Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1848-05-11

principles, anu the uDSHdkeH coustdh-
cy Of the democratic masses in supper
ting them, we also regard tina: course
as eminent'y. wise and statesman-like,
even upon the lower ground of expedi-
'ency; for the tendency of a free people
must always be to trust a party ,ch'ch
thus dares to trust itself. Sojudging,
we hope that the coming convention
will in like manner soIemnly re-affirm
our old party position, BY adopting, as
its platform of action; the general Ieso.
lutions Of 1914.
Butas the campaign Of 1914 had its
new issue in the question of Texas and
Oregon, so the coming campaign is TO
have it's new and noble incident in the
patriotic and victorious issue of the
War. On this great issue of national
Justice and honor, and on the question
: of territorial indemnify involved in it,
no one doubts that our convention
will, withou: one whisper of disssN,
make proclamation of its convic,ions1h
full harmony with that mighty impulse
of patriotism which, during the past
two years, has stirred to its very depths
the whole heart of the democracy, and
which, by the grandeur of IFS achieve.
ments, in covering the name of GU" ma
ton with new glory, and operng 10
our civilization and our power new
and mighty extension, has formed per-
haps the most commanding distinction
even of this administration, fruitful as
it has been of great and memorable re-
suits! In view of this paramount is
sue, our opponents must stand con-
fused, discounted, and almost defeated
beforehand. No subterfuge, no trick,
no letter, nor series of letters, got up
for the convention at Philadelphia, can
save them. The wings, whether on
the Lexington platform, or some other
non committal platform, will be and
must be at once known and doomed as
the party that opposed their country in
her just and glorious acar!
In turning from this topic to the
resolutions Of 1910 and 1874, wecan
congratulate the democracy that the
most important Of them seem at this
moment to have dictated the existing
Legislation of the country and the whole
domestic policy of the present admins
tration. The fourth and sixth resolu-
tons are now on the statute book of
the country, in the tariff of 1916 and
the constitutional treasury. The mo-
mentous and delicate topic embraced
in the seventh resolution has been
promptly and manfnlly met in a spirit
of wise craftsmanship, either in the re-
corded opinions or the recent declara-
lions of those leading men of our party,
towards whom the public eye has been
principally turned in vies of the COM
ing nominations. The veto messages
of the President on the subject of in.
ternal improvement have given the full
lest and most conclusive development
to the great principle embodied in the
second. Never since this government
{ was established, has any administra-
;, ton been truer than the present to the
principles and the pledges on which it
came into power. Whatever may be
said of it hereafter, either by friend or
foe, this, its great praise of absolute f.
deity to the recorded principles of the
party that made it, can neither be gain
said nor denied. For one, we do not
entertain the slightest doubt that an
enlightened pos'erity will do its great
merits full justice. No administration
has had more TO do. None has done
its duty better.
Under circumstances veil known
and appreciated at the tim, and in
reference to the pledges aid instruc-
tions under which majoriy of the
members of the convention IF 1914 as.
sembled, the one term prindple, when
i brought before that body, I'D not re-
ceive its formal sanction, tough the
prevalent feeling and purpee on the
subject were not misunderstood or con-
cealed. In that feeling an purpose,
the. President, in his reply tcthe letter
ofthe committee of the Baltimore Con-
vention, early declared his most cor
dial and entire concurrence. He de-
clared his resolution, if elected, to re-
tire to private life at the end of four
years. Among the distinguished and
well-tried men, who. in view Of this
principle, have been prominently nam
ed as candidates to succeed himlin the
highest office in the gift of the people,
there is not one whose principles and
abilities do not give the amplest guar
anty of an administration al once hon.