The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-22

Music in the Air.
To accept the statements OF the Rich
mond correspondents of Democratic pa
pers and of the utterances OF the papers
themselves, the conclusion would be
reached that the recent disgraceful dicker
and treachery by which the people of that
city were cheated out OF the fruits OF their
victory in the recent municipal election,
was entirely acceptable to those who
achieved the victory at the ballot box. But
to take the emphatic declarations and de-
mandatory protests of the reformers, an
other conclusion would be reached. The
Labor Herald is authorized to speak Tor
a large per cent. OF the anti-ring support
erS. The element it represents embraces
all, or nearly all, Of the protesting Demo
Gratis. From what it says, as given below,
it will be seen that all is not nvely-that
there is a sentiment of indignant cenSure
of the disreputable collision and discred-
liable methods which deprived the re-
formers of the power to carry into effect
the reforms they had in contemplation,
and proper spirit Of resentment towards
those who secured power by questionable
means in the policy subsequently adopted
in distributing Offices to tone down and
alay the dissatisfaction that a long sway
of the Ring had justly caused. Ii any
one thing could more directly call Gown
the contempt and condemnation OF honest
| men than another, it seems to us it would
| be the manner in which the ill-galned
power has been used. Petty city offices
have been given to men who were de-
nounced before the election as dema-
gogues and promoters of strife, and the
promise to others of favOrs from the
Democratic government at Washington.
1t is an ill-concealed policy of bribery-an
insiduous device to perpetuate power in
the hands of the condemned ringsters, and
a disgraceful dicker to arrest popular
| Judgment for the misdeeds and maladmin-
istration which have been inflicted upon
the people. What humiliating spectacle
it is for the ''best people" the elect OF So
ciety, the salt of the earth, to be cringing
and fawning to those whom they have
held in such utter contempt; and the hui
initiation would be intensified it those
who were approached proved themselves
| to be base enough to accept the prOtfered
brides. This last phase Of Richmond poll
tics, more than all things else, justi6es the
| combination that was made to change the
city government officials, emphasizes the
necessity of reform, and publishes to the
world the kind of political trickery which
controls those who are always prating
about honesty and responsibility.
paragraphs we give from the Herald
evidence how the Knights of Labor regard
the deal and the spirit which now and in
the future will animate that important
factor in Virginia politics. There is mu-
sic in the utterances we publish, which
it will be we'll for the ringsters of Richmond
and the entire State to study and heed:
| Sir Walter Scott inscribed it in immortal
| verse in Marmion that there were some per-
| sons who would go down to the vile dust from
which they sprung unWept' unho na1 ana un
| eve, he must have had in his mental vision
| such men as the eleven in Richmond who sold
|
| It is a fact that cannot be contradicted that
there is more Indignation in this city over the
| the Republican party than has ever been
| known before in this city over any polit-
event The people are nr no to a
| fooled and swindled in this manner in this
manner without raising the cry of "catch
| thief"
Board of Aldermen Mr.. Crenshaw was in the
| chair, and he appointed colored member from
/ escort
| This member from Jackson ward is OF course
| a Republican, and rumor has 1T that he was
1 very much spiritualized at the time. The
/ Ring masters claim the right to lay aside all
political distinction when it suits their pur,
| and colors come together to reform Richmond
Tweedsm and howl goes up from those who
have had their hands in the plunder bag for
veil is being drawn day by day from this by
pocrisy, and the people are beginning to see
| things in their true light
| Has the time come when honor is to go for
nothing lift interferes with the success of
| local political party? God forbid that honor
| should be made subservent to rings and
cliques. Has the time come when the voice of
ringsters and tricksters must be obeyed regard.
must answer these questions themselves. 1t is
silly to boast of being OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
| rights be stolen from us without raising our
| voice of protest,
stand by the caucus nominees, and after the
| working people ana voters nau peeH sWlhuIeo
out of the very results they went into the con-
test for, remarks that the Democracy IS now
again united and all things should go on
smoothly. This is delicious sauce after bitter
meal, but the people who elected the Reform
ticket on the 9th of May do not propose to
swallow the dish, neither is the Democracy icy
the morning after the sell out there were a
thousand men in Richmond who. will never
vote another party ticket in the city elections
who were not here on the day before the sell
out This little game was manipulated to save
| a few Democratic pap suckers and to keep the
party together but it is the most unfortunate
| thing for the party that has ever happened In
this city.
If the Democratic press of this State
xuoro roalJv concarnad ahOut tha pOOd name