Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-08
$ta,tntott Spectator.
Judge Harris's "Rep1y."

Judge HarriS'S "Rep1y."
From the tone of Judge Harris "Re-
ply to Gen. Echols' Card" one would
suppose that the Judge considers every
gentleman in this District, who aspires
to Congress a political poacher, and
every candidate for that honor actuated
by the most diabolical motives of "un-
ceasing hostility" to him, personality
Acting upon this theory the Judge seems
to be always prepared for war. he has
his videttes and "Jesse Scouts'' scatter
ed all over the District, who keep him
posted as to the slightest movement Of
the enemy. But, while presenting this
hold front. he is yet whining and wall
ing in piteous tones, and his friends are
busy trying to create the impression,
that every man who runs against him
is dark "conspirator," and every vo-
ter against him still darker ''conspira-
tor" and that his adversary has no
higher motive in soliciting the suffrages
of the people than to do Judge Harris
some personal INJURY as if, the ordinary
man didn't want to 60 to Congress. and
it was such q remarkable thing for any
body else, but Judge Harris, to want to
go there, that the fellow must have some
sinister motive.
We think it about time that that little
dodge was done with. 1t has been play
ed on the people of this District often
enough. We want to see the people
come forward to the polls and express
their views on the questions, which le-
Ultimately belong to this canvass, and
vote for the man that represents those
views, regardless of the empty and sense
less cry of persecution" which Judge
Harris and his friends are so fond of rails
ing, whenever any gentleman in the
District opposes him.
The Judge seems to have very con-
temptible opinion of the voters of Staun-
ton, Charlottesville, and his native
town, Harrisonburg, vast majority of
whom differ from him on his greenback
hobby. He calls them "clique,"
"caucas" and the like pretty Names
Whenever q man characterizes those
who differ from him as "a clique" ia
ring" and that sort of political slang, it
is pretty good evidence that neither he
nor the cause he represents is worthy OF
support-it is the last refuge of imbecil-
lily and demagoguery.
In his "Reply" the Judge complains
that Gen. Echols is very indefinite in
his ideas about the currency question,
which is really, the only one that legiti-
motely belongs to this canvass. What
righteousness Who, but Judge Harris,
can misunderstood Gen. Echols' POSI-
ton? He says. "the question which
most concerns every man is, whether
the country shall be flooded with an ir.
redeemable paper currency, or whether
we shall establish our national credit
firmly upon a sound basis of value
equality with, and convertibility into
coin." Aud just following he says, sit
is of vital importance to all men, cap
italists, farmers, mechanics, or laborers,
that they shall have good money, of Ger.
tain and fixed value" Where is the
''indefiniteness" about that. that the
Judge complains Of? Unless we great
ly mistake Gen. Echols' meaning, he is
what the people call a "hard-money'
man and unless we greatly mistake the
sentiment of the people of this District
"hard-money" man is what they want
No more ''shin-plasters," no moro
Confederate trash" or United States
trash, either, for that matter.
We ask our readers, what have they
to gain by anything but "hard money ?''
Are the lessons o fall the greatest. think
ers and writers Oh political economy,
verified by the experience of the civil
lied world, to say nothing of the teach
ings and results of this imitation policy,
pursued in the war of Independence,
and in the Civil war of the last decade
to be treated with contempt, and so far
forgotten, that we would again plunge
headlong into this sea of irredeemable
paper money and while floating around
on that bubble, see, as we have seen be-
fore, the honest real money, the gold
and silver, sink to the bottom out OF
: sight, or gathered and boarded in the
pockets of the sharpers, gamblers, and
spectators? Surely, this people will
not be guilty of such folly and certain
ly, they will not vote for any man who
would bring them to this state of things.
We want no more tampering with the
currency. We now have the best cur
rency this country has ever seen, and it
is at par practically, with gold and sill
yer everywhere in the United States.
If there is not as much of it as there
was, it is because the wants Of trade do
not require it. But when man has a
dollar now, he knoWs what it is worth,
and what it will buy. Open the flood
gates Of the paper mill again, and who
knows how many paper dollars it will
be made to give out, or when the poll
ticians and inscriptions spectators
will "shut down."
We tell the people to beware of this
heresy. 1t is more dangerous than war
pestilence, or famine; more to be
dreaded than the seven plaques sent up
on the Egyptians.
We have no spite to crafty no friend
to serve in this matter. We honestly
and truly believe that the doctrines adj
vanced by both Messrs. Paul and Har-
ris are dangerous to the best and perma-
st1kn ofo of
that the views of General Echols are the
only safe and reliable way out of our
difficulties, viz-good sound currency,
which shall have this basis of vdlue
equality and convertibility into coin"
There are but two ways out of our
troubles hard work and hard money.
To keep capital and immigration out
of the State nothing more is needed than