Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-22

'1uxury, and lightest on articles OF neces-
'ssity."
Finally, the platform sums up the whole
matter in these emphatic words, "Subject
ssto the preceding limitations, we demand
ssthat Federal taxation shall be exclusively
s.for public purposes, and shall not exceed
ssthe needs Of the Government economical
'1y administered"
After careful examination of the above
quoted provisions of the Democratic plat
form, and the doctrines of Henry Clay and
the Wing party of 1842, as l have endeav-
ored to plain them, can any candid man
affirm that there is any material diferenre
between them? l must confess that if any
such exists. l am not able to see it. As an
old line Wing 1 can, without any incon-
sistency, stand squarely on the Democratic
platform Of the present day. And | be-
iieve that if Clay, Webster, Fillmore, Cor
win, Crittenden, Clayton, and the other
great leaders of the Wing party were now
living, they would give to it, and to the
nominees of the party, their cordial support.
| | am aware that there are some old
Wings who were so staunch in their oppo-
sition to the old Democratic party that
they feel reluctant to give their support to
the measures of the Democratic party of
the present day. To all such, beg to say
that the policies of the Democratic party of
the present time are as different from those
of the Democratic party of 1S42 and 1914,
as day is from night.
The great questions upon which the
Democrats of 1874 differed from the Wings
of that day were the system of banking
and currency, the tariff, internal improve
ments by the Frderal Government, and the
distribution of the proceeds of the public
lanGs.
| The Democrats denied the power Of the
general government to incorporate bank
of the United States, and thereby give to
our country currency of uniform value
throughout its whole extent.
| They denied the constitutional right in
laying a tariff to have reference to the
protection of American industries.
| They denied, also, the constitutional au
thority of congress to make appropriations
of money to aid in constructing works Of
internal improvement Of national charac-
| ter.
They also denied the right of congress to
distribute the proceeds of the public lands,
when they were not needed for the purpose
of the Federal government, among the
States in accordance with the terms of the
trusts on which these lands are held by the
Federal government.
| On all these questions the Wings took
issue with the Democrats, and on these
great questions the Presidential battles Of
| 1874 and 1S48 were mainly fought, although
| in 1914 the side issue of the annexation of
Texas, and in 1S4S the question of the dis
position Of the territory acquired from
Mexico by the treaty of peace, occupied
large share of public attention.
The Democratic party has proven itself
| to be not only progressive, but patriotic
party. 1t has profited by the lessons of
experience. 1t has renowned its Opposi-
ton to National Banks and a National cur
rency. 1t has kept pace with the spirit of
the age IN expressing its sympathy with
American industry and its readiness to at
| ford it all needf1l encouragement and pro-
lection, and it has SO far relaxed its oppOsi
| ton to appropriations for Improvements of
a national character as to be ready to ex
tend to them material aid.
And upon the subject of the distribution
of the proceeds of the public lands, am
not aware of any material difference be-
tween the old Wings and the Democrats of
the present day on that question, though it
has ceased, for time at least, to be one
of practical interest.
Under this changed condition of affairs,
why should the old Wings feel reluctant to
vote with the Democrats? They are sacri-
ficing no principle by doing SO. On the
contrary, they are giving practical support
to the great measures of policy which they
always advocated. By voting for the
Democratic ticket of 1884, they are aiding
to bring into power the measures which
they sought to establish forty years ago in
the election Of Henry Clay. In voting for
Cleveland and Hendricks, feel that [ am
voting. in effect, for the principles and pol
icy of the old wing party. Names amount
to hut little. The poet tells US, a rose by
any other name would smell as sweet"
And principles and policies remain the
same whether they are brought into power
un Ter the auspices of the Democratic party
or the Wings. | eau see no reason why
any old-line Wing should refuse to vote for
the nominees of the present Democratic
party. If they choose to adopt our princi
pies, is that any reason why we should
abandon them? l think not?
Very truly yours, &C.,
ALEX. h. II. STUART