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

md utilization Of Hon. John sherman
md Judge J b. Foraker, Of Ohio. These
gentlemen in discussing the great issues
which are claiming the consideration Of
5he American people have deemed it perth
nent and proper to refer to the suppressed
vote of the South, and to pro-
Test against the policy that recognizes the
census enumeration as the basis of repre-
sentation in Congress and the Electoral
College, and denying it at the ballot box.
For this reason they are the subjects of
the most malignant assaults and vicious
criticisms. There is no attempt to contro-
vert their statements or arguments. They
are arraigned as theenemies and traducers
of the South, because they state facts and
draw deductions. which should engage the
calm and serious attention of the whole
country, for they are pregnant of the
gravest interestsan and most far-reaching con-
sequences which have ever been presented
to the American people. 1t is not Withref-
erence to the result that may be declared
iii Ohio in October that it is appropriate
to allude to the question involved. It is
one that is now attracting the attention of
the people Of every Northern State, and
must sooner or later command the
thought and action of the whole country.
1t is fundamental in its relations, impli-
eating cardinal principle of our Repub-
can institutions, and cannot be hustled
aside by a passionate appeal to sectional
feeling or TRADE Ct abuse against public
men because they may believe it to be
their duty to discuss and point out the
danger that may grow out OF it. 1t may
be of little practical significance to Vir-
ginia or the people of other States, what
the result of the October election in Ohio
may be. The issue presented, indeed, has
no direct and immediate bearing upon the
administration of local affairs in that
State. It does, however, affect Ohio, and
every Western and Northern State in its
relations to the National government-its
representative power and equality, and IN
that broader and more important aspect it
Is CUDolUcltu duu plSoCuUC0 Ny SHSi mon,
Foraker and other speakers and writers
throughout the entire country north of
the Potomac. 1t involves a question of
constitutional right and State equality both
North and South, and however earnest and
honest the desire Of the people to avoid a
discussion of irritating issues, calculated
to excite feeling and arouse sectional ami
mostly, it cannot and will not be ignored.
By the constitution every State is guaran-
teed Republican form Of government
that is, a government wherein majority
of the qualified voters may determine re-
suits at the ballot box, the representatives
Of each State in Congress and the Electo-
raj College-and consequently the political
control of the government. This repre-
sentative basis having been fixed by the
census enumeration, any contravention or
denial of its conditions, in the only mode
it can find expression-the ballot box-is a
clear infraction of the spirit and letter of
the fundamental law. 1t was never con-
templated in the adjustment of the powers
of the States in the national legislature and
the electoral college, that one-half of the
voting strength of section should be
suppressed in the interest of a party hav-
ing its main power in that section. 1t
was never intended that fifteen thousand
voters in one section should have the same
influence and force as thirty thousand vo-
tiers in another section. And, above all,
the thought was never entertained that
this inequality of representation should
be secured through fraud and violence.
We are to-day confronted with the fact
that the House of Representatives and the
the Executive Department of the gov
eminent are controlled by just such means
"a fact that no fair man can deny aud
every patriotic citizen ought to deplore.
1t is because Northern statesman are
discussing and protesting against this in
equality out the danger it in
wolves and invoking the deliberate judg-
ment of the people, that the Bourbon press
and speakers in Virginia are assailing
Sherman and Foraker, and men Of their
high character and broad craftsmanship,
as the enemies of the South and as way
ing the ''bloody Shirt. This grave and
threatening question is not discussed at all
by them. They cannot discuss it in a fair
and legitimate way, without acknowledge
ing that the views they denounce are right
and that in time they will be declared to
represent the policy of the country even it
the contamination has to be reached
through revolution and bloody conflict
This government cannot exist, with
its control secured through the suppress
sion of the popular vote that constitutes
the basis of the adjustment Of power
among the States. Partizan frenzy and
passionate appeals to sectional feeling may
give temporary supremacy in some of the
States, in violation of constitutional COM
mand and the equal representative rights
of other States, but it will be of short du-
ration. Such fundamental injustice will
not be long tolerated, and the sooner the
people of the whole country recognize this
fact the better.
1t is not popular, we know, at this time,
to refer to this great and vital issue in
plain terms. 1t is our duty, nevertheless,
to do so, and to warn the people of Vir-
ginia of the dangerous paths they are
treading in following the lead Of the reck-
less demagogues who are now seeking, by
pen and tongue, to stir up sectional feel
ing, that party victory may be achieved.
1t is pertinent, too, to call attention to the
systematic method by which State equali-
ty is denied, by the suppression Of the
ballot in some Of the States. because the
open boast has been made that the Bour-
bons have the elective machinery in their
hands in Virginia, and that if necessary
the returns from certain counties will be
held back. until the result IS known in 9TH
er counties, so as to manipulate the ballot
box in the interest of Bourbonism. Eff
teen counties in what Is called the ''black
belt' are to be the objective points of this
mode of determining an important cleo
tion, and the same methods applied as
were employed in Charlotte and Halifax in
1883 and 1884, where a Republican ma
jority Of about 1000 was converted into a
Bourbon majority of about 1000. This