Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-10-30
IL srfnREn THEN ctr.

If Judge Foraker accomplished little Tor
his party here aud in Rockingham, he did
good work for the Democracy. he stirred
out the Democrats ia Il way that we have
not seen manifested since this campaign
,mmeuced, and aroused feeling of in
dignation that is q delightful contrast to
the apathetic way in which Augusta was
regarding the approach of election day.
TIE fact that a speaker should be imported
from Oao 10 attack Virginia, and "break
the backbone Of the Solid South" as be ex'
pressed it, who, throughout his own State,
had Just been denounclug our State as
partner and confederate in system OF
fraud, violence, murder, assassination,
bull whips and shot guns" was just the
one thing wanted to STIR the people OF An-
gusta up to the Importance OF the sltua-
ton. The presence of speaker VITO
on the information of Wise and Ma
hone, for he had no other, had classed
Virginia as the backbone of brutal co.,
federacY that had killed and wounded
more men in politics IN ten years than
fell at Gettysburg, was of itself something
to arouse Virginia Democrats, but some
thing still more insulting was his expla-
nation. Tie gist of it was that if Virgin
ia was not guilty, then OF course the
charges did not apply to her. After de-
nouncing the system and characterizlng
Virginia as the backbone" of it, this
Ohio orator concedes that if Virginia will
plead not guilty the denunciation will
not be made to apply to her. Where did
Ohio or Judge Foraker or John Sherman
get the idea that Virginia was arraigned
before them for trial and acquittal or con
viction. Where did THEY get the impress
sion that Virginia, which polls eighty five
per cent. of her voting strength, five per
cent. more than than the greatest of the
Northern Republican States, wanted their
{ plnion about the fairness of her elections
or their certificate TO her good chara cter?
Was Virginia's metropolis ever in flames
at the hands Of lynch law mob Ike
Cincinnati? Has it ever taken Virginia
canvassing boards two weeks to decide
| electlolS because OF frauds 81 Jnitk they
| could not be counted as in Ohio? Has
| Virginia ever been a theatre Of violence
or intimidation in election times except III
the Deaths head circulars of William
Malone? Why 10 twenty years there have
not been eight men killed in political rows
here, counting the public riot at Danvllle
twenty years and we defy the production
| of proof to the contrary. Virginia Is a
| peaceful State and holds more peaceful
elections than Ohio, and we defy proof 10
the contrary. Bull-whips at elections
| Has as any body ever known such thing
before Or at a Virginia election? Is there
black man in Virginia who cannot walk
up and put. bis ballot in the box and
have more certaiatyof having 1t fairly coua
ted than Judge Foraker could have Of his
absolutely quiet and fair and it is not only
false but recklessly falseto class her with
ku-klux and night rider States, or with
mob and count house burning States as
Judge Foraker's State is.
What madness is this that possesses the
Republicans Of Virginia who invite, and
the Republicans Of other States who send.
these missionaries here. Have they lost
all contact with the popular heart Of Viz
ginia. Don't they kRooo that they are
ballots by it? Do they think for a mo.
ment that the people Of Virginia have lost
their self-i respect They count on ths
conservative and peaceful character Of
election times in Virginia to send such
orators among us, and they count correct
| ly. They may traverse our State without
a ietr Or an offensive word. 1t is not like
the people of the old common wealth to for
bid even the most false and insulting oil
public discussions they have been tole-
rating it for years and are used to it-but
the Republicans must not mistake Golera
tlon for acquiescence. They well under
stand the motive. for sending these apos-
ties of hate among US and will not furr,
ish the occasion for political capital else
where Which is sought to be here obtain
ed. But none the less is their self-respect
outraged and their indignation aroused.
They will speak at the ballot box 10 reply
to Foraker and Sherman next Tuesday.
They will say there to these Onio orators
whether what they have said at home of
them is true or not. They will reply at
the ballot box to the charge that Virginia
is the stay and back bone CT system OF
murderers, assassns, bull-whippers and
ku-klux. And that silent vote in the
ballot box shall speak to the world fol
them. 1t shall teil the world that in a
| Democratic State, Southern State, an
ex-COnfederate State, the Democratic
party is party OF peace and of fairnes
tie equal of the Republican party in any
State in this Union. 1t is not unmindful
of the character of it's State, and eyery
member of it will essay next Tuesday to
do his share by his ballot to repel the vile
charges that have been made ag ains5 her
by slanderers native or imported.
Ii yor favor the maintenance of the
Riddleberger settlement you Cannot vote
for an Attorney General who will have
its fate in his charge. who is unfaithful to