The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-10-17
Will the People be Deluded?

Will the People be Deluded?
Judge Harris, in every speech we have
seen reported from him, uses as an argu-
ment to show that there is not enough mon
ey in the country, the correspondingly low
prices of land, houses, &C., and the uncertainty
in the transactions in such values. This
kind of special pleading might deceive and
mislead people who have not the capacity
to think, or who cannot reason from cause
to effect. He Knows, and every sensible man
knows, that the reaction from an excess is
more difficult to recover from than to plunge
into the excess. He is well aware, too, that
the very agitation Of the currency question
and the financial policy of the government,
which he so persistently thrusts upon the
attention of the people.i one of the controll-
ing causes for protracting the paralysis in
business, and is driving money from the
avenues of trade, and destroying confidence.
If he has studied the cause of the revulsion
in business which dated in 1873, he must
traction of the currency which caused it, but
a withdrawal Of misplaced confidence,
created in a delirium of speculation,
which was the ffimsy basis of the insane
imitation, which naturally followed. The col
lapse was in obedience to a law of trade,
as we'll as of nature, and had to come as a
necessary sequence to excessive imitation and
expansion of prices of all commodities
Two years ago there was every indication
of revival of all kinds of industry and
the approach to legitimate business, based
upon solid values. All over the country
was this the case, and the signs OF re-
turning prosperity were seen in every
branch of commerce, and in all classes OF
property. The persistent efforts, however,
of gentlemen thinking like Judge Harris,
to repeal the resumption act, to tinker the
revenue and tariff laws, and to tear to pieces
the financial policy which had brought about
that condition of things, stimulated doubts
in the popular mind, and finally destroyed
the confidence upon which such revival was
based. Ii the business men of the country were
assured that there would be no disturbance
of the currency, no revolution in the finan-
cial system, business enterprise would soon
develop, and all values be in legitimate de-
mand at fair prices In exchange for the SUI
pelabundant currency now in the country.
The resumption of specie payments, means
the resumption of business activity; means
money leaving its hiding places and seeking
realty and industrial investments, for coin
then will lose its speculative quality, and
become no better than the paper currency.
So long as change is agitated, and uncer.
tainties exist as to the legislation affecting
finance, SO long will real property be below
its value in the market, and those who want
to sell suffer.
1t is cruel trifling with the best interests
OF the country for political aspirants to at
tempt to delude the people by such senti-
nent, as to the cause of business stagna-
ton, as are uttered by Judge Harris. He
knows that there is more real currency in
the country now than there has ever been
before, taking it at its purchasing power.
He knows, if he is fit to be in Congress,
that the notions he advances, if carried into
practical effect, would be disastrous to the
people, and compel them again to go
through the same ordeal Of s'hard times -
from which they are now about to emerge.
He knows, taking into consideration our
system of exchange, checks, certificates Of
credit, &C., by which nine-tenths of the bu-
siness of the country is carried on, that we
have ten times the amount Of currency oul
business interests require, and that 1t is
heartless deception and wicked misrepre-
sentation for him to state otherwise.
We ask the intelligent people OF this dis
trict to think of this matter seriously, an6
to answer to their own consciences whether
they can vote so support the fallacIes which
he maintains as to the business and finances
CT the country. 1t will not do for Them tc
say that Judge Harris is not welded to any
views of either business or finance, and that
he is only making the canvass in the manner
he is to catch votes. We know the people
do not agree with the notions he promul
gates, but excuse their support of him by
saying SO, Harris will do whatever the peo
pie WANT
That is not the way for a representative
to be governed. His constituents are moi
always with him. He should have well de-
fined, sincere convictions, so that the people
intf DOL in 70 of n
the grave questions which must come up
for consideration during the next session Of
Congress. He contends for the repeal oil
the resumption act, which means that al
business and all values must be disturbed
and unsettled for the repeal of the nation.
al bank laws, which means that the twenty
four hundred national banks must go into
liquidation, and compeia sudden settlement
of all their business, and the. destruction Of
the best and most secure currency we have
ever had; the repeal of the internal reve-
nue. laws, which means that the 81 800, 0O0,-
900 of revenue derived from this source,
must be gotten from other sources, and the
tax laid to do so, which would necessarily
press upon the industries and productions
of the country; and the issuing of $780,
100000 greenbaeks, to pay off the fve-twen-
ty bonds, which means the violation of the
solemn pledge of the government, the in
flation Of the currency, the disturbance of
trade, in all its branches, and total rever-
sal of the financial policy which has brought
about such benefcent results for the peo-
pile.
In voting for Judge Harris, the people
who do so, will vote to carry out all these
revolutionary propositions and plunge the
country into condition of uncertainty and
distrust that must necessarily affect every
mans interest.
1t is a grave responsibility when the voter
determines to abuse the ballot in this way.
His election means an endorsement of these
political heresies, and will be so understood
by the country, when we honestly believe
not one in ten Of those who now propose
to support him, agree with him.
Surely if any people could afford to make
the effort to elevate politics above mere per-
sonal considerations, and to determine con-
tests of this kind. upon sound princinles of