Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-09-03
Entered at the Postoffice at Staunton,
Va, as second class mail matter.
Friday, S ept. 3, 1909
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

There is not only the bud, bat the
real flower of rebellion, against what is
known as Democratic methods in Vir-
ginia These are the methods Of the
Reorganization, the ruling, dominat-
ing element of the SO-CALLED Demo
cratic party in this State. Rebellion
has indeed broken out in real, if not
horrible form. 1t may prove a very
puerile affair in the end, indeed it may
be shown when the time arrives for it
to make demonstration which will
be at the approaching November cleo
ton that it is weakling unworthy of a
Something may occur to smoothe out
its present wrinkles. We cannot say.
We are asked "Why apprise the pub
lie of this rebellion if such there Isl"
Our answer to this question is that
whilst we are not Of it, we are going to
do little toward putting it down, moth
ing toward suppressing the truth of it.
We regard it to degree as a healthy
sign in the people.
In the first place it is the outgrowth
of the teachings of what have been
considered patriotic in the party's
greatest leader. Grover Cleveland in
1896 assumed that the Democratic par
ty which had given him place, power,
and renown, was drifting away from
proper moorings; so he "bolted," had
decoy ticket nominated, voted for it,
and ever after became and remained a
political freak, leader without par
ty, but the idol of what is our present
Virginia organization. Many leaders
in Virginia politics today have shouted
at Mr.. Cleveland's boldness, wisdom
and craftsmanship, and would do it
again if such could be. He left the
party, or the party left him, it makes
no difference for present purposes
which, on the single issue of silver, and
whilst the boilers who followed him
and the whole Republican party assert
that he was right, and the main body
of Democrats were wrong, the issue is
not yet ended, nor the question fully
settled. This is not, however, orr point
Our point is that the 'great high priest
of Democracy left his party, boltet
its nominee and called it patriotism
to the delight of the very men whC
now ask the Democrats of Virginia Il
stand by the party through thick an(
thin, through good report and evil re
port. This the party will not do, al
least it will not do so here in Staun
ton, and they have high authority fol
their action.
Now whether our disaffected Demo
Gratis will vote the Republican ticket o.
go ''a fishin'" we are not able to say
There will, we think, be some of ont
kind, and some of the other. This
much is certain, and the leaders had
just as well prepare for it, and by pre-
pairing for it we mean arrange to in
crease the majority elsewhere suffici
emily to offset the losses here. This
they can do in any manner seeming
best. They can work some of the pri.
mary lodges, they can increase the real
vote by that sort of juggling if not ac-
tual fraud, the heelers of the organiza-
ton so well know how to perform, and
did perform in the primary. To be
forewarned is to be forearmed we sup
pose, so they had as well get ready for
the inevitable
If we have few more changes in
our constitution the people will elect