The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-15
Wise Words from Hon. Horatio sey'

Wise WORDS from Hon. dOrauO Sey-
m0ur.
We publish in this issue OF the VIRGIN
Ian the larger portion of an interview with
Hon. Horatio Seymour, of New York, as.we
find it in the Herald of the 10th. We ask
for it the careful attention of our readers.
While the sentiments uttered antagonize the
various fancies of modern democracy led by
the smallest kind of political agitators, yet
they come from Democrat of the old
school, who, we take it, has very little SYM
pathy with the catch-penny notions of the Or
ganization known by that name. He evidently
thinks that great national parties should have
great national policies, and not rest their
claims to popular confidence upon such dis
gushing expedients as have distinguished the
present Democratic party. When a party
has to resort to such devices as are embraced
in the Investigating committees OF Potter
and Glover, in the hope of creating some
thing upon which to base campaign and
aid it in securing power, it admits the alb
sence of any great controlling principle OF
public policy, and confesses to an incapaci-
ty to deal with great issues representing the
wants of the nation.
The distinguishing characteristic of the
present Democratic party, is opposition to
the government as now administered, re-
CARELESS of the benefits which have followed
the administration of the party in power.
1t would leave the people ignorant Of the
wise craftsmanship which has brought the
t he country through difficulties never before
experienced; grapp!ed with the burdens and
obstacles entailed by an exhaustive revolu-
ton solved the problem of demonstrating
the disorders and conflicts gowing out OF
disrupted social, labor and political systems;
reduced the debt Of the nation in twelve
years over five hundred millions of dollars,
and saved to the people two hundred and fifty
millions of interest, at the same time the
taxes have been reduced, public enterprises
encouraged, and material development stim-
ulated. And it now presents the remarka-
BILE achievement, of having brought the cur
rency of the country to q specie basis-the
contamination of the most exalted states
manship, with the credit of the government
higher than ever before, and greater than
| that of any civilized nation on the globe,
save one. 1t is opposition to all this that
the Democratic party now goes before the
country, and with the declared policy Of un'
settling everything that has been done, dis
turbing the basis of the financial system thai
has worked out these great benefits, and
plunging the country into sea of uncer-
tainties and prospective ruin.
While Mr.. Seymour clearly shows the
West is deeply interested in the perfection
and perpetuation OF the present fnancia
policy Of the government, how much more
so is the South? The industries and pro-
auctions of the South can have no sympa
thy with the wild theories of the present
policy of resumption and return to legiti
mate currency for the basis of business, anG
the substitution therefor of an irredeemable
medium of exchange, thus initiating values
disturbing the relations of trade, and infus-
ing distrust and uncertainty into all com
merciai and labor transactions. The pro
ducts of the South are the demands OF The
world, and to the degree that these demand:
are represented by intrinsic money will hel
permanent prosperity be measured. He
interests are directly associated with a sta
BILE and enduring currency, as the. founda
tion for her progress, and he is an enemy to
the South and her industrial interests, al
well as her political integrity, who would
seek to mislead the people against the wis'
policy of the government, and into tn
greenback folly, which now is the staple o
the professional demagogue.
This finance issue is to be the great ques
ton for the determination of the American
people. 1t will draw the lines between eN
isting parties, and crystalize on either sid
the conservative, safe minds, as to the one
and the reckless agitators as to the other, re
gardless of their present political ahilia
lions. 1t is above all other questions, over
shadows them, and involves all the int crest
of government.