The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-05-17
Mr.. Conkling's Speech.

The Democratic press seem much elated
over a speech made week before last by
Hon. Roscoe Conkling ut the weekly meet
ing Of the Saturday night club i'll New
York In that speech the ex-senator de-
clared that the hands on the dial OF progress
had been set back ten years by the defeat
of Gen. Grant in the Chicago convention,
and that the next presidential election
would result in the triumph Of the Dem
ocratic party. Whatever may be the abilities
of Mr.. Conkling however varied his tai
ents OF great his achievements III the
line of craftsmanship and law, his most
ardent admirers will never claim for him
the gift of prophecy. This is not the first
time he has been INDUCING in predictions,
but we have yet to learn of pronounced sue
cess attending the same. We are OF those
who as earnestly desired the nomination OF
Gen. Grant at Chicago, as did any OF the
| famous ''306,'' and who look upon him
| now us one of the greatest men this coun-
| try ever produced. We admire, too, the
commanding ability and purity OF char
acter of ex-senator Conkling. His emil
nent services to the country and the Re-
| publican party will not and ought not to
| be forgotten. But great rs have been the
parts played by these two men i'll the up
building of the nation and direction OF the
party they are as helpless us children now to
| tear down the one or overthrow the other.
| We know they desire neither. Mr.Conkllng
doubtless spoke for himself alone, and the
outburst was but the ebulltion ofperSonal
grievance. The events of the past three
years have been filled with bitterness for
the New York statesman. So completely
has his mind been occupied with the con-
| temptation of his own disappointments
| that he has failed to note the progress
/ going on about him. He nursed his
wounded pride and the grandarmy moved
| to the front. He bestrode Il rocking chair
and kept up the motion. whilst the steady
| tramp OF the veterans pressed onward.
Mr. Conkling was left behind. So much
behind that even with his intellectual pen
etration he does not seem to realize how
|
retirement from public life, not only has
! the country advanced with seven-leagued
strides, but a record has been made which
gives assurance of the continued supremacy
Of the Republican party. The hands on
the dial of progress have not only not
been set back, but the impotency of indi-
viduals to even stay them for a moment
has been demonstrated. If Mr.. Conkling
is so wide of the mark in his statement of
that which is past, what reliance can be
placed in his visions of the future.
The Republican party is not the work of
one man or any particular set of men. Its
career is not limited to the caprice of in
dividuals; it's usefulness not bounded by
the qualification of personal ambitions
1t is the outgrowth of the conviction of
millions. Its horizon stretches from gen
GRAFTON to generation, and its mission will
have ended only when a more worthy sue
cessor shall be found. That successor has
not yet appeared. Nor will it ever be the
product OF the elements now composing
the Democratic party. Opposition to accom-
pliShed facts absence of principle; greed
OF office, and an utter want oT competency
to deal with the important national inter-
ests, are not the ingredients out of which
to manufacture the successful rival of the
Republican party.
Democratic newspapers are just now
busily employed in predicting the success of
their party in 1884. and building pyramids
of States which they claim will be ranged
in the anti-Republcan column at the close
of that contest. If they are really in
earnest, and actually believe in all of those
rose-tinted fancies, it seems almost cruelty
to bring them down to cold facts and ask
for the basis upon which the fabric has
been reared. The people of the United
States are plain and practical. The day
OF fantastic theories has passed. Results
are the tests now applied, and the party
seeking control Of the government must
be able to show by its past record that it
is worthy of the custodianship it seeks.
1t will not do to simply cry, ''We are gong
to win 1t must be demonstrated that
''we'' ought to win. Not so much that
I'VE" will achieve success as that .'we'
merit that success. If the Democratic
| party had never had control of the nation S
affairs if history could be destroyed, and
| the recollection of men blotted out, then
there might be some better prospect of the
people venturing upon hazardous expert
ment. Under those conditions they might
be tempted to thrust aside tried and faith
| full servants, and substitute those who
promised more, but as long as that record
stands, and stands too with the additions
made year after year since the government
was wrested from Democratic manage
ment, just so long will that party seek in
vain for the confidence and support of
those whose interests are at stake. The
people know that the Republican party has
brought the country to Il degree Of pros
perity never known before has made it
the richest and most powerful nation of
the world. They know that it's financial
condition and the healthy operation of all
| its vast departments were never so marked
as now, and they have no idea of changing
this certainty into any uncertainty. They
know too that in nearly every State where
the Democratic party has had control, it's
administration has proven a failure
Among others, Virginia is a striking illus
tration These are the facts that men will
be called upon to face before making up
their verdict, and those who are sensible
will not take long in deciding how their
| ballots shall be cast.
Iron in the South.
The Trade Reuieac i'll recently reported
interview with a travelling man of expe-
rience and observation shows how it is
possible, in the South. to reduce the manu-
factlre of iron to a minimum. The esti-
mates of Prof. McCreath. Of the compare
tive cost of reducing the ore to marketable
| SHINE i'm VIRGINIA aud palnc ,l,ro,,;o have