Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-25

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STAUNToN. VA.
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL Is. 1879
That fourteen years after . civil war has
'nded; when the country has already en-
cred the fat meadows Of returning pros
,erity; when its financial credit is above
par both 1t home and abroad; when am
icable meetings Of the actual participants
in the conflict have taken place in the in
terest of the country-there should be
found any considerable number of tho rep
of no matter which party in
congress to stand up day after day
recalling the rights and wrongs of their
section is an evil sign for a coun-
try's welfare. It il evil because it shows
that tho real interests of the people are to
be lost sight of in the anxiety to please
the mob. Grant that the provoca-
tions to heated debate are great; what is
there to be gained by any Democratic
member in allowing himself to be betrayed
into it. Grant that there is enough Of tho
malice Of the late estrangement left in a
corner of every congressional district in
each section of the Union to attach more
securely to the incumbent few adhe-
rents by IN Incorporate speech, how little
real gain there is to the man who offends
the thoughtful mind of the whole country
to pander to few! Why should Dem
ocratic representative sent by great dis
trict to take part in shaping national leg
islation allow himself to be tainted into
fierce invective merely to convince those
wild and untameable s'Southrons," Tom,
Dick and Harry who reside in that district
that he is a game" man and to receive
from their harem scarem minds the plaud-
it "Well done thou good and faithful ser
want, thou hast sand in thy craw?'
If the Democratic representatives desire
to convince their constituents at home
that they are fit for the trust repcsed in
them, that they have that most effective
of all sand, the sand that goes without
loud talking, they should do the voting
and let the Republicans do the quarrelling.
There il nothing for them to take care OF
at the present session but to see that they
do effectually and without flinching the
great work more especially set before them
tho work Of securing to the American
people ballot box free from soldiers and
m election in which the voter shall have
no fear of Federal officials. If they do
this they will meet tho applause Of their
people and their having got the best or
worst Of wrsngle with some Republican
orator over the rebellion or ''Confeder-
ate brigadiers" will neither increase nor
diminish the approval; if they fail in this
others will be sent to do the work they
could not do.
And, further, they are but gratifying
their political opponents by these exhibi-
lions. There il nothing, judging from all
the public utterances of the Republican
leaders that they desire more than
to reopen the issues of the war. 1t is be-
coming SO glazing that it bears the ap-
pearance of preconcerted effort both in
and out of congress to manufacture Sec
ond war feeling by which second war
candidate like Grant may be galvanized
into vitality for third term. To one who
will take tho trouble to read the proceed
ings of the Union League of Philadelphia,
20 late az Tuesday of last week that inten-
ton seems unmistakable. The President
of the League, MT. Boxer, asked in his
opening address what right has rebel
over q coin in the Treasury, 'Save for the
dime that could buy hun the halter Of his
hangman." Mr.. Benjamin Harris Brow
ster, the great lawyer, followed with the
suggestion that if after the rebellion they
had callsd in the lawyers and hung the
rebels ''they would not have had all this
trouble now," meaning by all this trouble
the outgoing Of the Republican party from
power. This is all sufficiently provoking
and probably if uttered in congress would
have called forth some Democratic South
ROM in a speech of equa! folly. to be pa
raded a. campaign document BY tho Re
publicans. Nevertheless Democrats in con-
gress after stating calmly their argument
should finish. Wrangling is the
peculiar province of the minority; the
Democrats are in majority. Threats are
the weapons of the bottom man in the
fight, the Democrats are on top. Com
plants are the privilege Of the weak, the
Democratic party is strong. Rowling is
the refuge of the servant discharged for
unfaithfulness, the Democracy have just
been chosen by the American people to
legislate for them. Let them hold the reins
of authority with firm hand and drive
wisely. This country ia settling down
to the peaceful pursuit OF business and
whatever of political agitation on practi-
cal questions the people may have fancy
for, they are heartily tired Of sectional ag-
station and s'loyal" and ''rebel'' recrimi-
nation. The Republicans being defeated
and driven out OF power in the legislative
halls fnd their only capital in calling up
old issues. Such is not the case with tho
Democracy and our members in congress
should remember it. Garfield and Conger,
and tho Union League aad the like purely
political organizations have little concern
for tho prosperity or peace OF the people it
their heads do not devise the laws and
their hands hold the purse. Not 10 is it
with tho Democracy.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Alexandria "Gazette," says that four OF
he ninety Offices of the Senate will be
allotted to the Virginia Senators to fill, and
that Mr.. VIM. S. Gilman. of Richmond,
will be one Of tho appointees. Mr.. Gil
rams appointment would DO welcome all
over shis state where he is well known -