Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-01-18
What we Believe.

structure Of our Government; and we be-
lieye that the Democratic party onlJ
can bring It back ID the safe anchorage
OF the Constitution to the paths of eco-
nomy, integrity, and fidelity TO the
people.
The experience oil twenty years oil
Republican rule. with its long carnival
of crime, corruption and debauchery,
should luduce the American people TO
pause, and calmly consider the question
whether the best interest Of the country
do not imperatiyely demand a change,
as well in the policies as iu the practi-
ces aud character OF our rulers. A long
lease Of undisturbed power is almost
certain 10 engender aud bring 10 lbe
surface the meancsL and basest passions
of those who WELD it. aud history may
be searched ia vain for single instance
where party gIown corrupt by the
long possession Of Office and power.
WAS ever willing TO institute, or able 10
carry OUT, any measure Tor the genuine
reform of fabuses which had grown up
in the hot-bed Of vice and corruption,
sustained by the vile. the yenal and The
cowardly. The only remedy tor such
abuses as have blackened the record oil
the Republican party, is TO be iouId IN
tue free and fearless Use OF the surgeons
kuite, aud this eau never be looked Tor
at the hands OF the afflicted patient.
Reform must come, if il comes at all,
from the outside. The prison-house OF
so many hdeous secrets Of crime must
be laid bare to the public gaze. The
veil must be .orn from the faces OF The
false prophets who have begulled the
people with honeyed words, while with
the lrou hand Of the robber, they have
remorselesslY plundered the Treasury,
dishonored the Government, and COW
cred the American name with humllia-
ton and shame. The only party, then,
to which the people can look with rea-
sonabe confidence for this much-need-
ed reform, is the grand old Democratic
party, which has braved the battle aud
the breeze for mole than three-quarters
of century, and which is now prepar-
ing for another struggle with its Old
adyersaries. the cohorts Of cenIraliza-
ton, extrayagance and fraud, for the
preservation and perpetuarontef con-
sliluLional government and the prinei-
pies OF civil liberty.
To enable the Democratic party 10
successfully resist and overthrow these
public enemies, We ueed thorough or
ganization, discipline, and the elimina-
ton ofall minor and nOnessential issues
from our political creed. Our bond OF
union must be tue protection OF the
Government from the assaults, open
aud concealed, of the bitterest foes OF
each. Fot twenty years these sappers
and Miners have been busily at work,
laborlng te destroy the foundations OF
the republic, with the purpose OF build
ing upon its ruins au empire to be iuled
By a successful soldier, who will ride
rough-shod over the liberties aHd per-
sonal rights of people who were born
free. Even now the Capitol, and every
department is honeycombed with cor
ruption, and each succeeding day brings
to light startling discoveries OF some
newly y-developed official villalny, aud
these disclosures follow each other with
such rapidity, that the public has ceased
to regard them with more consideration
than Is accorded 10 some idle wonder Of
the hour.
Believing that the continued domina-
ton OF the Republican party will sure'
ly prove fatal to our form OF govern
ment its institutions, laws aud tradls
lious, it is the religious duty OF every
Democrat in the land to labor incessant
lly for the overthrow OF that corrupt,
reckless and lnsolent organization.
Deprive the Republican party Of The
patronage and the offices Of the Govern
ment take from it the Treasury OF tho
Government with the privilege 10 pluL"
der and power to corrupt aud coerce;
and it will die of hamilton, while liz
demise Will be hailed With delight by
fhe people it has iusulted, outraged aud
plundered.
To accomplish this desirable end,
however, it is necessary " compact Tue
Democratic party, to heal all dlssea'-
iJas ln our rauk.. to discard al! secIIOn-
al issues, 10 know no North, no South,
no East. no West, but to remember
THAI we have country to love, Con-
sutution to ycaeraLe. and Union TO
project aud defend at all hazards,
against all conerI. If the Democrats
OF all sections can be banded together
IN this spIrit, ii they will iorego all pei
sonal Preference, aud look alone 10 the
Common good. they have only TO per-
feet their organization aud discipline 10
become irresistible. THUS organized.
the Democratic party will be borne into
power upon the topmost crest OF a great
popular tidal wave, aud then the many
aud much-needed reforms in all depirl-
menls of the Government. will be hoaes-
lily enforced; then We shall see the ad-
init istration of the Government eleva-
tel once more TO lbat high plane OF pdr-
ily, patriotism, aud official Integrity,
wnch It's founders placed ii, and which
characterize otlislal life as the capital
before the saturualia OF vice aud vlllainy
Wac lnaugurated by The Rspiollc,n