The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-23


These results ats due RriI 'riIy to tha
SACRIFICE of party pride Id 1877 by the Re-
puhiicans. in the interest OF Il State. and
the suspension ,ef 'sbusin 81 by the
"old regime in that year In sis therei
nothing of which they are ash ned. They
may point to their az on in "a as not
only the evidence of r devotion TO the
welfare of Virginia. . thair sagacity
in engineeringa NOV which disin-
tegrated the Democra as it was
designed, as the only n. bring about
the reforms desired, gstalyzing
power that to-day Is nuhs.. ~ the DOM
inant political force of the s. tie.
1t is but just to the Rep lblicans of
1877 that this review sho Id II given -
They were neither faint-h sarte nor want
ing in conviction then, nor ara they now.
They knew then how to ke care of
themselves. and they know now how to
demean themselves as citizens of the
State, devoted to her interests and anx-
ious to promote them. They have no cpl
thets to hurl at their political opponents,
but prefer to, treason with them and pre-
sent arguments and facts for their consd-
Grafton, that the policies and measures
they sustain may be accepted as best for
all the people of the Commonwealth. But
they will resent any rejection upon their
party fealty in 1877. or at any other time,
and defend themselves from assaults from
within or without.
The VIRGINIAN was no inactive agent
in the policy adopted in 1877, nor in the
reforms that were effected as the results
of that policy. Its editorials made up the
Scrap books of half of the public. speakers
who labored for the relief Of the State
from the improvident and parti2an legisla-
ton of the opposing party of that day,
and it claims to have been the pioneer in
educating public sentiment up to its pres
| ent liberal and practical condition, as it
relates to the political questions which
now constitute the creed of the Republi-
can party. It stood firm to it's colors in
the darkest days Of political strife in the
State. and now when the conditions are
more propitious and encouraging, it is not
willing that those who stood by it and
walked with unfaltering step through a
political and social hell. should rest under
the imputation of having proved false to
their party and its principles. And the
''old guard y who passed through the fiery
furnace of persec ution and ostracism. will
not prove false to themselves .or to the
cause they upheld amid the political storms
which tried mems souls, now that the
horizon is brighter and the promise Of the
future more suspicious. They did not go
tout of business in 1877. nor in 1880, nor
at any other time. There has not been a
campaign since 1872 wherein were not pro-
claimed the principles and measures they
believed in, and every success that has
been achieved by the opponents OF the
Democratic party. since 1877 has simply
given evidence of tho wisdom Of the pol.
icy adopted in that year. Direction has
been reached, sometimes, by indirection,
it is true, but none the less an attestation
of the righteousness of the position the
Republicans maintained in regard to essen
tial State questions aud a yindication of
any seeming Indifference to distinct party
nomenclature. They are willing to stand
upon their record and defend it against all
assailants.