The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-09-12
HThis Way, Freemen.

'This Way, Freemen.
Those words sounded the death knell
of Mahoneism. 1t has been dying ever
since. Its sins were great, and, unlike
it is having SLOW and pam
full DEATH its end is near. The hand
writing was set upon the wall at the ut
terance of that appeal in 1881, and from
that moment moribundity has had firm
grasp upon the heart Of Mahoneisln.
In every subsequent election, III which
has thrust its personality
it,
Does any one forget the occasion when
that invocation burst from the lips OF
Captain Newberry? A Legislature had
been elected. The Readjusters had car
ried that body by decided majority;
and the session was in full course of pro-
ceeding A singular fact was presently
developed to the amaZement OF the pub
lie. Mahoneism had addressed itself,
before the election, to each of its servlle
candidates, and demanded and eXacted
of them pledge in advance, that they
should go to Richmond without opin-
ions. will, or purpose of their own, but
as subservient tools of Mahoneism. They
were to carry with them none of the
functions, independence or discretion OF
chosen agents of the people of the cities
nd .At,ntinc hI,t To tO RIrb-
mond pledged to do obediently and
blindly the bidding of caucus Here is
the pledge:
81 -, hereby pledge myself to stand by the
Readjuster party and platform and to go into
caucus with the ReadjuSter members OF the
Legislature that meets in Richmond, and vote
for all measures, nominees, and candidates TO
be elected by the Legislature as the caucus may
agree upon. Given under my hand and seal
this - day of September, 1881.
There were some Readjuster candi-
dates for the Legislature to whom Ma
honeism dared not to PROFOUND this ser
vile pledge. but men wearing masters
collars, bearing masters name, were there
in force 1t was in one of the meetings
of the caucus that the fact was finally
developed to the comprehension of in
dependent and unpledged Readjusters,
that the majority of the members had
no will of their own or power of in
dividual action, but that in the proceed
ings the resolves of the caucus were pre-
determinedfo for it by some hidden hand
on the outside. When this fact became
evident and self-respecting Readjusters
found themselves concerning with men
who were the mere pawns upon chess
board moved from the rear by the fine
they revolted, they kicked, they obeyed
the talismanic call of their intrepid
leader--''ttis aoay free,ne1 ''-and
mached out of caucus, forever, forever.
Then and there Mahoneism lost the
prestige which it had derived from the
cooperation of manly, independent
honest and patriotic men, and was re-
vealed to the world as the machine of a
Boss, operated by himself for his perso
nal interests and purposes.
/ The fine Italian hand of the little Gen
/ eral appeared in the artful manner liz
/ which the word measures was slipped
into the pledge he exacted of his liege
men. By this cunning trick they not
only engaged themselves to support the
nominees of caucus, but agreed in adj
vance to play dumb in the legislative
hall, and to accept in caucus any legis
lation which the arch matchmaker who
stood behind it, should weave out of his
own brain and order it to be adopted, as
the law of a great Commonwealth.
If in the history of constitutional gov
eminent any device more -audacious
more vicious, or more destructive of Re
| publican institutions was ever concocted
or divulged, it is beyond our knowledge
or imagination. No wonder there Were
brave Virginians who responded in pha
/ lanx to the call-"Ihas aray Freeme71 =
| In November next men of the same
character will rally by thousands to hich
the machine into everlasting perdition.