The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-11-21
A Timely Warning.

not SO mucU IHe oNluellce Oi dNe0tioii
'or the Democracy as it was a singing
warming to the Republicans. National
interests were not directly involved i'll
it, Every one knew that the eiee-
ton of Governor or a Legislature, dld
not necessarily affect. i'll the least, ma
tional legislation. The cardinal princl-
pies of the Republican party were not
at issue. 1t was an on
year, time when the people address
occasionally, to giving OBJ
ject:lessons to the politicians, and if needs
be trouncing them into little common
sense and common modesty. They re
cognize the policy and the propriety OF
national management experimenting
and directing national elections through
out the States. Where there are no ma
tional issues directly at stake, the peo-
pie of each State reserve the right TO
manage their own affairs i'll their own
way and look upon outside interference
as an impudent obtrusion. When purely
State matters are involved, it is out OF
into State canvass to force upon the
people obnoxious State Officers-lmere
political Adventures, who. like Dugald
Dalgetty, fight for spoils and have no
higher aim in politics than the plumber
that may be gained.
When such a usurpation OF right is
transparent, the resentment becomes
contagious. A fragrant manifestation
of it attracts the attention OF the coun-
try. and concern soon becomes general
upon a subject SO intimately related to
home rule and home interests. The
plan and purpose of the chairman OF
t he National Committee to force upon
the people of Virginia man for Coy
ernor whom they despise and who has
not the first qualification for patriotic
and impartial discharge of the duties of
that high position, not only revolted the
public consciousness here, but generated
a kindred feeling throughout the Union.
1t was a bold step in the wrong direction.
1t was taken so openly and famed be-
fore the country so prominently that ali
men saw and understood it. 1t was a
proposition to pass beyond the limits OF
caution and safety. 1t was an invasion
of the domestic concerns of il sovereign
State, and declared purpose TO force.
by outside machinery and outside lntlu-
ence, the acceptance of il Chief Magia-
trate, at the dictation of those who had
no real interests in the matter. and
would not have to bear any Of the re-
sponsibilities that would necessarily fol-
low. 1t was a violation OF an important
principle in our political system. as well
as an assault upon the domestic and
social organism of a Commonwealth.
The Virginia contest was the first in
the States TO attract attention this fall.
The discussion pertaining to the call for
a Convention, had aroused an interest
all over the country. Before the other
States which held elections in Novem-
Der, had given the subject concerted
thought. the fight was well on in Nir-
ginia 1t had commenced really i'll
Washington, and skirmishing there had
lie attention was absorbed in it. 1t was
to be the great movement to break the
''solid South" A political dead beat
who had been bombarding the depart
ments and marshalling his clans about
the hotels and in the corridors of the
capitol was chosen as the instrument. II
was novel scheme. and its very novelty
gave it unusal notoriety.
Conservative Republicans everywhere
looked upon the precedent as dangerous
Very few of the leading journals of thai
party in the North gave it countenance
They did not approve the policy, MOI
did they have confidence i'll the Instru
ment. He was too we'll known. and il
was rightly concluded that if the solid
South had to be broken by humiliatine
people and paralyzing their material
interests by placing over them a petty
despot, there would be more danger il
success than in defeat. Consequently
the wealth and intelligence among the
Republicans of the country generally
looked upon it as dangerous expert
ment and as repugnant to decency as il
was dangerous, politically.
Sagacious politicians clearly saw that
the success of such a scheme in State
like Virginia, would inject into the ma
tional organiza tion and the next nation
al campaign an influence of doubtful
expediency. if not of harmful portent
This feeling and conviction radiated
from Washington to the other States
and in a more or less degree affectedsthe
results in them. 1t was the precedent
that shocked the sense of fairness and
security of conservative Republicans
everywhere. 1t was the most obnoxious
form of Bossism 1t was an ill-digested
plot to force upon an unwilling people a
dangerous and despised man. But few
in the State could be found to publicly
champion his cause. and they under
pay. Speakers from distance were
sent in to tell the people what they
wanted and what they should dozen
tlemen who knew nothing, comparative
ly, about our local affairs and the condi-
tions which exist, and could not intelli-
gently discuss the matters directly in
volved. They plead for national poll
cies, which had no practical connection
with the interests at issue-the very life
of sthe Commonwealth. They were
coached and crammed with falsef1ood
by the mercenary place hunters and
conspil ators, whose sole aim and ambi-
ton was Office and spoils. By such they
were guarded and policed to keep them
from obtaining information of the
true condition of affairs and public
sentiment from those who would have
told them the truth. They were thus
misled and deceived into making all
kfnds of statements as to the prevailing
sentiment, and induced, to give express
sions as to the result of the election
whichsfad not single fact to sustain
them. I'm this way well meaning men
were deceived and made to appear be-
fore the country as the dupes of a set of
designing tricksters and demagogues.
who are indifferent alike to the welfare
of the Republican party and the Com
monwealth.
To our mind, this Virginia campaign