Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-11-15
SPEAKER M0FFET.

declines new departure. lie says
,bcre is no need of a new party, and
that disorgauization means disaster aud
defeat. lie also gives cogent views for
the reason of united action. The fol-
lowing is letter addressed by Speaker
Molrett to Hon. John RICHTER Of Ma
ron comfy
CLovEEIIcK, Oct. 90, 1879.
Hon. John Fighter:
Ny Dear Sir:-I received Your letter
OF the 18th inst, in which you INFORM
me that lat a meeting ofthe Green oacA-
ers OF Marion aud Harrison counties
committee was appointed TO cofr'SPonu
with leading gentlemen III the o'a'e
with reference TO the propriety OF per-
tecting an organization at an early day'
and vou desire an expression OF my
views. =.
shall be stated freely and frankly, for |
Know that whether my views accord
with yours or not you will give me cred
!, for sincerity.
f,ou mean by organizing, TO put a
ticket in the field at the next State cleo
ton, then | most emphatically dissent,
as no practical! good could result from
it. The following are my reasons Tor
thinking so;
Resumption is now an accomplished
fact. 1t is true, it was done over my
protest and over yours. Ii is likewise
true that in the process of bringing it
about the nation tel from an cminence
of wealth aud unlimited resources to
punched and shrunken poverty and cow
ering bankruptcy. However many bro
ken fortunes strew lis pathway, the end
has been reached The worst is over
And in as much Us Providence has been
kinder to Us than our temporal rulers,in
blessing us with abundant harvest and
lurniHg the balance OF trade in our IA
vor, and starting Us forward On the high
road TO business proSperlty,It docSsseem
to me that it would be criminal to turn
back the hands upon the dial of return
ing plenty. To undo what has been
done, however much we cXccrate the
means by which it was done, would be
20 uuS, tile all values, disturb all bust
nrss, create panics, and i'll short re-en-
act the scenes OF distress and industrial
depression through which We have re-
Gently passed. For these reasons | would
dcpr,cale the agitation OF issues which
have been settle.
But independent of these consldera-
Gous. there is an issue 10 be determined
in the presidential contest of next wear
which ovcrShadOws all others. 1t Is
simply this, whether or net our system
If Government is to remain what It's
founders intended it should be-a tedor-
al rcpublic-0r whether all the reserved
poNcrs Of the States and the people
thereof are to toe swallowed up in c"n-
lIaiz4;ion Of powers in the general gov
eminent. Are We 10 continue To have
a Democratic government with cohSu-
sulioaal powers and limitations, or are
We TO pass iuto a dcspotism? 1t IS that
aucirut iSSuc.So often baptized IN blood,
between the absolute power OF one man
and the icnablr.indrstructihle rights
Of the MASSES. All other issues, Nhc'h-
or touching local reforms, problems OF
finance ~ If labor, if rot lost Sight OF,
should be- held IN arrogance until tins
one g,cat question is determined.
There has always been a political cIe-
.mcn, ia this coua,ry opposed TO Domoc-
r4cy AND tavurabl. Ia Il strong govern
mci.l IN imitation of European monarch
irs. The agents u European powers have
ALWAYS been active in keeping alive tEat
sentiment on this side of the water. The
peculiar CONDITION in which tho close Of
;he late war found this country, gave Il
splendid opportunity for binding ur
thoee impsriHm ~ 'mper'o masters OF
Amrrica-rich corporations Their IN
ter,>ts all conflict with those OF the
masses, consequently their vast power
and influence have been directed I"
changing our form Of government, that
is. in taking the power from the h"naS
of the urorlr, whom they tcar,and pIac-
inr il in q centralized head winch they
can control The lndiscrect action of
some of the Democratic leaders IN Con
grcss last winter in attaching lidcrs TO
the appropriation bills, gave occasion to
the friends of imperial goTcrnment t"
raise the cry that Democracy VAS dan
gcrous, aud the Republican party imme-
diately took starlwart position, regard
iDr State lines AS useless and state
,iGhts as a nuisance, and boldly declared
in favor Of Strengthening the powers
of the General Government. With this
issue brought So palpably aud directly
before the people OF the United States
for determination i'll the approaching
national contest, it occurs 10 me that no
na,riot can afford to falter or he led
aside from the main issue by preJudlceS,
or by honest convictions touching othel
great national questions. 1t matters lit
t,a 10 Won or TO me what kind OF cur
vcncy we are TO have if our Government
Is to lose its democratic caste aud TO be
converted INTO Imperialism. 1t matters
little about reforms in our State Govern
mcnt, if State lines are TO be obhterated.
Let us first settle this great issue at
once and forever, and then we can dl-
vide on other issues if we choose alter
wards
The appearance Of a third patty III
this State at this particular emergency,
as | have said, would be of no practical
good, but would work prejudlcla!ly.
The great issue of which have spoken