Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-08-26
Change of Administration Needed.
BUSINESS INTERESTS DEMAND CHANGE
OF ADMINISTRATION.

If we look to the causes of the troubles
in business which have afflicted our coun-
try, we shall find, as the Baltimore Sun
says, that they have had, for the most part,
their origin in the unwise policy of the re-
publican party and its maladministration OF
the affairs of government. A tariff that
under the pretense of protecting the Amer
lean workingman takes from his pockets,
and from those of the people generally,
more than hundred millions of dollars ev-
cry year in excess Of the largest needs Of
the government, and that shuts out the
products of his industry from the markets
of the world, must inevitably be, to those
who believe in it, delusion and snare;
for production under it, so long as it is re-
stricted to home consumption, must fire.
quently be in excess Of the home demand,
and under the stimulus of competition can
only create spasms of activity, to be fol-
lowed by intervals of enforced idleness.-
What the workingmen want is steady and
continuous labor at fair and regular wages,
and this they can never get until the safe
ty-valve of foreign markets is opened to
their products under conditions that would
enable them to successfully compete with
foreign manufactures. But it is not only
for this unwise policy, whereby the world S
markets are closed against American in
dustry, that the republican party is now
arraigned before the bar of public opinion.
The accusation brought against it is, that
during the twenty years it has had peace
full possession of the government there is no
one department Of it that has not become
more or less demoralized. Gigantic frauds
on the treasury have been publicly proven
in the star-route trials, while every one of
the accused has escaped punishment. Nal
feasance ir zee has become a thing of
common occuI-encs, and looseness in the
conduct of affairs, amounting often to reck-
lessness, has been visible everywhere, from
subordination of Congressman in the credit
mobilier transaction to the bribery of feder-
al officials by the Western whisky rings
The confidence of business men in tie ac-
tivity and stability of trade, and of capital
lists in the possible success of speculative
enterprises, is largely dependent on the pol
icy Of the government and the manner in
which its affairs are administered. But of
all men the workingmen are the most deep
ly interested in having an honest and eco
nnrniaa1 oou ,o1,f ond in ba do
of policy that will not only tend to secure
them steady work at satisfactory prices,
but that will also protect them in their just
rights. The time is ripe for such q change
There are very few inflated values remain
ing By the shutting down of mills and
the stopping of furnaces and factories as
result of our burdensome system, manufac-
turers have been able to dispose of the
greater part of their surplus stock while the
workingmen were kept idle. The country
will soon be comparatively bare of goods,
and there is beginning to be felt new and
healthy stirring Of the business pulse. What
is wanted to hasten return to that prosper
ity which is the normal condition of the
country Is such change in the administra-
ton of the affairs Of government as will in
spire confidence in the future, and give ev-
cry reasonable hope that the welfare of the
whole body of the people will hereafter be
considered paramount to that of any par
tlcular class of citizens, or to the aggran-
dizement OF any political party.