The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-14
Cleyeland's Envit ktnents.

Cleveland's Envif ments.
There has never been a party, thus early
in campaign, which furnished the evil
dences of certain and inevitable collapse
to the degree that the Cleveland and Hen
bricks following does. at this time. NOT
even the Greeley fiasco of 1872 presented
more hopeless view one month after the
Greeley nominating Convention adjourned.
Greeley was known to be an able man,
well versed in political science, thorough
ly familiar with governmental policies,
with well defined convictions as to the
principles of parties and the effect OF their
practical operation upon the interests or
the country. He was gentleman whose
honesty was never questioned, whose prl-
yate character was without stain or re-
proach, and in all the social and personal
relations of life enjoyed the confidence OF
his fellow-men. 1t was only the anoma-
alous and inexplicabIe position he was in
duced to accept as the candidate OF the
Democratic party for the Presidency, that
inspired the distrust and invoked the OPP
position of his personal and party friends.
That was indefensible, and the verdict of
the people was as expressive of oOndemna-
ton as it could we'll have been. Mr.. Cleve-
land has none of the redeeming features
of Mr.. Greeley's political and private life.
His mental resources have never been en-
larged by the associations and contacts
which broaden the comprehension, school
the convictions and prepare the mind to
grasp great questions of State. Nor has
his personal character been softened and
elevated by the influences of home and
family. To craftsmanship he is astran-
ger, without experience in legislative du-
ties or connection with public affairs to
train him for the responsibilities and du-
tiSs of the high position he seeks.
These considerations all operate against
him in the contest he is now engaged, but
they constitute but an infinitessimal part of
the embarrassments which surround him
and the impediments which beset his path.
He is conf ronted, in the first place, by
one of the ablest statesmen this country
has ever produced, as a competitor, repre-
senting a great party, enthused under his
leadership and thoroughly equipped for
every demand and emergency of the
campaign. Mr.. Blaine is recognized as
one of the foremost intellects Of the
Republic-a statesman almost without a
peer-a politician, in the higher sense of
the term. whose training and experience
fit him for every requirement of govern
ment, and patriot fully imbued with the
genius of our institutions and the mission
of the Republic. Not only does this for
midable competitor confront Mr.. Cleve-
land, but he is fianked by Butler, on the
one side, and st. John on the other, with
John Kelly and Tammany in the rear
lighting the fires of fearful antagonism
and welding the tomahawk of righteous
retribution. And arrayed in hostile atti-
tude are presented the Labor organiza-
tions, the Trades Unions, the Irish con-
tingent, the workingmen of every phase
and occupation all raising a protesting
front, and giving out mutterings of insa-
table revenge, because Of the many hos
tile acts the accidental Governor of New
York has been guilty Of. And. too, Mr..
Cleveland is handicapped by the great
straddler of the West, who is invoking
upon the ticket the wrath of the soldier
element of the country, who remember
but too wildly the Hendricks tactics dur.
ing the war and the baleful influences he
would fain have exerted to cripple the
cause in which they were.imperilling their
| lives.
l%Crowning all this is the shadow of a
great crime committed against social or
der and the moral instincts of the people
"a crime that cannot be sponged out,
nor mitigated by clamor or explanation
but which invites the growing condemna
tion of the clergy, of the church and the
moral sentiment of mankind.
To escape from such fearful environ
ments, Mr.. Cleveland's dependence IS a
rotten party, which processes no principle.
| is true to no interest affecting the welfare
of the Nation, with notorious bride.
giver as the recognized leader, installed at
the head of the managing committee. and
ready for treason or strategem that spoils
of Office may be grasped. 1t is true the
Independents appear in the distance, too
fastidious and pretentious to come in di-
rect contact with Barnum Thompson, Davis
and their like, handling the whole concern
with tongs. especially holding their superb
noses when the name of Hendricks is
! mentioned, and rolling out between Their
teeth "Reform,'' as the slogan of Their
faith, amidst mass of moral and pOliti-
cal putrescence that.has never before been
equalled IN it's aggregated offensiveness.
NJ It is no wonder that in the very incip-
Eiency of the contest the mass of the peo-
pie manifest their offended sense of right
and justice in raising the standard Of re-
volt against such candidate, such sur
roundings. and such party. Never in
the history of parties in this country has
there ever been such a revolt-such a vol
ume of indignant protest. 1t seems to be
contagious and increases in virulence as
each day gives opportunity to study the
situation and impress the magnitude of
the interests at issue. 1t is a mOnstrous
thought, to turn this great government
over to the control OF such influences and
place its administration lin the power OF
conspiracy to subordinate all the great
interests of a Nation to the selfish pur-
poses Of a political force that represents
everything obnoxious to the moral sense
and material welfare of the people.
The Valley Vayanian of yesterday, I'M
der the caption of Drift of Public Senti-
men, !" says:
Col. Robert Berkeley, one of the leading
Democratic orators of Virginia, and a pet
of the party, has declared his purpose to
support Blaine and Logan.
Col. Berkeley has personally authorized
the editor of the Petersburg hadec-Appeal
to contradict the report that he will sup
port Blaine and Logan. He will be lone
of the leading Democratic orators of Vir-
ginia' for Cleveland and Hendricks this
campaign. VSndicator, Aug 18th
The following paragraph taken from the
Richmond Dispatch of the 9th, is a suffi-