The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-01
"a Clean Campaign. :,

llumDeT Oh blldt paper. uelnduuS u OledL
Campaign this fall. That is, it protests
against the systematic personal yillification
and abuse which have marked political
contests in Virginia of late, and asserts
that it will neither encourage nor tolerate
any such disgraceful indulgences in its
columns, but will aspire to direct the pub
lie mind TO the real, practical issues ger
main to the campaign and which it is the
duty of the journalist to fairly. conscien-
tiously and honestly discuss. This promise
OF purpose on the part Of an influential
Democratic journal to endeavor to ele-
vate the tone and character of the politi-
cal discussions in Virginia, will receive a
hearty endorsement from the great mass
of the people, for they have been surfeited
to disgust with the billingsgate and perso-
nal defamation which have distinguished
the party struggles in the State for the
past twenty years. The Democratic press
has, with scarcely an exception, studious-
ly ignored calm discussion of public ques-
tions and an appeal to the reason and
Judgment of the voter. 1t has been con.
sidered more polite to aSsal in vitupera-
tive language both the character and mo-
tives of Republican candidates and the
Republican party and appeal to race and
sectional prejudices to prevent fair and
| impartial public verdict as between the
measures the respective parties have sup
ported. 1t is healthy indication that an
influential journal of that party, has
| boldly announced that it will not be par
| ty to any further campaigning of that kind
that it means to have the ''clean" thing,
if possible, and urge upon the people the
necessity. in vindication of their own
character, of eschewing personal abuse
and unseemly and abusive epithet.
Nothing has done more to injure Vir-
ginia-to keep from us the essential agen-
cies for our progress and prosperity, than
the manifestation of offensive partizanism
and personal defamation in the conduct OF
our public discussion. And the Demo-
cratic press is responsible for this. 1t has
assumed to reflect the public sentiment Of
its party, and the candidates of that party
|
lead as the most convenient way to avoid
the legitimate discussion of the questions
really at issue, which. in many instances
they do not understand and are incapa.
BILE Of intelligently analyzing.
1t is certainly time that the right and
wrong OF the practical questions of the
day were presented to the consideration
of the people of the State for their YER
dict, and it is time their judgment were
addressed upon the merits, of these issues
free from appeals to their passions and
preiudices. Virginia has suffered enough
from the expedients and deceits of design
ing'demagogues-from the denunciation Of
: | her citizens of one political belief by hel
people of another political belief. 81
fierce and hostile have been these crimina
tions that citizens from other States have
looked on in wonder and amazement, ant
+ come to the conclusion that if either wa!
! right, then there was no inducemert fol
the peaceable, orderly people of the coun
, try. DESTROYS of engaging in business pur-
suits and pushing projects for materia
DEVELOPMENT, to come here. We have suf
erd much and gained nothing by this insane
method of conducting our political cam
,, paigns. This everybody knows. Now lei
us try something else. Let US see whether
by respecting ourselves and each other, we
cannot inspire the respect and confidence
of others, and thus contribute to our own
comfort and satisfaction, while we adj
vance the interests of the Commonwealth.
Give US q "Clean Campaign"
Mr. Morrison. when he was so severely
J sat down upon on the 14th in Congress on
his motion to take up the tariff bill for
consideration, announced that he intended
to renew the motion On the following
, Tuesday. On that day expectation was
on tiptoe when the hour came when such
motion was in order. Instead, however,
of making it, he calmly and modestly adj
mitted that it was no use to renew that
motion. as he could see no chance for it to
, prevail The secret of this was, that he
had learned that Randall had prepared a
bill, and if Morrison's motion had been
entered for the consideration of his free
trade measure, Randall would have moved
the consideration of his bill as substi-
tute Had he done so, Morrison saw that
there was probability that the same vote
which defeated his motion on the 14th
, would have carried Randall's motion, ano
that his thunder would have been appro
priated by the recalcitrant Pennylvanian
So he made virtue of necessity. and
abandoned the tariff fight, at least for the
present,
He did make a motion, though, on the
F 22d, and we guess he is sorry for it. He
offered a resolution to change the rules Of
the House, so as to allow an amendment
to every pension bill, providing specia
tax to meet it's demands. This was al
, indirect blow at the soldier element-a1
insidious device to reach direction by in
direction, and do that stealthily which hi
was afraid to do openly-virtually defeat
pensions for soldiers. During the debate
both Morrison and Bragg assailed Ran
dali for his action on the 18th, by which hi
aided the Republicans in defeating Nor
rison's rec trade tariff bill. For this
they must feel equally sorry, for it. ever {
man received cruel, scathing skinninl
the Illinois free-trader and the Wisconsin
Brigadier, got it on that day. Randall
was more than himself and not only tri
: umphantly indicated his vote, but made
it so warm for Morrison and Bragg, tina
they ran from the field with a precipitanc.
that was both amusing and instructive
Randall holds the fort and will continue
, to do so against his free trade antagonists
Judge Paul, of the u. s. Circuit Court
E has appointed Chas. II. Krumbaar, O.
S Philadelphia, and Henry H. Yard, of New
e Jersey; Receivers of the Columbia lrol
Company, in Shenandoah county. Al
; injunction has also been awarded by thu
Judge restraining all persons from inter
fering with the receivers taking possession
of and managing said property, or other
wise hindering or interfering with then
in the performance of their duties. Tit
receivers are authorized to issue certlf
l. ,0y1f