The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-04-27

promise their relations to the Republican
party of the coun try either now or here.
after.
The Right kind OF independence.
Manly independence in public man, owing
his elevation to the popular will, is one of the
thingsit is difficult to find in these days of par
tizan exactions and observance to party edicts
1t is rarely we find member of Congress so
emancipated from the trammels of party au-
thority as to cast his vote otherwise than as
that authority determines. The caucus is the
iron hand that rules the conscience and iudg.
ment, and resistance to its behests is to in
wife the wrath and condemnation of party as
sociates. Ii is refreshing amid such influences
and surroundings, to find really independ
ent public servant, whose obligations are re-
cognized to the people and to the moral and
conservative sentiment which pervades his
constituency. The vote Of Hon. John Paul on
the Utah bill, fathered by Sena tor Edmunds
which has just become law, and which pro.
vides that no polygamist shall hereafter hold
office in Utah, and in unseat ing Delegate Can,
non, the polygamist from that Territory, in
dictate what may be done by representative
who feels at liberty to obey his conscience
rather than the ukase OF party. His indepen.
dence leads him to antagonize his Democratic
associates in Congress ON both of these ques-
tons, and move on higher plane than sub
servience to the mandates of party, simply be-
cause the Utah Mormons are Democrats
Such at least is the reputed announcement
made by one Democratic mem ber-that he
voted against the Edmunds bill and for seat
ing Cannon, because the Mormans were in
political sympathy with his party. The
Democratic members of the House oppos-
ed the Edmunds bill. and on its final passage
ninety five of them voted against it, The re-
solution to seat Cannon was supported by all
the Democrats present except eight. Mr.. Paul
voted with the Republicans upon these two
propositions, and not Republican vote was
recorded for either.
MIR. Cannon is representative man of the
polygamous Mormons. He recognizes five
wives, and defended the institution of polyga-
my on the floor of Congress. He was first
elected in 1878, and has been successfully cleo
ted every two years since. In 1874 an effort
was made to unseat him, because of his po-
lygamous practices, but public sentiment had
not been aroused to the Importance of blotting
the stigma of poygamy from the records of
our civilization. 1t was developed by record
testimony that he was an instig ator of MUIR
der under the cover of "blood atonement." as
a supplement to his criminal usages, and yet
there had never been a determined effort to
GUST him from his seat and, strike deadly blow
at the pestiferous institution he supported, un-
til the present Congress. Mr.. Paul's indepen-
dent position left him free to vote with the
majority and to thus vindicate the sanctity of
the marriage altar as observed in christian
com munities and ordained of Christ himself.
Not only in this instance did Mr. Paul re-
fleet the sentiment of his district, but his in
dependence directed his vote to support the
Tariff Commission, which contempt ates
modification of the tariff laws so as to make
them operate uniformly, while encouraging
the industries of the country and stimulating
material development. In this he has con
suited the interests of his constituents, for it is
manifest that the present Congress could not,
with the conflicting influences which have to
be consulted, adjust the inequalities of the tar
if laws. adopted at different times and with
out reference to that uniformity which should
enter into the regulation of a system of i'm
port duties. Bourbon Democracy would
strike down this system which is designed to
encourage and build up manufacturing inter-
ests, simply because it was Democratic policy
in the South when chattel slavery cast its
blighting shadow over Southern territory, for
getting that the entire South bears different
relation to the whole industrial question to
what 1t did before the pillow share of revolu-
ton tore up the labor and political system of
the Southern States.
1t is this kind of independence that people
admire and endorse-an independence that
leads to conservative and salutary results, and
consults healthful influences for the body pol
ltic. 1t is an independence that disdains the
mandates of the caucus-that is Indifferent to
the abjurations Of partizan methods and tram
mels, and that looks first and all the time to
the welfare of the people, in the popular and |
higher sense of the term.
Mr. Paul. while not demonstrative, noisy, |
or efficlous, gives promise of making safe,
wise and conservative representative. study
ing the interests of the State and country
from higher plane than mere party invoca-
ton, and of broader significance than mere
partizan influence.