The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-30
The Contrast

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The administration of the Federal affairs TO
the past two decades has been under the con
troll of the Republican party. During tina
time United States bonds have advanced from
II cents below par for six per cent. bond, tt
8 cents above par for four per cent bond
The balance of trade has been changed from
S2O,0O0000 per annum against us, to 1862 900
900 in our favor. The debt is being paid of
at the rate of $50, 100000 per year, and the an
nual interest charge has been reduced from
$151, 100000 to $79, 800, 000-almost one-half
The per centage of increase in production is as
follows: population So; wheat produced 154 2;
wheat exported 4111.8; corn produced 72.9;
corn exported 2917.3 wool produced 2S5S
cotton produced 17G; petroleum produced
3S4o.3; pig iron produced 2341; rails pro-
duced 1923; hogs packed 1867; butter export
ed 1905; cheese exported S13.5; merchandise
exports 1905; gold and silver produced 1919.
In one word this nation has never seen an era
ofprosperity equal to that which we now enjoy.
We never before produced so much iron, SO
much cotton, so much wheat so much corn AS
we do now. We never made so many manu-
featured articles; we never sold so many, we
never bought SO much from foreign countries,
aud yet so vast is the increase of our produc-
ton that we still have a healthy balance of
trade in our favor. This is the prosperity that
comes from wise and good national housekeep-
ing when we can afford to buy more than we
ever did before and not only pay for it with
our own productions but have handsome
surplus in cash to our credit besides The Re-
publican party has so managed the business of
the country as to bring about vast increase
fproduction in every department of human
activity and also an enormous increase in the
permanent wealth of the nation Now let us
compare this record with Democratic admin
istration
For ten years the Democratic party has had
undlsputed control of the State of Virginia.
and what is the result The debt has been in
creased at the rate of million dollars annual
y; the public schools have been robbed, the
taxes have been increased, and to-day the
plighted faith of the State is by-word and
Jeer whilst the lands have decreased in
value, the natural resources remain undevelop-
ed and the strength and vigor of Virginias
young manhood are seeking homes in States
where the Democratic party has not control.
Look at the majority of States under demo-
cratic rule to-day and what do we find? Their
sacred obligations have been repudiated, their
lands deprecated, emigrants are fleeing from
them as from plague stricken region and
over them the pail of depression broods. Do
sensible business men desire a change that will
reduce the nation to the condition of those
States now under democratic rule Shall those
who have been faithless over a few things, be
made ruler over many things? Can we afford
to risk a change from republican to democratic
methods with the results as we see them star
ing us in the face? 1t is for the real people the
people who are to be benefited by WISE and to
suffer by unWise legislation, to answer these
questions. 1t is time they were laying aside
passion and prejudice, and addressing them
selves TO the reason of the case 1t is time
they were turning deaf ear to the infammato-
ry appeals of petty politicians, and listening to
the voice Of judgment and common sense 1t
is time they were considering their own inter-
ests, and following out their own convictions
of right, instead of submitting to be tamely
lead like sheep to the slaughter. 1t is time
they were thinking for themselves. 1t is time
they were taking into their own hands the
control Of their own affairs. For years you
people Of Virginia have blindly followed these
self constituted leaders, and to-day you find
your State verging on utter bankruptcy and
stagnation clogging the wheels Of your indus
tries, and spreading like cloud over your
fields and homes and workshops. Are you
content to remain thus bound hand and foot,
or will you shake off this unworthy bondage
and stand forth like freemen should, deter
mined to do the right as you see it !; determin-
ed for once to let reason dictate your course ;
determined to consult your own interests and |
follow your own conviction rather than longer
submit to be made the tool of those who
neither learn nor forget, and who could only |
benefit their State by leaving it? Read the |
record of the two parties, make up your own |
conclusion as to which is most deserving of !
support, and when you have done this, show
to the world that you have the courage to do
that which you believe to be right