-farms opened, and civilization, with
all it's blessings and benefits, seated where
the Indian and buffalo were the only oc-
cupants, Maj. Daniels craftsmanship can
be appreciated. 1t is the perfection Of
Bourbonism and typically Democratic.
And yet again he charged that the Re,
publicans expended three hundred mil
lion dollars for the navy, and yet the gov
eminent has no navy! And in making
this statement he doubtless intended his
hearers to receive it as a fact. He ought
to have known how far it was from fact.
Since 1866 there has not been more than
So, OO0, 900 appropriated for naval construc-
tion outside CT the recent contract with
John Roach for four vessels. And yet
Maj. Daniel is the lauded Democratic
statesman of Virginia and is put forth as
the candidate of the Lee wing of the
Democratic party for the United States
Senate.
The Zine italian hand of the Ring was
conspicuously present in the result Of the
deliberations Of the Democratic Conven-
ton. A blind man ought to have been able
to see the end from the beginning. The
Ring was in a state of collapse. 1t was
on it's last legs, and had become SO odious
in the estimation of the great mass Of the
people of the city and county, that some
fine artistic work had to be performed to
save it from absolute abatement as pub
!. lie nuisance. The determination was
reached to form combination with the
friends of Koiner and Lightner and by
this influence secure the nomination Of
Echols, who was really the weakest candi-
date before the Convention when it comes
down to the popular vote. But by the
| friends of Lightner and Koiner supporting
him, it appeared that he was the strongest,
as his vote in Convention was the largest
cast. Lyle, Crawford and Patterson were
seduced into the position the Ring wanted
them to be, where they could be crushed
and then bound by a resolution to applaud
and praise the power that did the crushing
for them. That is: one of the objective
points Of the Ring-to get committed as
many candidates as possible to it's methods
and when within it's coils to proceed with
the application of its ingenious devisements
to circumvent, bind and then kill. What
farce the Convention was at best In
Staunton it had 223 votes out of voting
strength of 1900. In the five districts
outside Of South River, with voting
strength Of not less than 5000, there were
$50 to attend the primaries. Yet the Con-
yention on the 10th, representing about
one-eighth of the registered voters of the
county, and half of that representation,
at least, unwillingly part icipating in the
primaries, claims to represent the .people
of the county. Well, we will see. It is
the weakest ticket, everything considered,
ever placed before the people of the coun-
ty. 1t is the product of Ring manipula-
ton, and while composed of gentleman
whom we personally esteem, it has the
smell of the Ring too strong about it for
it to be accepted by the masses. 1t can
be easily beaten if three good men will an
nounce themselves to oppose them. In
North River. and other districts. a number
of Democrats openly declare they will not
support either Koiner or Echols, because
of the offensive record they made in the
last Legislature. There will be no trouble
in cleaning the whole thing out, if the
proper men are offered to the people to
vote for. The Ring made a bold stroke
for dear life, but it looks like its last days
had come, and that its winding sheet will
be furnished, and its unsayory remains
laid away, unhonored, unwept and unsung,
with none so poor as to do it reverence.
So mote it be.
On Sunday morning one of the tables
in the dining room here, was loaded down
with rare collection of articles, in the
centre Of which was huge cake, and all
spanned by an arch composed of mountain
flowers and evergreens, tastefully wrought
with the inscription Many happy re-
turns, connecting the pillars. The ar