The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-06-20
A Tip for the Democracy.

for Cove rnor. They have plethora Of
but this makes the problem
more difficult of solution O'Ferrall and
Harris from the Valley, and Beirne and
Mckenny from east of the Ridge, are the
most frequently mentioned, but neither
of them would prove winning candidate.
The Republicans, with most any nominee
of fairly constituted Convention, could
easily beat Beirne or O'Ferrall, deeply
tainted as they are with free trade. In
some portions of the east there might be
a rally on Beirne, on the race question,
but in the Valley, the rank and file Of the
Democracy could not be marshalled in
solid phalanx to the support OF any one |
whose sympathieS are with the free trade |
idea, and the race issue will have no notice |
able influence with the common-sense peo
pie of this portion of the State. McKin-
ney would be very apt to fall into the error
of most of the prominent Democratic
politicians of the eastern part OF the
State, of making race prejudice para
mount. That would be fatal to him, or
sponsibllity. Harris probably presents
more elements of strength than either OF
the gentleman we have named, except that
after a successful political career. he now
is on the side track. because he refused to
lead his party in 1880, when it was regard
ed bopless struggle. This has never
been forgotten. But Harris is not dead.
He is not one Of the dying kind so long as
he can breathe. His obituary might be
written the eighth time. but he would
come up smiling on the ninth occasion-ln
the Nirvina state, after passing through a.
political tpurgatory and turning back
summersault, light upon hts feet, whether
| the tariff, the debt, or any other issue is
pressed to the front, With either of these
4 gentlemen carrying the Democratic ban
ner, the Republicans with good ticket
would have almost certain victory.
| Gen. Billy Paine, whose name has been
! suggested for the Democratic nomination,
would be formidable candidate. but it is
understood that he does not want. and
would not accept it. He is one of those
| chivalric, genial, warm hearted gentle>
men. whom everybody likes. and as gifted,
mentally, as heiis brave and magnanimous,
| physically and morally. He would stir up
an enthusiasm that no one else could, and
would bring out the largest vote, on 10th
sides, ever cast in the State. But he is
! out of the question BY his own YOlition.
The tip we tender the Democracy is not
| in the interest of either of these
prominent Democrats. 1t looks to gen
/ tleman who just now, is out of a job, and
who has never been suggested or thought
OF in connection with the Governorship.
1 AS is known, the VIRGINIAN has the gift
! of reading the political stars, and when 1t
puts on. its studying cap can generally
foretell events, or outline a policy that
has the merit of popularity in it. We,
therefore, suggest tos the perturbed De-
mocracy that they come to the Valley and
nominate Judge Henry G. Allen, of Shen-
andoah, who has just resigned from the Of
| flee of U United States Attorney for the West
ern district of Virginia. He would close
the breach among the Democracy of the
Old Tenth Legion, occasioned by the an
tagonism between Harris and O'Ferrall.
He would rally the unterrified of the Valley
as no other man in the State could. When
Harris declined the nomination in 1880 for
Congress, and others to whom it was ten
| dered followed his example, Allen, yielding
tothe call of his party in an emergency and
4 recognizing his duty to obey its commands
under all circumstances, reluctantly con-
sented to make the campaign, although it
was regarded as certain that defeat would
| follow. He made splendid fight and sur
passed the most sanguine expectations of
his friends in the ability, earnestness and
/ adroitness with which he conducted the
contest. While he did not win. he sur
prised both parties by the closeness of the
4 vote, and the lessened majority for his
| Readjuster opponent. Not only did Allen
show his pluck and party devotion in that
notable conflict, but he is one of the clean
| est and ablest men in the State. He pos
I-sesses elements of strength that no other
i Democrat does, and would be the hardest
man to beat the Democrats could nominate
except Billy Payne.
I We have given this tip to the Democracy
| for several reasons If Allen should be
nominated. we would have decent CAM
| paign. He would indulge in no sensation
al appeals; would scorn to yillify and
SANDER his opponent. but would deal fairly
and frankly with ali the questions that
/ might be german to the contest. And
| should he be elected, he would assure to
the people an honest, conservative admin
istration-under which the rights of all
citizens would be respected, and the honor
of the State protected. so far as in him
| would lie. ''+'' '.N'
f. What the Republicans desire is to have
a manly discussion of the principles and
policies of the two parties. They desire
to discuss before the people legitimate.
. practical issues. and to appeal to the rea-
son and Judgment of the voters for a Just
aud impartial verdict at the ballot box.
With such a nominee as we hope they will
present, such a canvass would follow, if
Judge Allen were on the other side. Al
len would it is true, be the most formida-
bic man the Democracy could select. but
W., would prefer to have& close and even
doubtful contest. on such lines as would be
then drawn, to having a walk over, with
| the worst passions Of the people aroused,
and the interest of the Commonwealth |
jeopardized, Wewant to see one canvass. |
at least, before we shuttle off this mortal |
coil. that will reflect credit upon the com.
mon sense and conservative instincts of
the peopie-in which all citizens can par
ticipate, on one side or the other, without |
apprehension .of a food of biliingsgate
and SANDER, and where the participants |
on either side will be treated as citizens
of the State. with common interests and
animated by common motives of pa
triotisII.s ..i'sil .e-'efif4 -St-.r 80 -
~ We do not charge nything for this tip
to the Democracy. It will "a revelation
to most OF them that they have man of
T - HI. 4 |