Volume 18 , Issue 31

Walking With Sweet Silly Sadie

As NW Okie says this week, "Today the Democrats & Republicans are opposite of what they were in 1884. In Virginia they had the "Virginia Bourbons," the Readjusters" and the "Mahone Mahoneites." The Readjusters were formed into the Republicans of Virginia. The Republicans were the complete opposite of what they have become in the 21st century, though.

Found on Newspapers.com

The Champion had from the inception of what had been called the "Mahone movement," in Virginia, stood by it. It had never joined with a small class of Republican papers, which had constantly abused Gen. Mahone, apparently because the swallow-tailed Bourbons of Virginia did so, and they deemed it genteel and high-toned to echo it.

The Champion had seen in the Readjuster or coalition movement in Virginia, the first political move in the South which promised success for Republican principles. So universal suffrage and universal education were secured, The Champion had not thought it proper to sit back and carp and object and cavil about flags and names.

All that had been done, so far, in Virginia, to maintain equal rights and good government had been done under the Readjuster banner. But the inevitable had happened. The policy of settling the State debt of Virginia, which gave the Readjuster party its name, having been accepted, even by the Bourbons, there was no longer use or meaning in the name of Readjuster, and the party had raised the Republican banner, and henceforth would form a part of the great Republican party of the country back in 1884.

This interesting event took place at Richmond on the 23rd inst., on the occasion of the meeting of the State Convention called by the committee of which Gen. Mahone was chairman, and by the Republican State Committee. The convention, it may be remarked, was a very large one, all the counties in the State, save four, being represented.

The convention made the following declaration in its platform: Whereas, the republican party of the Untied States has been and now is the steadfast advocate of the principles and politics here declared, the only national party whose organization has given countenance, encouragement and support to the cause of liberalism in Virginia - liberalism which secures a real republican form of government - for that true spirit of Democracy that aspires to the greatest good for the greatest number.

Therefore, we, the representatives of the people, comprising the Coalition party of Virginia, in convention assembled, do declare: First - That from and after this day our party shall be known as the Republican party of Virginia; that in national affairs we shall follow the banner of the National Republican party, and shall support with zeal and fidelity its nominees for President and Vice-President.

The principles endorsed in other sections of the platform were not new; they were the same that Gen. Mahone and his followers had contended for all along, "Unwavering loyalty to the Union," one and inseparable; "an honest ballot and a fair count;" and "free education for all classes of people;" and to these is added, "that we demand a protective tariff, so that the manufacturing and mining industries of Virginia in common with those of the other States of the Union, may continue to grow and prosper."

The delegates at large named by the convention were Gen. Wm. Malone, Wm H. Pleasants, (colored), S. M. Yost, James D. Brady and A. A. Dobson. Of these Messrs. Yost and Brady had always been active Republicans, and Mr. Yost was a member of the Republican National Committee.

Patience has had its perfect work. Virginia in 1884 was now had a Republican party strong enough to do something. Once the name Republican would have driven from he progressive movement many white Virginians. But it would no do so now or henceforth. The light of intelligence had penetrated the State. Men saw clearly, and were not to be frightened by old scares. Henceforth, Bourbonism in Virginia had a untied and powerful enemy, and Bourbonism would go to the wall. Let North Caroling go next.

Good Night! Good Luck! Remember, "Love conquers Hate!"
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