The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-03-16
The Two Parties.

SCENTS no parallel to the organization OF modern
Democracy. Barren Of any governmental
principles, presenting no policy Of admin:stra-
ton, and grouping and fioundcring in the
murky nEzes of doubt and uncertainty, it
makes no appeal to the Judgment and con-
science of the country. but seeks alone to
stimulate vitality by exciting the worst pas
sions OF human nature and feeding upon the
foul ISLANDERS that come Of parlizan despera-
ton.
With 4 majority in the lower branch Of Con-
gross, OH the assembling OF that body, numer
cas- investigating committees were organized
and drag net thrown out to gather mp all the
9th and corruption that could be found. Al
ter three months labor. they have succeeded in
finding one guilty official. Upon this they
prrciptately rush before the country with prin-
ted handbills and circulars. and send out their
most blatant speakers to proclaim to the coun-
try tue downfall Ct the Republican party and
the sure triumph of the Democracy
But in the zenith Of their enthusiasm they
are confronted with the suspicion that they
have unearthed more than they bargained for.
The name of Mr.. Geo. II. Pendleton. promi-
nent democratic aspirant for the Presidency, is
ineonveniently associated with Il railroad ac-
count against the government, allowed by the
late Secretary OF War, after it had been reiec-
ted by his predecessor, with the intimation that
Mr.. Pendltton pocketed, for his pfivate use, a
considerable portion of the allowance. The
circumstances attending the allowance require
explanation.
Gov. Hendricks, another Presidential aspi-
rant in the Democratic party, is mentioned as
being interested. as U. S. Senator, in the Cat
lin gun contract.
Mr.. Randall, the democratic chairman of the
Appropriation Committee, comes in for his
share of suspicion iii connection with the Phil-
adelpha Navy yard, and it is confidently sta
ted, if there has been any favorteism or cor
ruption in that department., he will not escape
the coltagion.
Mr.. Whittemore, the democratic chairman OF
the Naval Committee, is also unpleasantly
mentioned in this connection.
Mr.. Clymer is shown to haze acted with
criminal carelessnesss il not cor, upton, in the
discharge OF the witness Marsh, and the other
democratic members of the committee to nves-
tigate the war department have failed in high
| duty to the country in not com Yleting and cs-
tabiishing their chain Of testimony before rush
ing before tie country with half made up
case. Their conduct has all the appearance of
eonniving at the defeat of the ends of justice.
! These Investigations, however. constitute the
stock in trade OF the Democratic party. They
were instituted for the purpose of attracting
the country from the utter want OF any defir-
ed principle or policy Of government admin r
tration that characterized that organization. -
1t was expected to go before the country with
record Of having exposed Republican corrup-
tons, not calculating for the short comings OF
its own members. and by that means to COM
mend the Democratic party to the approval Of
the masses. But the sequel will show that the
Republican party has been Infinitely more Wig
liant and ;lneosnpromising in discovering cor.
Yupticn ami publishing the wrong doefs, than
the Democracy will dare be. This it has done,
| with no reference to party considerations, 9th.
err than to vindicate the honesty and fearless
ness of its purposes. It las acted from con-
viction Of duty, from patriotic impulses tina;
comprehend the interests of the government
and the dignity and honor OF the American
nation.
The sensations which have been Industrious
ly agtated by the democratic press, in eonsc
quenee Of the sad fall of Belknap, will soor
subside. The country will then have no diff
Guilty in weighing and understanding the mo-
tiyes of the democratic leaders. who have CHI
deavored to present themselves as par excel
lence the champions of honesty and integrity
The history Of that arty is net a hidden mys
terry Its deceptions and expedients are no
for the first tine brought to the attention o
the people. They are as familiar as household
words, and there will hayc to be some more
convincing evidence Of their purity and patriot
ism than has yet been developed. to assure the
country that the Democratic party is the prop
cr custodian Of the great interests of this great
nation.
There are Issues involving the fundamental
principle Ct American institutions which will
be brought into the foreground in the coming
national contest. The democratic party will
have to define its position upon the finance
question, the adjustments of the war, and the
laws in consonance Herewith. They will not
| DE a1lOWeQ TO, Qfl1C away from Tue discussions
OF these plore substantial and vital questions
and inllame the feelings of the people by tllt
superficial clap-trap that for tie moment has
stimulated their hopes.
There could not be more delusiye fallacy
than to suppose for a moment that tlse Ameri-
can people will embrace the Democratic party
as now organized and controlled, with its TO
| litical hegesies and. crimes. Yhey cannot be
carried away by superficial excitement in a
great contest of that kind. When the issue is
presented of placing the management of this
great government under the direction of the
very party that attempted to destroy it, OF
conidng it to that party that rescued it froEl
the very jaws of ruin, there will be but little
hesitancy in the determination. Especially
will this be the case when the developments
/ within the last few months are brought into
consideration, and the nlteranccs of the DEM
ocratic leaders weighed. To accept the Dem
ocratic party as the guardian of The interests of
| the country, would be to surrender the very
| ideas which triunphed in var: reverse the
decisions of the battlefield and the forum. and
naugurate the theory OF government TO main
tain which the Southern states madly discover
/ = 81, J,+s.