The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-10-28

Executive chair. Either Hayes or Tilden i
was elected. and III that case the House !
of Representatives lad no right or power |
under the constitution to intervene to des /
termine the issue. TO have done so would
have been usGrpation, The consequence OF
which would have mangered the peace.
if not the existence OF the Republic
1t is profitable to neither party nor to the
country to revive this obsolete question.
and it is especially inappropriate in the
connection it is presented by Mr.. Stuart,
inasmuch as the House of Representatives
was Democratic at that time, and the
Commission which settled the case was the
result of a compromisefram byDemocrats
and Republicans, which saved the country
from a condition that would have shaken
the foundations of the government. while
there was disappointment in the award OF
the Commission to the partiZan friends OF
Mr.. Tilden, no true patriot, who regarded
country as above the spoils OF office. re-
GREETED that SO peaceful an adjustment OF
the contention was reached. 1t was then
the subject Of congratulations the country
over, and the removal of threatened con-
fiict was accepted by the great mass OF the
people as not only a happy event, but
as an evidence of the devotion OF
the masses to our Republican form of
government. 1t was not until it was
thought that political capital could be
made out of the senseless and false charge
of fraud, that the attempt was made to
stir up feeling and excite enmity. And now
| to seek to introduce the matter in Con-
gressional contest is entirely out OF place,
both as to its relevancy to the canvass. and
as coming from party which enacted
and endorses the Anderson cCormlck
Electoral law in Virginia, which was de-
signed to defraud the people out OF their
rights and perpetrate wrongs upon the
elective system which ought to mantle
with a blush of shame the cheek OF every
member of the Legislature who voted for
| it and every Democrat who fails to raise
a voice in condemnation of the lnlqulty.
We regret that the 'sexigeneieso of the
canvass, y as Mr. Bumgardner expresses it
in his card of apology for not meeting the
people of Augusta face to face in manly
discussion with his opponent of the issues
| of the canvass, are deemed of such Sc
rious nature as to impose upon Mr.. Stu
art, in his honored old age, the labor OF
inditing letter such as We have COM
mented upon. There is nothing that we
could do, which would not cheerfully be
done to add golden tint to his setting
sun, OF throw brighter halo about his
name, when he may be called to ''gather
the drapery Of his couch about him and lie
down to pleasant dreams" beyond the riv-
er. But we should never have been guilty
of the impudence. whatever the '.exigen-
cies of the canvass" of invading the pri-
vate sanctuary of the venerable statesman.
to invoke the influence of his name to
prop up cause which is without princi-
pie, and inspire canvass, in which the
principal on that side is lodging from
county to county to evade his opponent,
and when they have crossed each others
paths, shielding behind committees to pre-
vent fair, square discussion of the issues
involved.