Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-09-05
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL TICKET
BE NOT DECEIVED.

BE NOT DECEIVED.
The great campaign Of 1884 has just
opened in real earnest, and from this time
forth every energy of both great parties
will be directed to place the crown of VIC
tory upon the candidate nominated by
their respective conventions. The Re-
publican party is now looking with long
ing eyes toward the electoral votes of sew
eral Southern States, and the people OF Viz
einia in particular are hearing the strange
and unaccustomed sound of kind words
from the lips of Republicans. We mean,
of course, Northern Republicans, and not
the new edition of Republicans ground out
by Mahone's mill of Readjustment. These
new converts to Republicanism have no
words of love OF sympathy for their native
State, Malone, Wise, Sims and Blair,
and all who follow their piratical banner,
delight to SANDER and traduce the land OF
their birth instead of trying to build up
its broken fortunes. Against these men
no words of warning are necessary. The
Virginia people know them. and will hold
whatever they may say as light as chaff.
But Republicans of different stamp have
been brought here-and they promise to
be only the advance guard of those that
are to come-and is against these
that we warn the people and urge
them not to be deceived. What in
terest have they in Virginia except to Sc
cure her electoral vote for James g..
Blaine? Has the Republican party in its
whole long lease of power ever protested
to be friendly to the South ? No measure
of any benefit to thu the South ever origi-
mated with Republican Congress or was
recommended by Republican President.
Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, who
succeeded Lincoln as President, was put
on trial by the Republican party. and only
escaped impeachment by one vote. And
why? Simply because he declared that
the war was over and desired to restore
local self-government to the PROSTATE
States of the South. For this, and no
other crime, the President of the United
States was brought to trial; and failing to
impeach him Republican Congress strip
ped his office of every power and all dIgnl-
ty. and all because he tried to be the Pres
ident of che people and not of the Repub-
lican party alone. True time has wrought
many changes since those days. Andrew
Johnson fills an honored grave, but his
memory abides with the people he tried to
free. and no true man in all this Southern
land will forget why the effort was made
to depose him fro M the Chief Magistracy
of the Nation. The history of the Repub'
Hcan party bristles all over with measures
of cruelty and injustice to the conquered
people of the south. The, Force Bill,
which was defeated by the heroic efforts
of Samuel J. Randall and a handful OF
Northern Democrats, had for its object
the complete political subjngation OF
she Southern people by comforting upon
Wis President the right to declare martial
law whenever and wherever he pleased
and if this Infamous measure had passed
the South would be to-day under despot,
ism more CALLING and complete than that
exercised by the Gar of Russia. We warn
our people not to be deceived by specious
promises made by men who in the very
nature of things have no sympathy II
common with US. Remember that the
leaders of the Republican party are to-day
the same as when the odious measures CT
reconstruction were enacted. Blaine and
Logan were among the leaders OF the Re
publican party then-to-day they are Its
candidates. Who can believe in the sin
cerity of men that only few short months
ago branded the Democrats of Virginia
as red-handed murderers and appointed
investigating committees to manufacture
partlzan reports of blood shed and laWless-
mes in the South. And with this record
behind it, the Republican party invites
the people of Virginia to come and par
take of it's feast. The only inducement
it offers is a protective tariff. Its own
platform recognizes that great abuses have
crept into the administration of govern
mental affairs; it willingly admits that
the thieves and rascals in it's ranks have
gone UNPUBLISHED. and in many instances
have been raised to positions of trust and
honor by the very reason Of their crimes;
and yet with unblushlng effrontery it
again seeks to be continued in power and
solicits the SURFACES of those whom it has
most injured. Democrats of Virginia,
and especially of old Augusta, be not de-
ceived by what Republican campaign ora
tors may tell you. They will tell you of
the tariff and the glorious future for Vir-
ginia if Mr.. Blaine is elected. But who
wants any more protection than is prom
ised by the Democratic platform? The
sole object of protective tariff is to ben
eft the laboring man. and such protection
the Democratic party is pledged to give.
The great issue in this campaign is re-
form. Be not deceived by any other argu-
ment. Let the Democracy OF the nation
stand shoulder to shoulder in this great
work, and when the much needed refor-
nation is accomplished, the party will in
augurate such policies as will enure to
the benefit of the whole people and not to
any particular class or section.
THE REP UBLICAN -NOMINEE.