The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-11-04
The Tenth District.

tion in this, the 10th district, nor in the
State, is known to us. Whatever may be
the final determination of the contest as
announced in our columns. it is not inap-
propriate to refer to the spirit in which
the canvass has been conducted. Between
the candidates themselves, there has been
the most courteous bearing toward each
other. Neither of them. so far as we have
learned, has departed from that line OF
strict observance of the amenities OF life,
by which the opening of the canvass was
marked. There has been no personal re-
Elections of adisrespectful or unfriendly ma
ture, and as to the candidates themselves
they stand in the same personal relation
that they did when each was nominated. A
knowledge of this fact will constitute
pleasant remembrance hereafter. There
will be no ranking anger-no nurtured
but unexpressed wrath. arising from at
tempted unfairness, or insidious advan-
tage. In all respects the contest between
the principals has been such that it leaves
lesson for future political encounters,
that it would be well to remember. 1t
demonstrates that discussion of the is
sues upon which the people have to vote
can be. conducted without appealing tothe
lower passions of our nature-that it is
less difficult to be decent than to indulge
| in offensive reflections, and that the
voters themselves feel more respect for
their respective candidates and cast their
suffrages with clearer understanding OF
the privilege than if fretted and excited
over irrelevant and inh&lable invocations
to prejudices.
While this has been the personal phase
of the contest as between the candidates,
we cannot say that there has been a dis.
tinct drawing of the lines as to the prin-
ciples and policies involved. as reflected
| in the records of the two parties. While
the Republicans have been aggressive in
| the presentation Of the issues, with no
doubts or misgivings as to what these is
sues are. and no equivocation or lodging
In maintaining them, our opponents have
not been equally frank and outspoken in
defence of the party they speak for. There
has been hesitancy-a misty uncertainty
a want af directness upon the vital ques
tions germane to the campaign. The
manner of presenting their side, has had
a meaning in tan acknowledgment
that the people are not friendly to the re
cord of the party either upon the tariff Of
support of the public schools. and that il
a manly, pointed and direct maintenance
of the position of the Democracy on these
issues had been manifested, there would
have been no doubt of the result from thu
beginning. The people of Augusta coun
ty. especially, and of the 10th district. art
in favor of the protective policy-are II
favor of nat ional aid to public education
and could theyhave abated their attachment
to party name, and expressed their honest
convictions on the questions at issue, thu
resultin this county would have been vastl.
different from what the returns show. Tit
attempt to drag into the campaign sec
tiona feeling was such a pitiable failure
that it will hardly be attempted again. fol
there are but few who allowed it to influ-
ence them and they will regret that they
so far forgot themselves as to yield to ap
peals that had so little legitimate 'connec
ton with the vote they cast.
Whether the Republican or the Demo
| cratic candidate shall be declared to bt
elected, one thing we can say with a Ger
tainty. That is, that the future prosper
/, ity of this county and this State, and the
entire South, is dependent upon the practi
cal application of the principles and poll
cies the Republicans maintain, and who
ever may be the successful candidate
when he takes his seat in Congress- hi
will not represent the interests OF The PEG
pie unless he supports the principles of thu
Republican party, as they haYe been dis
cussed and presented in this canvass!
It is relief to us to realize that the con
test is over-that it has been conducted 81
respectfully and genteely, and that in fu
ture numbers of the VIRGINIAN we viii
have the privilege of drawing the atten
tion of our readers to less exciting sub
jects, and discussing interests not directl,
related to political issues. We would mucl
prefer that elections were less frequent
but under our system of government, re
cognizing the people as the source of al
power, it is not crime to call for the ex
pres sion of their opinion at stated times
and the record atom of their wishes as tt
who shall be authorized to speak for then
| in the n ational and State legislatures. L
errors of legislation are committed ant
their interests not reflected they then hav'
the opportunity to review the conduct O
iheir servants and express approval or dis
approval. 1t is sple ndid tribute to Re
publican institutions, and the confidence
that may be reposed in the intelligence
the patriotism and devotion of the grea
mass of the people.
And then the very nature of our beins
seems to require that there should tie SOM
legal method-some safety valves-for th
escape of the effervescence of our menta
and emotional makeup, and in this ligh
there is compensation for the annoyanc
and yexation which occur almost ever
year. by election demands. So take it al
in all, it is probably as well that the peopl
should have the opportunity to voice thei
sentiments as often as they do at the bal
lot box. Certainly when this is the case
there will be no lessening of devotion t.
our institutions or increasing apprehen
sions that government of the people, TO
the people and by the people, will disap
pear from the face of the earth.
1.-The Rascals."
/ Virginia was the first state to feel thu
proscriptive methods Of this reform demo
cratic adm inistration. 1t was assumed b,
the democratic congressional syndicate
that those who held Office under the Re
publican administration did not represent
the people = they were the first s'ras
cals'' to be turned out, and Virginia was
made an exception to the application Of
the civil service law, and in effect the Re
publicans were practically outlawed-werf
placed before the country as aliens to the