Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-09-19
REP UBLICAN PRETENSLONS.

past achievements as potent reasons why it
should be continued four years longer in
power. This party of hate, fanaticism,
force and fraud, with the death rattle in
its throat so plainly indicating a speedy
dissolution, is claiming to-day the credit
of every blessing that benignant Prort-
dence has showered upon this favored ma
ton.
The people of the United States are ma
turally of thrifty and frugal habits; in
dustry and enterprise characterize them
in larger degree than any other race be-
meath the sun; and simply because the
country has flourished, and some men have
grown very rich in the last twenty years.
Mr.. Blaine assumes in his letter of &C.
ceptance that all this is due to the prin.
ciples and policies of the Republican party.
Mr. Blaine and his followers fail to con-
slider the fact that all wealth must come
out of the ground that the farmer is the
man at last whose toll must make his
country rich. Does the farmer raise any
more corn or wheat per acre under Repub-
lican rule than he did in the honest days
of James Buchanan? Does he get any
more for farm productions now than then?
We think the disheartened agriculturist
who finds his wheat drug in the market
at seventy-five cents bushel can not con-
scientiously render any thanks to the Re-
publican party for the marvellous pros
perity'' its measures have brought to pass.
The Radical party shuts its eyes to the
mercies of Heaven, forgets the patient
toll of the worker in the field, and claims
for it's due that which only wise and
good Providence can bestow.
No enc will deny that the country has
increased in wealth and population during
the past twenty years, but the causes of
these results are as natural as the tides of
the sea.
Abundant crops have gladdened the
hearts of husbandmen; no dread epide-
mic scourge has thlnned the ranks of our
increasing population; the lover of civil
and religious liberty has come to ou1
shores FROM every cline, and thus we
have waxed greater in wealth and popula-
ticn. The Republican party had nothin g
to do with framing the Constitution and
laws that have made this nation the pride
of all republics and haven of refuge for
the down trodden and oppressed of every
land. All these blessings were secured 10
mankind many years before this sectional
party appeared in our politics to SOW strife
and discord throughout our land. To
the Father of Democracy-Thomas JEFF
ferson-this nation owes its birth; it
was his hand that penned the Declare
ton of Independence, and the principles
it enunciated are the web and wool of
Democracy to day.
But since the Republican party claims
that it is entitled to all the financial pros
perity of the country in the last two de-
cades, ought it not also assume the finan-
cial losses that have occurred during that
time? We think it equitable and just
that, reaping the glory of what the people
have accomplished for themselves. it
should be held to a strict accountability
tended the business interests of the ma
ton. If this be true, it is strange that
the whole people did not rise long ago and
hurl from power party that has SO reck-
lessly tempered with values of every kind
in the interests of the money kings of the
North. In 1868 or 1859 the Republican
party determined to take step in the d.
rection of resuming specie payments.
This was a step in the right direction.
but the Republican party in its boasted
wisdom, went to work and in three or
four years reduced the volume of curren-
cy seven or eight hundred millions of dol
Iars.-The legitimate fruit of this cruel
and unnatural contraction policy was
the panic of 1878. Few men of this gen :
GRAFTON will ever forget the disasters that
fell so thick and fast on business enter
prlses of every kind.
Mercantile houses that had long been
the pride and glory of N ew York, Phila.
delphia and other large cities. went down
before the storm raised by Republican
ignorance and stupidity; industrial inter
ests of every kind languished and persisted
in the long period of depression which
followed the crash of 1873; the fires in
our furnaces died out, and hush like
that Of death prevailed in manufacturing
cities and towns where thrift, content.
ment and happiness once held their sway.
For six weary years general stagnation
in business was the price paid by the
American people for the luxury of keep
Ing in power party whose financial poll.
cy was crushing them to the earth.
And yet this party of great pretentions
and small performances gravely tell us
the Democrats must not be allowed to re-
sumo the control of the government, as
their measures of finance and taxation
would ruin the country
1t is the opinion of a great many people
in these parts that the Republican party,
with its stealing aud mism anagement Of
affairs generally, has left very little fol
the Democrats to ruin, even if they should
follow the example set by their politlca,
enemies.
We are told day after day to let wei
enough alone; that the nation has pros
pered under Republican rule and should
be allowed to remain there. In
answer to this we point to the wrecks OF
business enterprises that strew the path.
way of the Republican party; look at She
army of tramps it has turned loose on the
country; remember the strikes and labor
troubles generally that have been of such
frequent occurrence in the past ten years,
and from these judge whether or not we
are prosperous people. The truth of the
matter is that the Republican party has
fulfilled its mission, If it ever had any; it
was born of hatred and has fed on passion
and prejudice. and its overthrow is duty
to which every patriot should address