The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-11-11
The REASONS.

to an Indifference born of over confidence.
They assume that the stay -at-home vote
was for the most part Democratic, and
that once brought to the polls, it would
have insured the election of the Demo-
cratic candidates by the usual majorities.
He is careless observer, indeed, who
could reach such conclusion-about as
careless as our neighbor, the Vindseator,
which two weeks ago assured its readers
that there were not, in Augusta county,
five votes cast for Cleveland that would
not be given to Bumgardner. The result
showed nearer five thousand than five.
Had full vote been polled the defeat of
the Democratic candidates would have
been still more pronounced. Let any man
who knoars the sentiments of the voters at
any precinct, run over the list of absen-
tees on election day, and he will find that
the majority of the Democrats who failed
to deposit their ballots were those who
at best might be classed among the doubt
ful-so doubtful that the party runners
acted wisely in not forcing them to a de-
cision. 1t is useless to disguise the fact.
The assumed Indifference was not the in.
difference Of over-confdence. Its sources
lay deeper. 1t was more the manifesto.
tion of dissatisfaction than of simple
apathy. 1t was the silent and effective
protest which the conservative citizen
uttered against Democratic managem ent
in State and nation. He may not have
been prepared to step boldly beyond the
party line, but the party itself had become
SO distasteful that he could no longer be.
stow his endorsement, and thus share the
responsibility.
In truth, there has not, in Tie history OF
Virginia, been an election so directly ex.
pressiye of the peoples will as that Of
Tuesday week. 1t was essentially the
decision of the voters themselves-those
who remained away from the polls as well
as those who cast their ballots. The re.
suit can neither be traced to brilliant
leadership on the one side nor unpopular
candidates on the other. There was an
absence of leadership. The revolution
like all revolutions. came from the people
Those who were designated as the leaders
simply rode the first wave of the popular
tide, with but little power to direct its
course. Their hearts beat in sympathy
with the hearts Of the masses, and theil
election was but the expression Of the
peoples sovereign will. The usual acces
series of political contests were absent
The organization upon each side was de-
fectiye, The lack of funds made the
machine run at a halting pace, and for the
first time the men who work with their
hands had a chance to do their own think
ing. They acted free from the petty die
tation of precinct bosses and curhstone
politicians. The result was but the asser
tion of the spirit of independence, of man
hood rights, of individual responsibility.
1t was result that augurs well for the
future of the old Commonwealth. It ad
vertises the waning power of courthouse
rings and cliques and political bossism
It is emphatic notification that class legis
lation must cease-that the right to repre-
sentation is limited to no favored few
that the farmers, the mechanics, the
working people and the business men Of
the State are taking business view Of
politics-and that they know their rights
and in future intend to maintain them.
Above all it is signal rebuke to pesti
ferrous agitators. Appeals to passion and
prejudice can no longer be relied upon Il
influence the popular mind and lead il
from the contemplation Of practical meas
ures. The cowardly evasion of the rea
issues the failure to meet the questions
of tariff, Blair bill and internal revenue
the shrinking from manly. straight-for
ward discussion before the people. and the
absence of settled conviction on the part
of the Democratic party, richly merited
the protest of the people, and the emphasis
with which that protest has been given il
a valuable lesson in itself and one thai
/ should not soon be forgotten.
| The mistake made by the Democratic
leaders was in undertaking the intelli
| gence Of the masses. Upon the tariff
question was this especially the case. The
mechanics and country people have given
this subject more thought within the past
two years than ever before. They have
commenced to comprehend its benefits
to look to it for the upbuilding of the
State and the prosperity Of all classes, and
were prepared to instruct many of the
young lawyers who were sent out to teach
them during the last fortnight of the can
vass.
The facts might as well be faced The
victory was a victory over the usua
methods of election. 1t was pronounced
victory for protection. It was an unmis
taxable declaration in favor of the Blail
bill and the repeal of the Internal Reve'
nue., and it recorded the untrammeled
will of the people of Virginia without re-
gard to their previous political affiliations,
| - -
EXTENSION OF THE VALLEY r. r.
The Baltimore Sam of Monday contains
the following "A meeting Of capitalists
and citizens generally is to be held to-day
in Ashevllle, N. g., to appoint delega-
ton to come to Baltimore to see President
Robert Garrett about the matter of hav-
ing the Baltimore and Ohio extend the
Valley Railroad southwark through that
thriving city. The Asheville people I'M
derstand that the extension will be from
Lexington, Va. to Cranberry, by way of
Salem, and from Cranberry to Birming-
ham, Ala, by way of Asheville and the
| Western North Carolina Railroad. The
road has been located to Big Joy, 26 miles
west of Asheville. and it will go on one
side or the other of the French Broad
| river, and the people hope to get it on the
Asheville side. Buncombe county is dis
posed to vote good subscription to have
the road run to- Ashyille. which is i'm
proving very fast and will be railroad
centre. 1t is said the Georgia Central is
going there from Greenyiile, S. c.. the
Carolina Central from Rntherfordton. and
the Huntington system from Ashland,
KY The city has already three roads OF
the Danville system. Asheville is 60
ahead place. 1t has electric lights now
and will soon have a street railway. The
indications are that couple Of million
dollars of capital will ba invested there IN