The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-07-03
Southern Republicans.

least doubt that frauds are committed
in some of the Southern States, which
prevent fair expression of public opin-
ion, and return Democratic members OF
Congress where Republicans would he
chosen with a fair election and an honest
count. A central question involved in
the bill now under consideration in Con-
gress is its neutrality-suspicious. any
thing would be gained 10y its enactment,
and whether it could be enforced were
it enacted. We are very sure it would
be followed by strife and contention and
bloodshed We know generally who get
hurt in such issues. Taking the past as
a guide, the record would be sensation
about negro aggression and negro
rising a conflict in which one or two
white Democrats would have their shins
skinned. and a dozen or two negroes
killed, and in the long run as many
Democrats elected as has been the case in
the past. Indeed, we believe the passage
of the Lodge bill would reduce the num-
berof neutrality-suspicious.; throw
some of the Southern States into turmoil
and disorder; material progress be arrest
ed, and harm generally be effected.
We do not think that such legislation
would have tendency to break the
solid South. If the Republicans in Con
gress, instead of introducing bills calcu-
lated to irritate the public mind, would
y L. ~ in
their National platform-pass the Blair
educational bill and wipe out the to-
bacco tax-interests which come directly
home to every family almost. and to ev-
cry ramification of the social and in
trial systems, much surer guarantee
would be furnished of Republican prog
ress in the South. AS to such legislation
there could be no question as to its en-
forcement, nor would there be doubt
about the salutary effects that would
follow. For them to determine to act
adversely on these two important meas
ures or lines of policy, and then intro
duce force bill. in the hope OF con-
trolling Southern elections, does not look
very much like disposition to help the
Republicans of the South or the South
itself. Nor does it point to the growth OF
the protective sentiment in the South,
and it's crystalization at the ballot box.
On the contrary, that sentiment is
dwarfed in the presence of much more
aggravating issue, and injury is done to
the Republican cause in double sense.
Every mine that is opened; every fur
mace that is erected; every mile OF rail
road that is constructed; every industrial
plant that is located. is a voice and an
argument in favor of protection and Re
publican policy. Supplement this with
liberal legislation for the improvement
of the mental condition, the enlighten-
ment of the ignorant; for the relief Of
the farming. classes in the removal of
an unjust tax upon their products;
and II would in peaceful and legit-
innate way do more to bring about the
conditions which enforce fair elections,
than all the force bills that could he
passed from now until doomsday.
Let the Republicans in Congress show
the ir concern for the South and the Re
publicans of the South by passing the
educational bill and greatly reduee,if not
abolish, the tobacco tax-measures that
they are committed to in their National
platform, and they will go far to-
wards weakening the safeguards OF the
Democratic party and breaking the
lines that keep the South solid. A>
Let the Administration take d practi-
| cal, patriotic view of the conditions In
the. South; turn its back upon the pro
fessional place hunters In the Republi
can party, who care nothing for the
party or the South except to make what
they can out of the Federal patronage,
and recognize the conservative element
! OF the party, who have the confidence
of the people, and it will largely assist
in undermining the entertainments OF
the solid South.
Let Republicans generally OF the
North, and especially the Administras
| tion, think more of the welfare of the
Southern people; their material progress
and social order, than they do of pocket
delegations in the next National Con-
vention, and they will furnish some as
surance of a high purpose and honest con
Germ not only for the South, but for the
Republican party of the country and
the country itself.
We think we understand the purpose
in the minds of those who have intlu-
enced the Administration, and who have
directed its policy towards the South.
National Convention, and by that power
dictate the next Republican nomination.
Nearly all the Federal appointments in
the South under Mr.. Harrison's admin
istration justify this conclusion. We
have studied the signs of the times to
no purpose if this is not the case. And
we have wrongly diagnosed the result of
such conspiracy, if it does not bring dis
aster and defeat. The people of the
country will never willingly submit to
such tyranny-the election of candi-
date for the Presidency whose nomina-
ton was forced by States where not a
single electoral vote could be obtained.
| There has been manifested no practi-
cal craftsmanship by tie Republicans in
Congress in their dealings with South
ern interests. There has been shown no
political sagacity, either by the con
trolling influence in Congress or by the
Administration. in the measures that
have been considered and the appoint
ments that have been made. There has
been nothing done to which Republi-
cans can appeal for the support and
confidence of the Southern people. 1t
looks like a pre- determined purpose to
crush out Republicanism in the South,
and retain only the semhlance of organi-
zation, under the control of political mar
plots and mercenary place hunters, in
order to secure delegations in the next
National Convention. There is not a
single measure that has been introduced
or considered in which this policy has not
been demonstrated. There has scarcely
an effort that has been made that does
not carry along with it the evidence of a
| plot to work out selfish ends, regardless
of the genuine interests of the people.
Look at the facts. There is not a
|