Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-05-16
DISTINGUISHED NAMES As CAP

l.
No public man of his prominence has
had the influence of his distinguished
name more disastrously misused for
questionable purposes than has General
Grant. In the great Black Friday disas-
ter in Wall street in which his brother-ln-
law Corbin was an actor his name was on
every mans lips. He was President at
the time, and it had been given out by un-
principled men that Corbin had the means
of knowing that the Treasury Department
at Washington would aid the Wall street
conspirators by means of the Sub-Treas-
ury at New York. So pat had become
the charge that the Administration was
implicated, that distinguished Republi-
can gave the world the memorable ex-
preston that s'the conspiracy had been
tracked to the door of the White House."
A name which stands high in the coun-
try annals has been used as an adver-
tisement for railroad and canal schemes,
and at last secured for wildcat banking
house in Wall street. The charge that Gen.
Grant, in the slang Of Wall street, 'stood
the schemes, will find no credence in the
United States. But there is little doubt that
this new disaster will set people to thinking
of how little tangible security there is for
their money in the names Of great generals
and great politicians at the head of bust
ness schemes. At the close of the war it
was favorite dodge of corporations to So
cure as figure heads the generals and other
prominent men of both sides who were no
longer in employment. If we mistake
not, Ex-President Davis was at the head
of an insurance company, and many Con-
federate generals were in similar positions.
They were men in whom other men had
confidence and that accounted for their
services being secured. 1t may be added
that the popularity attending the use of
their names fully compensated the COM
panies for the high salaries paid. 1t may be
a proper question to ask, why should the
public be so gullible !? A man Of the high
est integrity and spotless character at the
head of business he does not I'M
derstand, may bring the shareholders
as the most accomplished scoundrel could
by his cunning. 1t does not follow by
any means that because man has won
laurels in the field, in the forum or in the
law that he can do the same thing in COM
mercial business, something that requires
different but equally valuable qualities.
A thoroughly trained business man. of
probity, at the head of business concern,
should be regarded with many times more
confidence by the public than the most
learned, intellectual and chivalric of men
who is not business man. No one sup
poses that Gen. Grant and his sons would
have been SO easily beggared by sharper
had they been business men and familiar
with the branch they were financially in
terested in. There is no safe guard equal
to knowledge, and of this the Grants had
nothing. AS matter of fact they were
as much Adventures in the field CT Wall
street as the villain who was their undoing.
That the General could on his little capt.
tai of $50 900 pat into the firm have $780,
600 on the books apparently to his credit,
ought to have told him that he was in
den of the wildcat specie. 1t is the hard
est matter in the world to have sudden
wealth, and also honest wealth. By the
sweat of thy brow. whether divine SEN
tence extending to this day or not. is fact
that must be recognized.
AS fer the feeling for Gen. Grants dis
aster, there will be a widespread sympathy
for him throughout the country. In the
South we will not forget that but few days
ago, out of what he then thought was his
abundance, he gave handsome sum to the
home for ex- Confederates, and what was
more welcome, wrote letter marked by
genuine sympathy.
The INDICATOR may be right as to the
growing independence of the people, but
we think we know the masses of the Y al
ley-among whom we have lived and
served the Democratic party longer than
the VINDICATOH-wel enough to know,
that they will never decide against an in
corruptible public servant, who has given
his marked abilities for lifetime to the
study of questions of revenue and finance.
vii bout learning from him how his action
is likely to affect their interests. When
that day comes, and Mr.. Tucker is brought
face to face with his impartial judges, we
confidently predict that he will not only
be able to vindicate the wisdom of his re-
cent course in favor Of Tariff-reform, but
that he will establish himself yet more
firmly in the confidence and affection of
people who have always honored them
selves in honoring him.-"Iarif Re-
former" an Spectator.
We assure our friend that the VINDI-
GATOR is right as to the growing indie
pendence of the people. Last Saturday
the issue was brought face to face with
the people at the Waynesboro primary. A
resolution was introduced recommending
the State convention to send Mr.. Tucker
as a delegate at large to Chicago. Capt.
G.. Julian Pratt took the floor against the
adoption of the resolution and it was de-
feated by the significant vote of % to 4.
1t only needs an explanation of the mat
ter, at any public meeting IN this county,
to develop a similar vote. The people are
not against Mr.. Tucker, but for them
selves. 1t will take more than ''life time
of study" to enable public man to CON
vince the people of an iron district that
their welfare is advanced by admitting the
iron ore of foreign nations to easy COM
petition with their own. Our people do
not wish to have mine of wealth changed
into ashes by the theorists wand. We are
not averse to the people "honoring them
selves" in electing man, if such thing
is possible, which we do not coneede in
the case of an intelligent and honest con-
stituency; but we are averse to the people
being asked to put aside the fact that
supporting themselves comes before honor
ing Others