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

tory Of any people has there been greater
effort made, and being made, to deny the
vitalizing essence of Republican iusti-
tutions, than in this canvass in Virginia.
Appeals to passion, disgusting mimicry Of
war times, the corrupt use of money, pro-
scription in business, personal utilization
and abuse. and all the enginery of the most
reprehensible partizanism. are ayailed Of
to influence the votes of the people and I
drive them into the support Of the Bour-
bon ticket against their convictions, as
well as against their interests The prac-
tica questions at issue are not discussed.
Nomanly appeal to thu reason and judg-
ment of the voter is made. No fair COM
parison of party records. No legitimate
array Of facts and policies affecting the
interests of the State is pretended on the
part of the BoIrbons. They depend alone
upon their wicked devices, their false pre-
sentat. ons, their invocations to prejudice,
to give them even a hope of success
They know the party they speak for has
been untrue to every trust and has in
ficted upon the State wrongs and oppres-
sions which ought to bring upon it the Sc
verest rebuke the people can administer.
1t is the fear Of an honest ballot that
drives them to the disreputable resorts,
which have characterized the progress of
the campaign. They care nothing for the
practical issues which reach to the material
interests of the voter and the life and
progress of the State-nor for the great
principle of political freedom which is as
Iairectly involved as any measure relating
/, to material matters. There can be no pro-
gress in Virginia until this principle is
recognized in all Of its amplitude. The
voter must be allowed to cast his ballot
without let OF hindrance, in the way his
| Judgment directs-he must have the same
liberty and the same immunity in the eX-
ercise of this high privilege as others
claim and enjoy There must be no threat
| to his business, to his social relations, to
any of his associations as a citizen of the
State, and as factor in the political econ
omy of the Commonwealth. Where there
are two sides to question it is natural for
men to differ in their conclusions as to
which is right, and where this difference
exists and this conclusion is reached, they
| should be as free and unembarrassed in
the expression of their beliefs at the ballot
box as the others. Without this there can
| be no political freedom-there can be no
| honest verdict a t the ballot-box, no prop
er and legitimate use of the ballot 1t is
| the principle for which St. Paul suffered
nlartyrdom. for whichStephen was stoned,
/ for which Hampden was sacrificed. The
fagot and the stake and the block have
been invoked to destroy it in vain. It
stirred the patriotism of the Revolution
airy sires, and is the cornerstone of our po-
! litieal and religious liberty. And it is des-
tined to triumph in Virginia against all
the Vaccinations of all the political mar
! plots which can be marshalled to deny it.
1t emblems the cause Of truth, of the
manhood of man, of the rights of free
men, and will assert itself, though s'baf-
fled oft, = in the utter overthrow of the
plotters and schemers who would subordi-
nate. that and everything else to their self
ish ends.
Let the people be true to this great
principle. true to themselves, true to Re-
publican institutions, endure. persecution
and ostracism for time, from the parye
nues who style themselves the "best peo-
pie, = and they will win the battle as sure
as there is something in the human con-
seriousness that responds to justice and
right, and that the God Of Truth rules
the destinies of men and Nations.
! Col O'Ferran addressed the Demo
cratic Club at the club room on Wednes-
day night of last week, and the little we
heard CT the speech was rich. His at
tempted explanation of the failure of the
Blair bill showed that in the lodging line
the Col. was not likely to be left. AS an
evidence of the kind Of pabulum dished
out to his hearers, may be mentioned his
exposition Of Republican fraud in con-.
nection with the building Of the new asy-
lum at Petersburg. He declared that
81 900 had been paid for the plans and
specifications Of the 100000 building,
and the architect was to receive p per
cent. for supervising the construction.
This was a great outrage Oh the people,
for Richmond was now preparing to build
$500, 600 hall. the plans, specifications
and supervising Of which would cost S70O.
The speaker stated that he knew he was
addressing Democrats exclusively, but he
certainly under rated the intelligence of
| his audience, when he supposed that they
could be gulled with the statement that
any reputable architect would agree to-
| furnish plans and specifications for and
supervise the construction Of 100000
building for 500. There was not me-
chanic or builder in the house who did not
laugh in his sleeve at the ahsurdity of the
proposition. Two and a half per cent. has
been the compensation Of supervising ar
chitects for generations, and men capable
of doing the work properly would not ac-
cept less. But this is about as near the
mark as Democratic orators get. The
Colonel not only Inexperienced the in
telligence of his audience, bat their taste
also, judging from the character Of
anecdo tie in which he INDUCED.
DR.. Moffett also made speech and kept
the crowd in good humor for an hour.
A registrar of the county desires to know
why We advised Republicans who cannot
read and write to be accompanied by Re
publican who can, whenh he goes to register
or secure a transfer. The reason is very
plain. q man who is incapable OF either
reading or writing, and therefore unac-
quainted with the forms necessary to secure /
registration or transfer, will in many cases
be unable to intelligently answer the ques-
tions propounded to him by the registrar
Such as whether be has been registered
before /? If so, at what precinct !? When
he last voted and a dozen others that can
and should be asked. to say nothing of
those which might be improperly asked. |
If he has an intelligent friend with him,
familiar with the circumstances of his
case. all of this difficulty will be avoided |
y