Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-08-18
New Issues in Politics.

In he course of his speech before The Demo-
cratic Convention Of Mississippi, Senator La
mar said: Questions of constitutional law,
the relations of the States TO the Federal 60
vefnment, aud the relations of the people to
their State government, will soon cease 70 play
any very conspicuous part in the issues Of
American politics. Questions of tariff, trade,
commerce, currency and transportation will
soon take their places, are beginning to engross
the attention of the people and will tax the in
tellect of American statesmen" Commenting
on this-and the added warning of Senator
Lamar to the Southern politicians that they
must turn their attention to the discussion and
settlement of these questions if they do not
want to io,e their Influence in the councils Of
the nation--the New York Herald well says :
Mr.. Lamar spoke wisely, and the warning
he gives to the political leaders of the South
is quite as important to those Of the North aud
West. The old questions which have so long
and so mschievously absorbed the attention Of
politicians and people, the questions arising
out Of slavery and the war are now dead; aud
the politician Of either party who continues t.
harp upon them will inevitably fall into pub
lie contempt. There is a disposition among
the old politicians Of both parties to hang on
to the old questions. With the management
Of these they are most familiar and Of the new
questions OF which Senator Lamar speaks-the
questions tariff, trade, commerce, currency
aud portatiOn-they are, for the most
part, 50 ignorant that they dread their coming
up and would by all means push them aside.
- But il is too late Not only are the old is
sues dead, bur the terrible condition of the
country, the proStration of all its Industries,
the impoverishmeut Of aborerS aud capitalists
alike, the unprecedented stOppage of factories
and workshops of all kinds, the universal stag
nation in the midst Of universal abundance
the strikers and labor TroubeS-all these things
call for attention, and call so urgently that no
man can hope 10 remain leader in our poll
tics in either party who refuses 10 consider the
condi ion Of the country, or who does not try
10 provide remedies for a state Of things which
all wise AMI thoughtful men see to be intolera
bic. Those purblind statesmen who, 50 late
as two or three months ago, imagined they
could revive the old issueS-even these see now
that it is impoSsible; and whatever partisan
conventions may declare, the fact is that Con-
gress as soon as il meets in October will be alb
sorbcd with the consideration of the industrial
prostration of the country. Those who desire
to be influential there will have to seek inhu-
ence aud predominauce through the wisdom
with which they propose and discuss measures
Of relief
" If any one imagnes that the country is
going to tolerate endless, windy debates about
the Presidents Southern policy or any other
dead and buried ISSUE while some millions OF
Americans DO not know where TO get bread to
eat or clothes to wear, he is mistaken And
if any one fances that party lines and party
prejudces are to be allowed to stand in the
way of such a discussion or to bound or limit
it he is still more mistaken. No doubt the
new Congress when it meets will be found to
contain a sufficient number Of demagogues and
ignoramuses ready to cure all our woes with
some quack nostrum; but shrewd men will see
that reputation is to be won political predomi
nance for the future secured careers begun only
by wise and able handling of real questions,
aud only by the men who shall propose, advo-
cate and secure measures of real relief. To the
authors of suon measures the country will by
and by turn with gratitude aud lasting conf
deuce"