The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-28
A Splendid Record.

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as if on canvass, the marvellous progress
of the Nation in material and political
power, starting in 1861, when the policy of
the government was changed from Demo-
cratic to Republican control. Under the
last Democratic administration, that of
Nh. Buchanan, the revenues of the govern
ment were 100000 not enough to pay
the current demands of the departments.
To meet the deficit six per cent. bonds
were issued, offered on the market and
reluctantly taken at 10 and II per cent.
discount, or IS to 80 cents for $1.0O. This
was the last administration OF the Demo
cratic party. After an almost unbroken
rule of thirty years, the treasury was left
bankrupt, the credit of the government
deprecated below that of any civilized
power on the globe, with no industrial sys-
tenn except that based on human slavery
dependent for all the implements OF ma
chinery, and for all the wearing apparel OF
the best and commonest fabrics on the
products of European labor subjected to
an industrial slavery in all the range of
manufacturesssas complete and thorough as
that which. fettered the limbs of the bonds
man and shut out from his mental and
moral being the lights Of education and
religious teaching. Boosting theoretically
of a Constitution that recognized the
equal natural rights of man-of politi-
cal liberty that contrasted with the re-
stricted institutions of the East-of free
dom in it's broadcast sense,-yet practically
accepting an industrial condition that
made us the hewers of wood and drawers
of water for European powers. 1t was
this governmental policy that brought the
country to the dependent and impover-
ished condition that existed under the
Democratic regime, signalling its retire
ment with the throes of revolution.
With the country racked from centre to
circumference by the angry Earrings OF
contending and hostile factions-the fires
of revolution kindled by the harsh attri-
tions of sectional passions war clouds low
erjng gloomy and threatening in the near
distance the treasury impoverished cred
it virtually bankrupt: remunerative indus
tries famished-under such conditions the
Republican party came into power. With
peoples, it grasped the situation and adj
dressed itself to the gigantic responsible
ties which confronted it. How it met
them, is of too fresh record not to be ia
miliar to every man who will be called
upon to cast ballot in November next.
A financial system was devised which was
adequate to the pressing and vast de-
mands and emergencies Of the Nation.
The treasury was .replenished, all classes
of industries encouraged by protective
laws, armies were equipped, secession
crushed, the Union restored, and the POI
litical oneness of the country, as well as
it's industrial independence, established.
To-day our three per cent. bonds are
quoted at premium in all the CONNER
cial centres of the civilized world. Our
paper currency is accepted for dollar,
equal to gold, in all the world wide circles
of commercial enterprise. The products
of our artizans and mechanics invade the
markets of every foreign country. We
produce everything we use. Skilled and
common labor find ample remuneration,
under the laws which guard American in
dustries. The continent has been spanned
by four railroads, uniting the oceans and
converting into busy scenes Of business
activities, into prosperous communities
and rich and flonrishing States, what was
the intervening desert of the Nation. So
cial converse is held, by electric currents,
between the golden slope and the Atlantic
seaboard. The events of the old world are
flashed to our shores on the, wings of the
| lightning. Our credit, our commerce, our
wealth, our power, our industries, our pro-
gress and prosperity are unequaled in the
annals of time. Instead of forty millions
of revenue and a depleted treasury, we
have four hundred millions Of revenue and
an OVERLOOKING treasury. The chains have
been stricken from four millions of bonds
men. The school house has been opened
to every child, whether rich or poor, black
or white. A new Interpretation has been
given to our Declaration of Independence
and to-day fifty-five millions of people sit
under the protection of our national agis.
with equal rights under the law, and the
| lights of a brighter and more glorious po-
litical and religious dispensation flooding
down upon them, such as have never be-
fore radiated the mental and moral condi-
ton of people.
These are some Of the achievements I'M
der the administration Of the Republican
party for thepast twenty-five years. Con-
trast them with consummations of the
Democratic party for thirty years pre-
vionsly, and then answer whether the Re-
publicans. ought not be proud of their par
ty and dedicate the best energies OF mind
and body to perpetuate it's reign in the
interest of civilization and humanity
The mind was carried back over the his
tory of the contending parties during the
splendid presentations of Judge Foraker.
The theme and it's associations bee anne in
spring to thes speaker and his hearers,
and as he closed in one of the most elO-
quent perorations we have ever heard,
the whole vast concourse seemed to be
thrilled with All electric influence, which
manifested itself in an outburst which
fairly made the huge building tremble.
Judge Foraker's speech was mastery
effort, such as has been rarely, if ever in
these later days, heard by Valley au-
dience. His arguments and facts were
addressed to the reason and conscience of
his hearers, and there they will have a
Judgment. There was no slang, no per-
sonal abuse. no offensive epithets. The
most tender skinned of the ''best people"
could not reasonably find fault, unless
it was in the exposure of the record of
his party. His audience was held in strict
est attention, and although he spoke for
two hours and half, it was larger when
he closed than at any time during the de-
livery. 1t was an address that will be
long remembered by those who heard it,
and the effects will be demonstrated at the
1. L.