The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-10-26

dsItbtttNJs 'tt' vs." P'sesAtIN A>'S'' ~ St.S /
nation is redeemed in the full and practical
recognition Of the rights OF man, and the
faithful and jealous establishment OF the
credit Of the government in the discharge OF
nations life. Assuming that the Republican
party has no principle, and thai the suspen-
sion of its policy Of aggression, would prove
its death, he proceeded, with an cflrontery
and unblushing impudcnce We have never
seen equallci, to declare that the Demo-
cratic party stood upon the Constitution,
was Constitutional party, and that the only
hope of Constitutional freedom was through
its administration ard control Of the govern
ment.
II Mr.. Holiday had In his mind the Con-
stitution as it now is, then he was simply de-
claring that the principles of the Republican
party were the safeguards Of Republican free
dom, for as that instrument now reads, with
the 18th. l4th and 10th amendments, it is the
work Of the Republican party. The broad
and general declaration OF the speaker OIL
this point, left his audience in doubt as to
precisely what he was aiming to accomplish.
If the Constitution is the great bulwark OF
freedom, and Mr.. Holiday is 80 thoroughly
convinced that its faithful observance is the
. only guarantee Of Republican government,
why does he not support the party which
made it what it is, broadencd ard made clear
its meaning, fixed irreversibly rs the corner
stone OF our system OF government, that all
men are equal before the law. With the
history OF the South before him since the
war with the recent election in Georgia
staring him in the face, and the bloody path
way Of the Democratic party in Mississippi
and South Carolina fresh in his memory, for
Eiln to assume that the Democratic party
stood upon the Constitution as it is. and
recognized the great principles OF human
freedom and rights as they are embraced in
the amendments, was assuming a position
that argued 4 vast amount OF either igno-
rance or insineerity. Mr.. Holiday drew in
spiration from The Constitution as it was
when he studied it, when the black code
found sanction and warrant in it. when it
was Il covenant with death and league
with hell We believe to be true precisely
what the much abused puritan abolitionist
declared, and out OF which Mr.. Holiday en-
deayorcd to make capital. We think the
Constitution with the fugitive slave clause in
it, was 'lcaguc with hell, and disgrace to
civilization. 1t stood out rs the damned
spot upon the cscutcheon Of the Republic,
which had to be wiped ont with blood. II
was sin offensive TO Heaven, degrading to
man and blighl!ng to government. 1t was
the Republican party that purified the Con.
stitution and the government of it,-the
logic and philosophy OF the ''fanaticism' o.
the maligned abolition;sts who were gov
erned by moral forces too deep for such SUI
perfical thinkers as Mr.. Holiday; even al
this day, to appreciate or understand.
Mr.. Holidays speech had all the outward
indications of sincerity, and for that reason
was the more discteditable to his penetration
r and analysis. He spoke of the philosophy Of
government, the philanthropy Of human &C.
ton, the sacredness Of principle, yet upheld
the Democratic party as the representative
OF law, the peculiar guardian OF the Consti
: tuition, and the herald of freedom when it;
history is but continuous antagonism to al
5 that he claimed was good in Republican in
, situations. He charged anarchical tendencies
> to Republican policy, when that party had
, rescued the country from Democratic rcvo
, luton. He assumed the Republican party
To hn rfa,,
{ had stricken the chains from four millions o.
| slaves and made them freemen, erected theil
school-houses and planted their churches.
Mr.. Holidays speech was merely sitting
. of rounded sentences, regardless OF the logic
l OF events and the philosophy of history
He Geluded himself with the belief that thu
harmony of words and the illustrations O
, classic literature were the esseEce Of states
5 manshp, and essayed the discussion Of is
, sues without comprchendng the force OF the
r principles that were involved in them. In
short his speech WAS the studied effort Of the
aspiring politician, advertising himself as d
candidate for Governor, throwing no new
t light upon the events Of the day, or the
I new revelations that arc now guiding the
, destiny Of the Republic. He assumed with
= out proof declalmcd without point, specu
] lated without logic-contented, apparently
G with the ford verbiage of the sophomore
r and the picture painting of the fourth o
: July orator. During the time that w
I heard him the name OF Mr.. Tilden was 70
d mentioned, and no effort made to connec
o him with any Of the good Mr.. Holiday woult
8 have accrue to the people, through the invest
s ment Of the Democratic party with power
t 1t was designed substantially as . defence
It past and present. OF the preteusions OF thu
: party Of his identity to a reverence for tin
: Constitution, i'm defiance OF the events 0
S history and the desolation spread al over tn
d land. 1t might have answered to nilamt
b the prejudices Of the people, without assist
- ing their reason, or leaving on the mind al
impressive thought as to any benefit to fol
: low the transfer of the administration OF thu
. | government to the Democracy.
Democratic Defeat in Indiana.
O The official vote OF Indiana gives Williams
Jor,ocrot = 114 uoinr;tu nvar Harrison Re