Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-01-15
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. Is. 1886.
REFLECT A MOMENT.

REFLECT A MOMENT.
The apprehension expressed by this
journal at the assembling Of the legisla-
ture, that the overwhelming size of the
Democratic majority, would lead to other
wise improbable follies, seems hasten
ing to realization. A bill has been re-
ported from this Committee on Public In
situations and Education, OF the Senate,
to remove on April 18th, proximo. all the
Boards of Directors and officers of the
three Asylums for the Insane, and the
present Board of Visitors of the In
stitution for the education of the Deaf !,
Dumb, and the Blind. The Governor is to
appoint in advance Boards of Directors
and Boards of Visitors who shall take the
places of the ousted ones, and elect officers
in place of the ousted officers. To under
stand the height of this folly we must call
to mind, and the people will cali it to mind
TOO. that only little better than year
ago the Democratic party In the legisla-
ture having majority to do it and plead.
ing that it was their duty to reinstate the
management of these institutions, took
the power of appointment away from the
Governor and gave it to Democratic
Board of Public Works. The Boards ap
pointed by that State Board made almost
a complete restoration of the former man.
agements. To-day, the Democratic major
ity in the legislature, for some different
reason, propose to take the appointments
away from the Democratic Board of
Public Works and make a general behead-
ing. Is it because of bad appointments
by the Board Of Public Works? No one
has said SO. and if any one has said 80 it
ought to be established before action. Is
it because the officers elected by the Boards
of the various institutions have proved
incompetent No one has said SO? But
if they have said SO, it is a charge that
ought to be established before removing
them. IT these things have not been estab.
lished, why is the humiliating admission
volunteered to the world that the Dem o.
cratic party of the State has proved itself
incompetent to manage the affairs of its
charities, and needs new deal, It is the
ever seen attempted by majority which
holds in trust the future success of the
Democratic party. That it is cup which
will be returned to the lips of the Virginia
Democracy in mockery and derision often
in the future, is certain. There are two
success silence Of the party press,
and credulous ignorance on the part of
the voters of which it is likely to
get. We are not surprised to see it stated
in a Richmond letter to the Alexandria
"Gazette.'' that it is believed the bill
twill be supported by the Republicans
A Republican would be very blind in
deed to miss seeing this opportunity of IT.
revocably fixing on the Democratic party
a character for tickle greed which will
make it stagger in future campaign.
It is very hard TO imagi,a the theory
which contr0l4o.s j, a mind II sl5 Hepub-
liean ETr. Causeyl who frs {aerol gcsd the
subject in the legislature, save that under
cover of an expression of confidence in
Governor Lee, a pitfall could be made, into
which the Democratic party would un-
suspectingly walk. There is no Virginia
Democrat who would have the slightest
question Of confding the appointments to
the Governor. but it is something that
can be done without a humlliating &C.
acknowledgement that the Democratic party
hasn't had the capacity to run the affairs
of the State. a bill to restore the power
to the Governor after the expiration of the
present terms, would be quite sufficient
an expression of confidence and avoid a
rock upon which some Democratic timber
is sure to be shivered.
We cannot do better in connection with
this subject than to call the attention CT
the Democratic majority in the egislat ure
to this utterance of Mr.. Munford, Dem
of Plttsylvania, on the floor the other day:
sMahone isn't dead. There will be another
fight in Virginia, and we mus not give the
opposition food for political capital. We must
be cautious and deliberate"
The measure we have been protesting
against. not only ''gives the opposition
food for political capital" but a character
of food SO opportune and desirable that it
almost looks like it had been cooked to
order.