The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-29
II Am an Old Democrat"

his sincerity and patriotism, and they vii
not be disappointed.
II Am an Old Democrat"
This is the declaration that meets us frc
quently in conversation with our old Dem
ocratic friends. We at one time claimed t.
be Democrat too, but that has been q Ion,
time ago. The ploughshare of revolution
has torn up the old landmark and left moth
| ing of the old party visible. We had a grea
fondness for sentimental Democracy, bu
the events OF the past fifteen years have dem
onstrated the entire fallacy of such sentiment
alism when applied to the practical affairs o.
government. Free trade and sailors rights
anti-land distribution. a tariff for revenue
simply and kind OF go-easy. slip -shod sys-
tenn of government that creased itself anl
whirled along like self -adjustne piece OF
machinery, was our ideal of governmental
theory. 1t was truly Democratic, touching
lightly upon everything requiring nc
thought and no !:icntal Ingenuity to arrange
it. Then we proclaimed Safes rights-the
sovereignty o! the States, and that tAc crea-
ture was not create" than the creator-sllat
the government was Il kind of indefinite
partnership, to be dissolved at will by the par
ties constituting it, and that any nice morn
ing we might get up and lind one OF the
States wlliring of Ikea ''wild colt OF a com.
ct careering through space, "-jostling and de-
ranging the natural order of things. These
fancies have all been dissipated. They have
been weighed in the balance and found
wanting. They have no practical relation
to government, and can never have. They
are absolutely obsolete. without hope of re-
vival.
The country is now being operated practi
cally upon the American system OF Henry
| Clay. The theories and doctrines of The old
Wing party have been running the govern
ment for years, and will continue to do SC
for all time to come. The protection OF
American industry is the only way our labor
and natural wealth can be employed and
developed. Internal improvements by the
government have bound the oceans together
by iron bands-l currency based upon the
credit Of the nation has fulfilled the widest
expectations ofits advocates, while Democrat
ic State shinplasters are never thought OF ex
cept by such old fogies as Mr.. Hunter. In
fact the Democrats are every day testifying
to the wisdom Of the craftsmanship of Hen
~ Clay and denouncing that of John G. Cal
houn-the representative men OF the two ole
parties.
| When, therefore, we hear 4 man say he is
an sold Democrat we conclude that he ha:
been dwelling in the lava beds for the past two
decades. He does not understand the situa
ton.
The Republican party is now practically
carrying out the American system of Henry
Clay. The South, which uniformly voted
against it, begins to realize that her salvation
is bound up in its operation. We want man.
ufacturcs, so as to utilize our water power,
our timber. our pasture fields and minerals.
A protective tariff fosters such home indus
| tries. It gives home market for farmers.
employment to labor, and keeps all ON
money III home. We want internal imp owe
ments to open up to capital and enterprise
/ the wastes OF the South and give us the
markets CT the world We want a safe, relia-
bic currency that will pass everywhere with
out discount. All these things the Wings
under Clay and Webster, proposed in theo-
ry, and are now being carried ont practical
ly by the Republicans.
| There is not political tenet of the old
Democratic party that has any vitality, an /
that would not be secuted by every practical
business man if its operations were explain
ed The country has progressed away from
such distractions. 1t was such sentimental
notions that repealed the Missouri Co,npro-
mise, brought on the Kansas troubles, broke
up the Charleston Convention, precipitatel a
sectional war. and tore up the Industrial, po-
litical and social systems OF the South We
have not recovered yet from the effects of these
efforts to carry out Democratic theories.
The lessons taught, however, have been in
structive, and should forever put quietus
upon Democratic fances. We ask oar old
Democratic friends to put ON their studying
caps, and determine whether we are not
right. Ii they can find anything practical
or suited to the wants OF the people and the
development OF the country in tile old Dem
ocratic theories, we should like to know
what it is. We cannot see it. We have a
sal legacy from Democracy. Let it alone
for the future. 1t is unsuited to the are we
live in and the genius of orr institutions
The last Democratic delusion that hurried
us on to destruction was our "rights in the
territories and the privilge Of taking our ne
goes there" We hung to that as the for
lorn hope sentimental Democracy, unit
it dragged us into the whirlpool of secession,
war and desolation. Let that supreme folly
stand as q monument over the remains of the
Democratic party, and no insane fancy seek
to resIrrect its spirit.
The Republican party offers a practical,
wise, progressive policy-it addresses itself
to the wants of the people-it adjusts itself |
to the demands of the age, comprehending
intellectual! and material progress and devel- |
opment through public education, industrial |
and judcious internal improve |
mcnts.'
South Carolina.
No one can read the letter addressed, by |
1irentiou of tIla President tn Goyc Cham,