Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-26
The Two Parties.

It will be difficult matter for the Repub-
lican party to find popular issue upon
which to make their fight next fall. Ever
since the war that party has found Sec
tionalism the easiest issue with which to at
tract the North. Having no rational prin-
ciples upon which to oppose the Democra-
cy, the Republican managers have long re-
sorted to the bloody shirt. An effort was
made to hoist that mythical garment on the
eve of the campaign of 1884, and it looked
at one time as if the Stalwarts would sue
coed in drawing the eyes of northern Re-
publicahs to tho old standard. But the at
tempt has proved failure. The so-called
Danville massacre, upon which Sherman
had built his hopes, has fallen flat, and the
Copiah investigation will prove equally un-
successful. We are glad to see that Sec
tionalism is dying.
The Republican party will have to look
for some other issue. Economic que stions
are the absorbing topics in national politics;
but the Republican party is on the wrong
side, and the unpopular side of the question.
The Republican managers are protectlonlsts.
ing fast, and they have found that high
protection fills the pockets of a few wealthy
monopolists, while it lays heavy tax on
the masses. The Republican monopollsts
use the same old specious argument-"hlgh
protection means high wages" But the
wage-workers are capable OF reasoning more
truthfully than the monopolists had suppos-
ed. They have learned that high wages are
not as high in proportion as the price OF
food and raiment. They see that high
duties, while they may protect the manu-
facturer in a measure, rob the people. And
they see, too, that high protection does not
insure regular WORK. Under the present
system of protection the industrial interests
of the country have been greatly depressed
and more than half the laboring men, de-
pending upon these interests for their daily
bread, have been idle all the winter. In
telligent workingmen who have been inter
viewed on the subject say that their condi-
ton was never worse than 1t has been dur
ing the past six months.
The Republicans are responsible more OF
. less for the unsatisfactory state of the me-
chanics aud laborers. The Democrats on
the other hand look first to the amelioia-
e ton of the masses. They will attempt tt
d reform the tariff and thereby bring about
" more wholesome condition of affairs. They
J. oppose mopopuies and strive to help honest
labor and honest trade. They believe that
r. competi ion is the life Of trade, and that by
" fostering competition and not monopolies
ID the whole country will be greatly benefited
d The Democrats believe III an economical ad
,r ministration of the Government, and 10 ex
e, posing and furnishing crime The Repub
is lican bosses connive at political frauds, ant
" keep in Office corrupt and incompetent men
" There can be no reform SO long as the Re
ir publican party remains inpower. The cor
E. ruption of the Republican Administration
of at Washington is very much like the coali
ID ton corruption was in Virginia. The Dem
Of ocrats turned the Mahoneite rascais out, ant
- it has taken energetic work to cleanse thu
I Augeau stables.
OF In few months the presidential cam
le paign will wax warm. The Republican
" managers will have bad record to hold vi
lr to the country, and without the bloody
f. shirt to wave in the presence of the people
l. or some sectional issue calculated to intiam
? the masses, they will find themselve
1e stranded. The people demand. a change il
as the Administration, and if the Democrat
Id but act with wisdom and pluck they vii
assuredly elect the President III Novembe
it next.-Richnpond State.