The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-15


There is vastly more involved in the
result OF the election in Virginia this fall t
than the choice Of either Wise or Lee as
Governor of the State. The success OF |
either would bea high personal conpli-
ment and exceedingly gratifying to his |
friends. 1t would be an event that would
cause much exultation OH one side OF the
other, and would be heralded Through the
country as test of the strengthen the Two
parties to the contest This personal
phase to the contest is absorbing moreat-
tention than it should. The great funda-
mental principle of constitutional govern
ment, not only in Virginia. but through
out the Union, is not brought as pfoml-
nently to the attention of the voters as II
ought to be. That is the paramountis
1t is an issue involving freedom OF opinion,
the right to express that opinion and the
purity and dignity of the ballot. Bourbon
intolerance has been so intense and ag-
gressiye that: no man can plead humanity
from it's assaults, unless he subordinates
his convictions and his manhood to the de-
| crees of the little Rings which control and
direct that party. Those who run the
Rings claim the right to do the thinking
and the voting of the people. and If any
one has the courage to dispute this claim,
he is made the subject of the bitterest
denunciation and villilicatioh. lie may
present his reasons and arguments Tor
| the beliefs he entertains and may III vain
| challenge fair and open discussion CT his
views and ideas, yet if he does not at the
same time submit to the dictation and
domination of the Bourbon leaders and
1 recognize their party name as embracing
all that is decent and respectable in the
State. he must expect the coarse abuse
/ and vulgar sneers of the petty tyrants who
assume to speak for the intelligence and
virtue of the Commonwealth.
/ This insoence, this impudence has had
its effect in past campaigns. Its power,
however, has gradually diminished, and as
its selfish aims have been exposed and its
despicable methods made plain, the people
have shown growing disposition to re-
volt against its ruinous rule. 1t has teen
guilty of many excuses, and has SO pal
pably arrayed itself against all the con.
seryative influences of community, that it
is only question of time when it will be
brought to Judgment and the condemna-
ton of the people be sure and stern.
1t is one of the marvels OF the times
that such influences should have so long
been tolerated in Virginia, and especially in
,, an intelligent and enlightened county like
Augusta. The people have been made the
dupes and victims Of the Ring manipula.
!, tors for years, when they knew that they
/ were being used not for the good of them.
selves orzthe State, but simply to carry out
: the schemes of the astute plotters, who
have no other object in their political as
pirations than to grasp and dispense
! spoils. Time and again have they beer
appealed to to assert their rights and thei1
power, but as often have they been de-
ceived and deluded by spscious appeals tc
excite their prejudices and pervert their
reason. When the better judgment of the
thinking portion of community would
show signs Of disquiet and revolt, When
3 the indications were patent that the people
were dissatisfied and there was an increas'
5 ing purpose to rebuke the insolence OF
i, Ring Rule, the bosses have calmly awaited
their time to come to crack the party WHIP
, to wheel them into line and bring them
into active cooperation with the machine
to accomplish the ends the bosses desired.
Before election day. the bosses would
complacently say I'VE will have them all
right. Such indications we have seen
: before, but when it comes to vote we will
draw the line, and all will be right" And
SO it has been.
Is this canvass to be but a repetition OF
others Are the orders CT the Ring to be
implicitly obeyed. and the people demon
strate that they are still the slaves of an
influence they despise
There can be no progress, no prosper
ity, mo enlightened government in Viz
ginia. until this spirit of intolerance, this
; disregard of the true interests Of the peo-
pie and Commonwealth. ceases, and the
public welfare considered higher and more
sacred than the petty spites, selfish aims
and partizan designs of those who plot and
: scheme for results which do not compre-
bend the higher and legitimate objects OF
legislation and government.
Let the courage be manifested by the
people of Augusta county and the State
to vote their honest convictions in No
vember, be it for one party or the other.
Let them show that they appreciate the
dignity and Importance of the ballot, and
only use it to express what they conscious
ly believe and desire. The bosses and
their tools will be at the polls, to push and
haul and brow-beat those whom they may
: think can be thus used and influenced
But let the legally qualified voters disre.
gard their appeals and methods, and exer-
else the high privilege of casting a ballot
like freemen, conscious of their own indi-
vidnal interest in government, and the
meaning of the vote they will cast If a
manly independent purpose were shown to
resent any insolent approach of the Ring
bosses, it would soon be discovered how
weak they are-how powerless to control
| the RESULTS Ol tll6 UdlIUu, duu NHdV q Will
and rotten shell they representa- shell
that only needs to be tapped to fall
to pieces. There is no public senti-
ment to back it-there is no public inter-
est to sustain it. 1t is simply the outcome
of cheek and impotence, and the resolute
purpose of the people to rebuke it, will
demonstrate what an easy thing it would
be to crush it beyond all future harm.
The Bourbons had their agents to tele-
graph that Gen. Malone had received a
large amount of campaign funds to be used
in this election. And upon this imaginary
statement they base a nervous appeal
to rich Democrats to open their purses
for Mr.. Barbour. That is an ingenious
way of stirring up the faithful. The fact
is, Gen. Malone has received 10 funds
outside of the State, and very little inside.
The people are running the campaign
themselves. so far as the Republicans are
concerned. The Northern Democrats have