Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-03-03

! passionate almost to brutality, induced to vict
by idleness, melted to violence by evil counsel
lors, fed and pampered at the public cost, with
great army for their protection roam at will
throughout the land upon mission of evil
carrying dismay to the hearts of helplessness
and innocence, and shocking civilization with
the worst of nameess crimes.
| Such is the condition OF the South.
| A military despotism is over her people.
| The hand of lawless violence threatens them
Desolation reigns on every hand. About
them are the graves of their countless dead.
| The past is strewn with the wreck of their
greatness.
| Present suffering surrounds them
| Their future is thick with peril and dark with
gathering misfortune.
| The foes of the nation are at her feet
Broken in spirit stripped OF fortune, wasted,
ragged wretched aud ruined, their situation
invoked the magnaliz.ity of kindred manhood
| and appeals to the generous mercy OF noble
| enemy.
| DISTRESS AT THE SOUTH PRODUCES PROSTRA-
TION AT THE NORTH.
The evil influence of bayonet reconstruction
| is not confined to the South.
The entire country feels it.
Northern business languishes for want of
Southern trade.
Northern factories are silent because South
ern pockets are empty
Western granares and storehouses are full,
but poverty possesses their ancient market, and
their former buyers are now begging bread.
A commercial crash is imminent, and busi-
ness stands still and trembles at the prospect.
The manufacturing interests of the nation are
crippled and almost crushed
The spindle Is motionless the shuttle is 81
lent; the forge and the furnace are deserted !;
the workshop is vacant the mill is closed.
The hands OF the artisan are unemployed and
empty; his children are starving, homeless, and
in rags.
The impoverishment of the South throws the
entire burden OF tac0tion upon the North and
West
The Southern States can render no assistance
while the Government grinds them with an
iron heel.
IF their people shared its benefits they would
be impelled to productive ability.
AS they partake only of its seventies, they
could not support it if they would, and SO long
as it oppresses them, if they are tit to be free
men, they would not support it if they could.
THE CONGRESSIONAL PURPOSE.
The declarations of leading Republicans in
Congress leave no room to doubt that the ac-
ton of that body has been taken with reference
to the future of the Radical party, rather than
the unity of the American Republic.
The National Legislature has become mere
machine for the manufacture of Radical major
tiles.
Its material is the worst and lowest class of
humanity, barely rescued from the brutality of
the savage state by contact with civilization.
A valuable adjunct In the work is the exclu
sion of white intelligence and experience from
participation in the Government.
The guarantee of success is the red right
hand of the War Department.
A system which is based upon negro stupid
ity, supported by bayonets, and designed to Sc
cure partisan triumphs through the enslave
ment of men Of our own race, may be instituted
here through force and fraud, but if it can en-
dure in this land, the American people have
learned liberty to no purpose, and well deserve
to be taught its value under the stern tutelage
Radical supremacy
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
In its management of our financial affairs,
the dominant party has enacted the grossest
folly and injustice
Repeated contractions of the currency have
caused incalculable commercial disasters.
A still more dangerous measure of contrac
tion is now proposed in the Senate, by which
the legal tenders are to be withdrawn from cir
culation and replaced by interest bearing bonds.
If property and business do not enter an ef-
fective protest, the result will be little short OF
general ruin.
THE NATIONAL DEBT.
The national debt amounts to So, 500 900, 900.
1t costs the holders ST ,25O,000.
The party in power would pay it in gold, dol
lar for dollar.
They would give to the bondholders cur
rency, different from and better than that used
by the people.
Specie for the money lenders and paper for
the masses is the end Of their financial policy.
A discrimination so palpable and unfair is an
insult to the popular sense of justice.
BY the terms Of the act of issue, greenbacks
are made legal tender for all debts public and
private, except duties on imports and interest
on the public debt
Even the soldiers of the Republic accepted
paper as the price of their tolls and hardships.
Is the patriotism of cash more valuable than
the public devotion, which fights, and bleeds,
and dies?
Labor receives its wages in paper; the pro-
ducts Of the farm, the goods of the. merchant,
professional fees, all prices and values among
the people, are paid in paper
If that kind of money is good for the masses,
good to buy all things, from the sweat OF labor
to the blood of valor, why should 1t not suffice
for the redemption of the Federal securities!
EXEMPTION OF THE BONDS.
Under Radical management, the bonds are
exempt from taxation. Receiving from the
Government the same protection with their
property they pay not dollar to its support.
Such exclusive privilege establishes an arls-
tocracy of money in the midst of Republic OF
labor.
Toll is taxed bonds are exempt.
Toll produces; bonds consume.
Toll builds our public Improvements; bond
holders enjoy their benefits at no cost.
Toll supports our schools; bondholders share
their advantages and pay nothing for the priv
ilege.
Toll supports our courts, pays our legislators,
and defrays the general expenses of the Gov
ernment; /; bondhoders partake of the blessings
of all and contribute to the sustenance of none
A policy which makes labor so completely
tributary to capital is anti-repubcan with eff
feet upon the masses. We greatly mistake the
temper of the people if they do not demand that
this wrong be promptly righted by such repeals
and enactments as will compel all property
alike to share the burdens of taxation.
THE REVENUE SYSTEM.
| Radicalism derives the bulk Of the Federal
revenue from home productions and the neces-
| saries Of life.
Over sixteen thousand articles, including al
most everything that supports life or lightens
| labor, are now the subjects Of taxation.
Hence the great disparity between wages and
the cost Of living.
| Frauds upon the revenue are another char
| acteristic of the present system.
| The laws are evaded the officers are bribed /;
| the country is robbed.
Ouar ono hundred millions of dollars were