The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-06-17
The Peoples Opportunity.


of the country with Bourbonsm and its
methods, is found in the farmers move
ment in the Bourbon ridden State of
South Carolina A dispatch from Column
bia, in that State. dated the 9th, says that
the estate Democratic Executive Com
mittee held a secret session here yesterday
which lasted until midnight. The meet
ing was called for the purpose of organ
iZing the Democracy to thwart the farmers
in their movement for new deal. which
is tending to disturb the party. Another
object of the meeting was to declare
against the primary system, which is be-
ing adopted in the third Congressional
district against party rules. The recent
farmers conyention held in this city has
greatly alarmed many Democrats in the
State, and the oflice-holders are very I'M
easy on account of the demonstration
made by the farmers against the present
State administration, and they will use
every effort to overcome Farmer Tillman
n the approaching campaign. The State
Convention has been called to meet in Co
lumbia On August 4th. =
The people of South Carolina. like the
people of every State in the Union, have
patriotic inspirations and love of perso-
nal as well as political freedom. 1t is
is not at all times that they feel
stirred to point of asserting this sentl-
ment, but nevertheless it is inherent, and
while it may shoulder and remain dor
mant for while, it will assert itself when
party tyranny and ring despotism become
too arrogant and exacting to be tolerated.
1t is natural therefore that the farmers of
South Carolina should revolt against the
selfish rule of the Court House cliques
and professional politicians and announce
their purpose to proclaim their manhood
and give expression to their sense of self
respect and self-reliance.
Not only in South Carolina but through
out the South the same feeling of unrest
is being manifested among the masses who
have blindly followed the lead of the de-
signing demagogues who care nothing for
the people, only as they may be able to de-
lude them into the support of their perso-
nal schemes, and whose only principle is
to rule or ruin, In Virginia there is an
awakening of the manhood of the State.
Not only the farmers who constitute an
essential and paramount factor in the ma
terial growth and progress of the country,
but the mechanics and laboring men of
all classes are disposed to break away from
the tyrannical yoke of the marplots and
harlequins who have no higher conception
of citizenship and the duty they owe to
the State and country than to get possess
sion of power and use it, not for the gen
eral welfare, but for the pelf and plumber
which may be gotten by it.
Look at the condition of Virginia as
the result CT the rule of the politi-
clans and the demagogues who assume
leadership and infame the passions of the
people that they may control the ballot
box They have succeeded in pressing
the State to the verge of ruin. Her finan-
cial condition is in the most deplorable
condition. Her credit is ruined. Bush
ness is paralyzed. Capital hesitates to
come to our inviting fields of public enter
prise. self respecting citizens of sister States
stand aloof from her borders rather than
encounter the prejudices which these de-
signing men arouse to carry into effect
: their partizan plots. Our young men are
focking to distant States and Territories
to escape the nightmare which hangs over
their native land. And yet Virginia to-
day presents more natural advantages and
attractions than any other section OF the
Union. Her climate, her soil, her vast
mineral resources. her geographical posi-
ton are unsurpassed if not unequalled and
present more to invite the active energies
of the business world than can be found
elsewhere within the jurisdiction of our
laws. She is held down by the Court
House rings and scheming plotters against
her very life, and the people have hereto
fore submitted to the Wrong-knoWlng IL
to be such-for the courage was absent
to assert their manhood and demand their
rights. It IS time they were awakening.
1t is time that they were proclalmlng
from the house tops. and from every nook
; and corner of the Commonwealth that
they will no longer be hewers of wood and
drawers of water for the fippant dema-
gogues, but that they intend to be men
who knowing their rights dare maintain
them, if to do so every plotting politician
and designing ringster has to be marked
and sent into disgraceful obscurity.
: And throughout the whole country
Bourbon stupidity and corruption are
yielding their fruits. The paralysis which
has come upon the industries OF the Ma
tion-the want and suffering which have
!, been entailed upon honest labor and its
dependents, from mere apprehension OF
harmful legislation from the party IN
power, ought to speak louder than any
language could sound and impress lesson
that no wealth of words or tropes. OF
speech could impart.
What is needed is the courage to express
at the ballot box the honest convictions OF
the voters of the country That is the
lever which is to break the power of ring
rule and answer the appeals of selfish
demagogues. The people must be true to
themselves and must show that they are
men, and that the little tom-tit politicians
, who fit about the cOurt-houseS and the al
legs and by-ways, are RELOCATED to the rear
to be measured for what they are worth
and forbidden to inject their venom and
, passion and hate into the politics and the
) legislation of the State and country. This
is the kind of reform that is wanted-a
reform that reaches to the foundation
source of State and National prosperity
and progress, and without which the peo-
pie will never be emancipated from the
domination of incompetents and nincom-
poops. They who would be free must
themselves strike the blow, and when it is
well done. they will find that they have
been held in subsection by as graceless a
set of weaklings and pretenders as ever
afflicted community, OF threw their
basiisk shadows over the peace and con-
tentment of people. 1t only requires
true manhood to do the work and do it well.
An aroused sense of self-respect and the
assertion of manly purpose will drive
; the parvenues and pinch-becks covering
fro,,, tbo Gold apd Iaavn tho maSSpS in