Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-10-24
REFORM THE ISSUE.

The Democratic party appeals to the
country on one single issue, its platform
is summed up in one word-Reform. The
supreme necessity of change in the man
ner of administering national affairs is
recognized by the better element of
the Republican party to such an
extent that thousands who voted to
place Abraham Lincoln in the White
] House have put aside passion and preju-
dice and have clasped hands with their
political foes of lifetime in an honest.
determined effort to elect Grover Cleve-
land President of the United States.
That portion of the Republican party
which still clings to Blaine for the party's
sake must see that something is radically
wrong inside the ranks, or why this wide
spread and formi liable revolt against the
fairly nominated champion of its prin-
ciples ? The answer is found in the con-
science of every honest man, be he Re
publican or Democrat-because the Re
publican party has chosen as its candidate
man in whose vocabulary there is no
such word as honesty no conception in
his mind of reforming the gigantic abuses
that now threaten to make the republic
mere mockery of its original creation.
The Independent Republicans have re-
belled against Blaine because they know
that with him as President the country
will sink still deeper in the mire of fraud
and corruption; the Democracy opposes
both Blaine and the Republican party be-
cause the unanswerable logic of facts de.
monstrates that if the republic is to be
perpetuated the government must be
wrested from the hands of those who now
control it.
Reforms of various kinds are impera-
lively demanded; the present odious cleo
tion laws must be repealed, so that the
free citizens of our land may cast their
ballots unawed and unintimidated by
Federal Deputy Marshals, sworn in for
no other purpose than to carry election
for the Republican party. At the recent
election in Ohio these hired minions OF
corruption swarmed by the thousands
around the polls in Cincinnati armed with
weapons furnished by those in control of
the Republican campaign. And this was
done by the party which proclaims itself
the especial champion of ''a free ballot
and a fair COUNT Reform in methods of
taxation is absolutely necessary to relieve
the country of its present business depres-
sion and stagnatioD; the tariff must be SO
revised and adjusted that labor can find
steady employment without reducing
wages. Under the present system manu-
featuring operatives are only engaged
about one half their time, and may starve
during the remainder so far the Republi-
can party cares. The agricultural inter
ests of the country are suffering as never
before. A prohibitory ia riff has driven
the American farmer out OF the worlds
markets, and his overlooking granaries
are almost valueless to him.
High taxation never made any country
rich, and the farmer is now reaping in
fullest measure the fruits of Republican
legislation. The country demands that
the books shall be opened-it is time that
the Republican party should be made to
settle its accounts with the people, And
above all things, reform is needed in the
departments at Washington. Let us
cleanse the augean stables, bring star
route thieves and kindred offenders to
justice. The finger of destiny points to
Grover Cleveland as the man to bring Or
der out of chaos, honesty and fair dealing
out of fraud and corruption, and happy
will be the day when the whole people
hail him as their chosen ruler.