The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-06-26
The Rock Upon which they Split.

The Democracy OF the West and the De-
mocraey of the East, especially on the f.
nance question, are two different things
Mr.. Bayard represents the Eastern wing and
Mr.. Thurman the Western. The two inter
ests came in conflict demonstrating the War
ner Silver bill, and the relation of Senator
Bayard to it as chairman of the Senate FL
nance Committee. The baltimore San, of
the hard money wing, thus .rebukes the as
saults OF the Cincinnati Enquirer upon Mr..
Bayard. The Enquirer is the organ OF Mr..
Thurman, and the Sun speaks, in this in
stance, for Mr.. Bayard. 1t says:
The democratic senatorial caucus has
agreed informally to let the Warner silver
bill from the House lie over for this session.
Senator BaYard declines, in spite OF this dis
Greet action, to Withdraw his letter resign ing
his position as chairman Of the finance COM
mittee, but it is a practical vindication of
the Senator, by his own associates IN the
Senate, from the spiteful assaults made upon
him.-But the Cincinnati Enquirer, assum-
ing to be democratic organ, has still more
effectually indicated Mr.. Bayard. 1t has
assailed him for having the courage of his
opinions and for refusing to play the dema-
gogue. To be assaulted for political integ-
rity and consistency and true craftsmanship
by journal which, with notorious persist
ency, upholds the direct opposite of these
desirable qua tiles, is q testimonial of the
best sort to character. This newspaper.
which has done more than any other to de-
moralize the democracy on the currency
question, preaching false financial doctrines
ever since 1866, directly contrary to all that
hafn nf in RI
trines, assaults Thomas T. Bayard, son aad
successor of James A. Bayard. because he is
not a democrat by instinct, and he is ''not
democrat through his antecedents." This
may very well be, since certainly what the
Cincinnati Enquirer is, that Mr. Bayard is
not, and never could be. If its opinion be
democratic doctrine, Mr.. Bayard will ac-
knowledge that he is not democrat-after
tat new Order of democracy. The Enquir-
er says that "a Mr.. Bayard is to- day block
ing the will OF the democracy Of the Union
upon great public measure, the most who'll
some and necessary for the public welfare.
By the wrath OF God he was made chairman
of the Senate finance committee when the
democracy, after long interregnum, assum-
ed control OF that body" This may be
thought fine writing at Cincinnati, but it
comes with rather poor grace from the
"0rgan' OF an Ohio Statesman who de-
feated the democratic party in 1868 by
alarming or disgusting all the conservative
elements that desired to cooperate with it
in saving the country from those extremes
Of politics under which the carpet-baggers
were enabled TO flourish and plumber. The
"a Mr.. Bayard'' happens to be one OF the
best known and most honorable of all our
statesmen, and the man who enjoys and has
earned the distinction of having more of his
opinions taken upon trust by people of all
parties and all shades of thought than any
other OF our public men. The whole sub
stance of the Enquirer's quarrel with Mr..
Bayard, in short, is due to the fact that he
will not leave off his faith in the hardmoney
and sound credit principles of the fathers Of
democracy, in order to concilate the ssOhio
idea" For this he is called au construction
ist;" is told he must be ''ground to powder;'
is tainted with "his futile presidential as
pirations," and is accused Of marrow, pig
head ed prejndices," and as seeking to be
''the servile tool OF the money power" Mr..
Bayard can afford to rest easy under these
aspersioas. lie is a man OF principle and OF
sound convictions, and such are not called
upon except by the Cincinnati Enqurer) to
shift their sails to suit every tickle breeze.