The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-01
The Tenth District.

The Amherst New Era seems to be
serious in its belief that it will be very
difficult to find a Democrat in this Dis
trict, sufficiently well known and popular
to save the party from defeat, unless Hon.
John Randolph Tucker should consent to
carry the party banner. We give below
what our contemporary has to say, not that
we concur in its extravaganza estimate of
Mr.. Tucker, but simply as an expression
of Democratic opinion from Democrat
ic source We do not consider Mr..
Tucker statesman by any means. mas
much as he does not comprehend the
wants of the people, or the necessary leg
islatlon to meet them. Refining theories
about government and constitutional lin
itations, which have no practical applica-
ton to pressing conditions and needs, is
not craftsmanship. Nor is Mr.. Tucker
representative Of his district in any useful
and beneficial sense. He represents him.
self-his abstract notions about govern.
ment and public duty, but not the condi-
lions of the people of the district or the
policies which are best adapted to the pro-
motion of their interests. He is honestly
wrong, and perversely honest, in his views
of public questions, according to our con-
ception, and has the courage to give ex-
preston to his opinions, knowing that
they are not in accord with the sentiment
of many his own party. In this is his great
est popularity as public man. For there is
something in human nature that responds
to honest convictions, whether there prac-
tical enforcement is what the people want
or not. In this probably Mr.. Tucker would
have the advantage of most of those in
his party who aspire to succeed him. 1t
| is matter of Indifference to the Republic
cans. however, whom the Lexington Con-
| vention may nominate. The issues be-
tween the parties are we'll defined, and it
will be the purpose of the Republicans to
discuss them and ask for verdict on
them. They would bemore distinctly pre-
sented in Mr.. Tucker himself, should he
be the nominee. and for that reason we
hope the necessities of his party will COM
pei his nomination and acceptance.
The New Era, discussing the duty of the
Lexington Convention, which meets in
July, says:
July aconvention meets in Lexington
to nominate successor to J ohm Randolph
| Tucker, who has declined to be a candi-
date, that he may retire to the quiet OF
private life This decision of Mr.. Tucker
has brought his district face to face with
a grave duty and one which will be found
very hard to discharge. All eyes and minds
are now turning in doubtful quest for the
man worthy and able to whose hands may
be trusted the standard to lead these Dem
ocratic hosts to their well-accustomed vic
tory, Only the narrow margin of twelve
hundred majority in this district, as it hat
been arranged, saved us last time from the
humiliation of Readjuster Republican rep
resentation in the halls of Congress. Tht
caucus which had re-districted the State
seemed to have counted On Tucker as ;
permanency to carry the standard here ant
left to generalship to accomplish what the.
felt they could not spare numbers to do
Without general and without numbers thu
contest is again upon us with an actlv'
enemy watching the fateful changes to
wards weakness in the Democratlc ranks
No name has been caught up to suppl.
that magic of influence which the noble
heroism of devotion to principle in Ou
long honored representative has given t.
our side as it's advantage in the past. Atlt
and pure, sacrificing all for his people bu
his principles. with reputation not lin
ted by the bounds of state or section
our peerless representative seems to have
left his friends and supporters no choice
but that of desperate determination to VIII
in spite of of his loss.
If the convention that meets at Licking
ton finds not in the great number of candi
dates presented to it's choice one on whom
all can unite with the enthusiasm that
will bring success, the path before it tt
escape disaster is to make such a call upor
Mr.. Tucker and so perfect in its unanimity
that refusal would not be possible. Tht
name that is oftenest heard now as that OF
| the candidate from the Valley who will
have the largest following on the first bal
lot. is not a name that can add strength tt
his party. If that is the best that can bt
done. the day can be counted as already
half lost. A desperate fight will be made
by the Republicans to win this district and
| their chances were never so bright as now.
| With Tucker retired and a weak candidate
as his successor, money and influence will
pour in for the side that has heretofore
had to fight with scare hope of success.
The duty of the hour is to send to Lex
! ingtOn from every precinct OF thls Con
gressional district men so cool, so paGrlotlC
and unbiased that no ordinary trading poll
tics may forfeit to the Democratic party
it's chance of naming the successful man
for the after contest.