The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-18
Ideas in Parties.

must be short lived. We may assume it as
IN indisputable fact that theDemocratic par
y has no governmental principle-no idea
lffecting administrative policy upon which
% rest. The recent campaign so forcibly
this that itneeds no argument
20 confirm it. When the tariff issue was
sprung upon it, the confusion and democrat
cation resulting therefrom amounted almost
20 panic. The speakers and writer's of that
party would not dare to go before the coun-
and enunciate the doctrines of the Cincin-
natl platform upon this subject The tar
if for revenue only" plank was designed to
catch the Bourbon Democrats of the South,
who had been so absorbed in catch pen
ny epithets and sectional appeals, that they
never studied the changed condition OF
things since reconstruction and the applica-
ton of poll les thereto. They had not for
gotten the free trade schooling they had re-
ceived In the days of Calhoun; the dogmas
inculcated at the University OF Virginia, in
slavery times and hence they were ready
to accept the declaration at Cincinnati as
embodying the true policy of the govern
ment. In fact the Southern politicians have
given very little attention to the real wants
of the country, the legislation nee essary to
meet its demands or 10 any question of ma
tlonal import and bearing. A much more
effective appeal for solid South" was to
race prejudices denunciation of the negro
as factor i'm politics. the carpet-bagger and
scalawag; supplemented by tissue ballots
and red shirt raids. designed to suppress the
popular voice By such means the solid
South was secure, and no argument upon
principles of government was suffi cient to
drive the Southern Democratic p arty from
this entrenchment. With 1873 electoral votes
thus held ready to be delivered, the study
was how to capture the AZ Northern electo-
raj votes necessary to success, without enun-
ciatng principle or presenting an idea re-
lating to government. 1t was to nominate
a distinguished Union soldier, whose mill
tary record was without blemish whose
personal character was beyond reproach,
and appealing to the soldier element and
the union sentiment. to rush the canvass to
a triumphant conclus on This was the plan,
but it inglnriously mi>carried The people
wanted something more than epaulettes and
brass buttons. and when the tariff for rev.
enue only" theory was Sprang upon North
ern communities. where the busy hum of
machinery and he sound of the anvil told
of educated labor and wealth producing in
dustries. the shock was terrific. The Dem
ocratic candidate who had accepted the
tanning the principles he had ever held dear,
suddenly bethought him that he had made
Il mistake, and especially as it related to the
tariff. He endeavored to hedge, but only
made things worse. The tariff question was
first local issue,'' then it was principle
he had ever approved. But these as sertions
did not answer the popular demand. and
defeat seemed inevitable.
In this dilemma, the ingenuity of the Ma
tiOnal Democratic Committee Chairman,
Mr.. w. H. Barnum. came to the rescue. The
Chinese letter. forgery was invented.and the
Infamous paper was circulated broadcast
Throughout all the manufacturing districts
and to the Pacific coast. 1t created sensa-
ton with all the more ignorant labor class
and but for the timely exposure of the
fraud might have effected the end contem-
plated. 1t certainly gave to Hancock, by
small maiorities, New Jersey, Nevada and
California, and reduced the majority in New
York from what it would have been with an
honest canvass.
With no healthy. practical ideas of gov
eminent to press upon the people the DEM
ocratic managers were naturally driven to
fraud. falsehood and forgery. But even
these failed The American people wanted
something more. They demanded sound
government poiiey-the assurance of contin-
Democratic managers answered, Credit
MObiiier. De Gollyer contract. Chinese let
ter. The people responded these are cam
paign lies, and we cannot afford to have a
Change unless it is demonstrated that
Democratic ideas and policies are better
than those of the Republicans.
Having been thus defeated for want OF
idea, it is now proposed to disband the
party. That will be effected witho ut an
effort or a plan No party can exist with
out ideas, and this campaign has clearly
established that the Democratic party has
none. 1t will dissolve from its own weak
ness. Its desire or change was TO get pos
session of the offices he people have
decided that they cannot trust it. 1t thrust
the negro and the carpet-bagg-r and the
scallawag to the front. The people have
decided that they have had enough of that
1t raised high the sword of a Union soldier
as an emblem of its loyalty The people
saw the ears of the donkey beneath the lion s
skin. 1t has resorted TO every device. every
deception, every falsehood, that the imagi-
nation of ambitious bad men. could con-
ceive, AID the people have pronounced
them all ISLANDERS and cheats. They want
ideas and principles, SO that they can un-
derstand the nature of the policy to be
adopted. These the Democratic party have
not and it's dissolution must come.
Let the people ofthe South. and especially
of Virginia, examine this brief, imperfect
and hasty review of Democratic receptions
and frauds, and compare it with the great
achievements for the country as effected by
the Republican party, in carrying out the
ideas and principles which it procIaink and
practices. 1t has preserved the Union, re-
stored the credit of the government, pro-
tected the labor interests of the country.
built up its industries, diiused prosperi-
ty throughout the land, and elevated hui
manity from degradation and debauchery.
1t appeals to its record for the continued
confidence Of the masses, and proclaims its
mission to be the securement of equal and
exact justice to every class OF citizens re-
cognized by the laws and constitution as
such. The truth is now fastened upon the
public mind. that there is to be no halt or
check in its career until this is accomplished
and the ballots protected from the frauds OF