The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-23
Doogirg the Issues.

Necessity il saig! O lie the .ietber Of ill.,
yention. II is SO in physical science, as
well as in pnliticisi emergencies. ana the
latter is illustrated IL the present canvass.
The growing sentiment III this district IN
favor Of protection to home industries lnd
to public education, us expressed III the
Blair educational bill, entered largely INTO
the influences why Hon. John Randolph
Tucker declined to allow his name to he
Convention for denomination. 1t was
deemed by one wing of the party that he
did not represent in his votes il Congress
and the sentiments he publicly expressed,
his party in the 10th district, and that his
nomination would endaDger its success in
the pending canvass. In StauntOn gen
eral hue and cry was gotten up Tor Capt.
James Bumgardner as the successor OF Mr..
Tucker, without lnquiring how he stood
on the questions as to which Mr.. fuckers
views were condemned, notwithstanding
he had defended Mr.. fuckers record both
on the Blair bill and the tariff Issue. 1t
was represented in the Lexington Conven-
tion that the people of Augusta almost
without regard to party, were in his favor,
and that the primaries to elect delegates
were largely attended, when in fact. in
some of the districts there was such
meagre representation that selections had
to be made outside of the attendance
This, however, was not unusual, and it is
only mentioned to show the exuberance
which controlled some of the delegates at
Lexington. Capt. Bumgardner was NOM
mated under flattering auspices, and the
compliment bestowed upon him was de-
served from personal standpoint. But
now that he is in the field and has address
ed the people on several occasions, what do
we find ? If we have read Alright the re-
ports of his speeches. we can see but little
difference between the position he has
taken on the tariff, internal revenue and
the Blair bill, and that for which Mr.. Tuck
er was censured by some of his party
This seems to be recognized by his friends
and consequently they are seekingto change
the issues from the practical things of to-
day to the obsolete and almost forgotten
events OF thirty years ago. They 60 back
to the reconstruction period, and are at
tempting to drag the events and feelings
of that time into this canvass as a substi-
tute for the current questions which now
divide parties and address themselves to
the consideration of the people as directly
affecting their business interests
The Vandicdtor, which led in the fight
against Mr.. Tucker because of his views
on the tariff and the Blair bill, man9uyers
to divert attention from these vital ques-
tions, to others not germane to this canvass
aud delude the people into the belief that
there is some occult design upon the South
in the candidacy of the Republican nomi-
| nee. It quotes from the VIRGINIAN sew
eral editorials written by the senior editor
| in regard to the suppression of the popu-
| lar vote in some of the Southern States,
and the danger that lies hidden in this
disregard of the constitutional rights of
| the citizen and the equality of the States.
| in their representation in Congress and the
Electoral College. The editorials from
which our contemporary quotes were writ
ten in the interest Of the South, and to
warn the people against the mischievous
policy of reckless leaders, who seem to care
nothing for consequences, so they can sue
coed to power. They were appeals to the
people of the South to take their own affairs
| in their own hands and rebuke the
harmful methods employed to deny con-
stitutional rights, that personal and parti-
IAN ends might be accomplished, and re-
move all cause for sectional controversy
and animOsities. The writer of those edi-
torials has nothing to modify in them
They embody the true policy for the South
the manly and patriotic course to pur-
sue: and have met with the approval of
some of the soundest and most patriotic
citizens of both parties, whose attention
had Eeen called to them. Not only this,
but if we are to judge from recent occur
rences in the South, the people there are
moving against the professional politicians
who have been misrepresenIing her true
interests, and inviting them down and out
from their seats in Congress. In Missis-
sippi, South and North Carolina, Louisi-
ana, Texas and other of the States of the
South, new men have been called to the
front, through District Conventions, and
present members of Congress notified to
retire because of their hostility to South
ern interests in their votes for free trade
and against national aid to public educa-
ton and the repeal of the internal revenue
laws. These questions were not allowed
to enter into political contests there few
years ago, but the people are awakening to
their material interests, and the self-ap
pointed leaders who have resorted to lille
Ultimate means to secure power, are dis
missed from legislative trusts.
1t is not difficult to understand this ruse
of our contemporary. After having made
war upon Mr.. Tucker, because of his views
on the tariff and educational questions, it
is found that the present nominee stands
substantially where Mr.. Tucker stood,and
that to be consistent on this point, it
would be proper to urge the same objection
to Capt. Bumgardner that was presented
against Mr.. Tucker. To avoid this, the
effort is made to direct attention from the
practical questions of the Interpretations
in which the people of this district are d.
rectly interested, and deceive the public
into the belief that there is really some
plot Matching against the South. and that
the Republican candidate is implicated in
it. This is too transparent to mislead any
one. and our neighbor is welcome to all he
can make out of it. Neither is the ''bloody
shirt'' a factor in this contest. The peo
pie have lived away from the RECONSTRUCT
tion period-from the hates and passions
of the war, and are looking to the present
and the future, and the policies and legis-
latlon best adapted to improve conditions
and develop resources, for the benefit of
Virginia and especially the 10th district
1t is damaging confession as to all the
political questions at issue. to seek to ig-
more them and bring up irrelevant matters
or appeal to sectional passion and prejudi-
ce, when the things Of the present call for
action and legislation, looking to material
results and the welfare of the people. 1t
is dodge that will not mislead, nor will
If ho NV fho