The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-08-01
Breaking the Solid South.

aged that this can be done by brute
orce-the indiscriminate and lavish use
If money, backed by the power of po-
itical organization outside of the State. ;
under this impression, they
accept any assurance from the South,
that the solid Democratic condition OF
the Southern States can be broken
through the means thus indicated, OPP
Grated by local organization and assumed
leaders, who possess audacity and ego
tism enough to warrant them in prom
ising the most phenomenal results, II
they are only backed by outside money
and power.
We do not underrate the influence OF
money, properly used in elections, or
the moral support of organized power
in other States. If either or both are
properly directed and their use con-
trolled by a high sense of duty, they
materially aid in local movements and
organizations, and the legitimate presen-
tation of the principle and policies they |
represent There are few intelligent men
who are not willing to listen to dlspas-
sionate, honest frank and manly argu-
inent, whether they agree with the pre-
mise and deduction or not. Ii by the
process of attrition, an impression Is
made, it does not arouse passion ana
stimulate luminosity. On the contrary
it invites inquiry, calm thought and fair
comparison, opening the way for cons
viction and an honest determination. 1t
is by the force of such legitimate argu-
ments that progress has been made by
the Republican party in Virginia. Inc
principles of that parry, upon their
merits, will to-day command the appro-
val of the majority of the Intelligent
voters of the Stats. But this will not
find expression through tbs hallQt box,
under the operation of force or merce-
nary agencies, or the introduction OF
outside influence engineered by calcu-
lating partizans, and projected into the
campaign, not with the primary purpose
of advancing the interests at the Com
monwealth, but to secure paftizan ad-
vantage for selfish ends. The popular
mind can be approached through legiti-
mate appeals and friendly methods, when
the purpose is apparent to benefit the
/ State and institute policies that will
contribute to material progress. There
is something i'm such means that inspires
respect, awakens interest, and not I'M
/ frequently changes opinion by the force
! of conyictisss, But these results cannot tie
effected by coerelye aslsasulres, or by deal
ing with the questions at issue as though
they were matters of mercenafy com-
merce. to be determined by the amount
of Doodle to be used, or the degree of
foeee employed.
While WE believe Virginia is a Repub-
lican State, eonie 6 fair expression OF
opinion be had upon the priAciples and
policies of the party, we are very sure
through the ia.eaps now contemplated.
! When the destiny OF d great State is the
stake of dicker, or the prize Of con-
tention for a less motive than the public
welfare. it may be taken as settled that
the verdict of the people will be decided
and overwhelming. This solid South
cannot be broken in that way. A great
Commonwealth cannot be auctioned off
to the highest bidder, or her destiny dis
posed of as tba result of a sharper's deal
with loaded dice. Sog is it in keeping
with the splendid record Of the Repub-
lican party-its great achievements in
the field Of statesmanship-its progress
sive purposes, and high ideal of mans
mobility and the dignity of human rights,
for it to seek companionship with such
groveling, debasing, ignobie INFLUENCES.
Its history is the eXemDlication of
the moral force of broad principles, as
they affect the integrity of the govern
ment ana human progress, and it can
not maintain its traditional morale
and inspire public confidence when it
forsakes the exalted plane it has evef
occupied. Mercenary politicians may con-
coct their schemes and lay their plans to
barter away the rights of a people for
mess of pottage, but they cannot deliver
/ the goods. They may essay TO play with
the dearest interests of great Common
wealth. as they would with the stake at
poker table, to be determined by the
expert manipulation Of a marked deck,
/ but they cannot transfer the manhood
of people as trophy of the deal.
The solid South may be broken by the
attrition of legitimate argument and the
force of beneticent policies, operating
upon the reason and the higher inter
ests of the people, but IT can never be
effected through the means Of a disrep=
utable bargain or the use of mercenafy
/ agencies such as would revolt the in
| stincts Of a brave and self-respecting peo-
pie. Party lines would be effaced in
such an issue. Party trammels would
be snapped as if straw party obliga-
tions spurned as debasement of all that
party means, and a wicked perversion
of the duty that party association i'm
plies.
However desirable it may be and is, as
a means to the future welfare of the
| South, that its political solidity should
be broken, it can never be done by brute
force, or the employment of any means
inconsistent with the self-respect, the
manhood and the dignity of the South
ern people. 1t can be done by legitimate
processes, by the influences which affect
other communities and which comport
with what is due to the free citizens of
every State, and III that way alone. The
! task masters lash no longer ipcites fear
in those who were amenable to its strokes,
under barbarous and cruel social and
legal system, and the negroes, as much
as they are attached to the Republican
party, will feel released from obligations
to it when the purpose is manifested to
traffic in the destiny of their native
State, and transfer them to subjuga-
ton equally if not more calling, now
that they have felt the inspiration of
freedom, and realize that they owe ale
gience to neither the task master of hu=
man flesh, or to the political boss, who
would enslave their reason and their con
science, to carry out plot to humiliate
the land that gave them birth, and to
which they bear common devotion and
in which they labor fora common pros
perity.
We respectfully ask that those who