The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-05-15
A Party of Negative s.


A Party of Negatives.
There could not be more expressive
exemplification of the utter want of gov
ernmental principle or policy in the Dem
oeratic party. than has been given in this
Congress. With an overwhelming major
ity of its members in control of that body,
when the proposition came up for definite
consideration to declare for a positive
position ON the tariff, there was such
a divergence of sentiment that the Re-
publicans, largely in the minority, were
enabled to defeat it, and, by impli-
cation, have endorsed their party policy
by a Democratic Congress For TWEEN
'ty years the Democracy has been q party
merely of negatives. 1t has been content
with opposing Republican measures, with
out the capacity OF courage to formulate.
an aggressive line Of action, and conse-
quently has not inspired the confidence of
the country to the degree to eEtrust it
with power. In its first attempt to depart
from this policy, fatal dissension in its
own ranks is manifested, and disastrous
defeat encountered. 1t has been arrayed,
with this policy of negatives. against eve
ry great measure that has contributed to
the progress and prosperity of the country.
1t is recorded against the homestead law
against the preservation of the national
credit: against specieresumption against
"a tariff system that protects American la
Dor and builds up American industries,
and in fact every important measure that
has been framed for the advancement of
the country, the elevation of national char
acter and the interests of the people. 1t
can lay claim to the suggestion or enact
ment of no wise act of legislation. 1t has
simply antagonized that which has prom
ised good, and opposed the party which
has given the evidence of its craftsmanship
in the legislation .whiclsforms the basis of
our wonderful growth and wealth as a
Nation. sss 5
1t is not strange, witllsucha record, that the
Intelligence of the country refuses its con-
| fidence to such d party. Even in the South,
where it is the strongest, and where most
all of its political. power is found, people
have no confidence in it,and would regard it
as a great national calamity were it to sue
coed, to the control of the government
From some ihexplicable infatuation with
a name, which represents all that is retro
active and obstructive in our history, the
Democratic party commands the support
Of majority of the white citizens, the
| business portion of whom distrust it and
| would shudder at the thought of its sue
cess in a National contest. With it's re-
cord, they know that were favorable ver-
dict given in a Presidential election, it
would be followed by wide spread disas-
ter in all the business interests of the
country, whether the policy it might inau-
gurate would be lin consonance with the
votes it has given in Congress, OF not. The
simple fact that it's record on all the great
Tissues Of the past twenty-five years is adj
4 verse to national welfare, would send a
| tremor through all the ram LEGATIONS of in
dustry and enterprise, Albright capital and
/ paralyze the forces which move the indus
tries and regulate the commerce Of the
4 Nation ., There could he no approximate
estimate Of the loss that would he in
fieted in. twelve MONTHS by such a con-
dition Of things. If the mere agitation of
the tariff and revenues systems which it
has instituted and the threat it implies
| to Eths stability of.business, has caused a
loss, in the past twelve months, as is as
sumed, of eight hundred millions of dol
i lars, when the Senate and Executive
| branches Of the government could arrest
4 any Mischievous legislation. what would
| be the effect were the entire government
4 transferred to its control? e sfa!i ~
4 The. interests involved in the result Of q
i Presidential election, are too vast and VI
ltal to be approached through prejudice, OF
4 considered from any other standpoint than
that Of principle and patriotism, Mere
] party names, however venerable and linked
\ withpasti associations should have no inf1u-
4 ence upon brave men, unless they speak
for the benefits of the country and repre-
i sent the policies which sustain and encour-
4 age the industries essential to national
development and strength and the welfare
4 Of the people. g,.f..e. s.r4 4.e
PC So far as this paper is concerned, it is q
u matter of comparative Indifference who
\ receives the nomination of the Chicago
\ Convention Of June Sd. We are so well
Il oots c6ad fbof +bo ,on,inoac far Droc;dant
4 and Vice President will be Republicans
| entitled to the confidence and support Of
Il the party, that whether it is one of the as
d piIants OF another we will be ready to ad-
i vocate his claims. We may have our per-
jisonal partialities, but they cannot lead us
4 to criticise the claims Of others or induce
| us to write anything which we would wish
we had not written should our favorite not
i be successful. Wewill have enough to dc
4 to counteract the SANDERS and abuse Of the
4 Democratic press when the canvass opens
u whether the Chicago Republican nominee
4 shall be Arthur. Blaine, Logan, Edmunds
4 Hawley, Gresham, Allison. Harrison. or
any other of the prominent names men-
| GlUllCu t+Iilf COllllCCtlUH NlUll Uut IIeSIucll-
cy. Hence we cannot see the sense or
4 the policy of the friends Of Blaine
d making assaults upon Arthur and Ed
A munds or the expediency of the retort
/ which throws discredit upon Blaine. 1t is
| possible all will be called on to vote for one
or the other of these gentlemen, and in
i that event, either compelled to eat good
deal Of crow, or refuse to support the ac-
tion of the Convention. In either case,
1.-the influence of such political writers
would be greatly diminished, and the diff
Guilty Of getting fairly into harness the
Imore formidable. It is always best to
leave complaints against Republican can
didates to our friends, the enemy They
Twill howl enough over them. Republicans
who intend to act in accord with the party,
|, Should keep cool, and be prepared to ac-
[cept the defeat of their favorite with COM
llIposure. and save themselves for warm
4 work when the Democratic ticket is pre-
sented. They will find plenty of material
| l.