The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-09
Secretary Sherman s Speech

We publish on the first page of the VIRGIN
IAN to-day an instructive speech delivered by
Secre tary Sherman in Cincinnati last week.
The reader who is DESTROYS of becoming Eaml-
lar with the condition of the country and ac
quainting himself with the agencies which
have brought it to its present unprecedented
state of prosperity, will not fail to give the
facts and arguments adduced by Mr.. Sherman
a careful perusal. In entering upon the dis
cussion of his theme he carried his audience
back to 1860, when the Republican party first
assumed control of the executive and legisa-
tive branches of the government, and contrasts
its methods and achievements with those of
the Democratic party previous to that period
SO as to bring prominently before the mind
what it is that Change" would overthrow
and what policy would be adopted as result
Of ''change" from Republican to Democratic
administration. The idea is made prominent
that the good of the country at large-the
healthy advancement of all business interests
are indissolubly connected with the principles
and policies which are maintained by the Re
publican party and that a Change could eff
feet none other than reverse results to those
which have become part OF the progressive
history of the nation within the past twenty
years. The Baltimore american, in slllnmar-
izing the principal features of the speech SAYS:
Among the points which are particularly well
calculated to impress themselves upon public
attention are the facts that the great work of
resumption-the success of which is ascribed
by the Democrats solely to the occurrence of
bountiful cr0ps-Was completed six months
before these crops were grown; that while the
Democrats were intriguing with the Green
hackers in the interest of fiat money, the gov
eminent was resolutely carrying out the Re
publican funding act of 1870, by which, up to
date a saving of over $4,000 600 in annual
interest charges has been effected; that while
during the last term of the Democrats in
power, when the country lay rapt in universal
peace, no effort was made to pay off the ma
tional debt, and it was actually increased under
President Buchanan from S., 999, 621 rs to
$59, 1854, 402 o. the Republican party since the
close of the war has reduced the principal of
the debt 1897, 104, S2368, and is still reducing
it at the rate OF $10000,000 month"; that du-
ring the three years of the present administra-
ton the revenue OF the government amount
ing for this period to the enormous sum of
1864 SIG, $50 93, has been collected with the
loss of but one-third of cent per 81 900, as
against 1891 per $1,000 during Buchanan's
term, and Sill per $1,000 during Van Bu-
ren's term, while even during war times it was
only rs cents per 81 600, and under Grant but
"a cents per $1,000; that the expense of col
Letting $685. 100000 custom duties during the
last fiscal year was but $40 per cent, while
the cost of collecting only $4,000 900 during
Buchanan's term were just double, or s. 20 per
cent; and, finally, that under the present ad-
our exports have increased from
1918 100000 to $S35,G00000 and our imports
from 1888, 100000 to $66S, 100000 II the Sec
rotary is eloquent in his presentment of the
leading achievements of the Republican party,
he is equally SO in the arraignment of the
Democratic party for what it has failed to &C
He lays bare its false economies