Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-02-20

The gas consumers-make up the contents;
all fresh and readable.
The Dispatch says ''the Staunton V1NDIcA-
TOR is far-seeing paper and safe counsel
lor." 1t ought to have illustrated both propo-
sitlons: The VINDIcAToR was ''far-sighted"
last fall when it attempted TO defeat Ran.
fuckers nomination by the District Conven-
ton, and thus furnished arguments that were
calculated to prejudice those who did not
fully understand his, T.'s, position on the
tariff, but finally supported him for the posi-
tloa that it had declared he should not be
trusted with. "A safe counsellor" because it
1.-THE VINDIcAToR) wants Barbour to be nomi-
mated for Governor and then elected United
States Senator by the General Assembly. A
few more 'far-sighted" and ''safe counse.
lors' like the Dispatch or the V1ND1cAToR and
the Democratic party would justly lose its
name and prestige for consistency and richly
earn the title of Modern Expedients -Nortok
Ledger.
The INDICATOR was indeed ''far
sighted" when it opposed the nomination
of Mr.. Tucker; far-sighted in the interest
OF the Democratic party, but the rapid re-
view of the Ledger prevents its doing full
justice to that prescience. Let US go over
it together. Mr.. fuckers reputation in
Virginia, whether well founded or not.
was that of one of the best posted and
most ingenious advocates of free trade.
One OF the best speeches, to our mind,
delivered in congress on tina! side, that we
ever read, was delivered by him. Long
before this paper opposed his nomination,
Democrats in the 9th and 10Th districts
were expressing their opposition to him. To
confuse matters more, though public ex-
ception was taken to his nomination on
that ground, he maintained silence, abso-
lutte silence, if we except private letter
addressed to friend in Amherst which
found its way into the newspapers, and in
which he simply said: Il would not en-
barrass my party success by my opinions
and nay wish to remain in public life can
not embarrass them. don't covet it, butt
would dislike to be condemned. " This was
as embarrassing as his silence had BEEN
What those opinions were, was wanted
AT last, just on the eve of the congress
sional convention, in reply to the editor
of the Lexington Gazette, he announced
that he stood on the National Democratic
platform. With that announcement the
opposition of this paper to his nomina-
tlon ceased instantly. and we urged the
Democrats of the district to support Mr..
Tucker IN opposition to Republican OPP
ponent for three reasons, and three only
because Democrat of this generation can
only find three-that he would vote against
oppression Of the Southern States, vote for
honest administration, and for an ex-
posture of corruption. Sickness and alb
sence prevented US from participating in
the campaign, further than to vote, but
the result proved exactly how far-sighted
the VINDICATOR was. His record was In
print IN the Congressional Record and his
public speeches, and was so rung by his
opponent that the Democratic majority
through the counties composing the new
district of $500 in 1888, was reduced to
1887, and we lost the counties of ALE.
ghany and Appomattox. Whether Mr..
Tucker is safe representative for the
Democracy to trust" their interests to, is
too well answered by his present unfortu-
nate and damaging course On tie BlaiI
(. bill, to need one word from US.
That the VINDICATOR is ''safe ceun-
sellor,' is best proven by the fact, tn at
whenever the Democratic party in the
State has needed its counsels or its warn
ings, it has found its reward in success.
IL now urges the nomination of John S.
Barbour, for Governor, because that way
lies sure success.
The Democratic party, or any other
party, will do well to assume the policy
if not the name of Modern Expedients
The principles of party are immutable,
but the policy of the party-must change
with the times and be DO tn Modern and
Expedient. The strongest. best organized
and richest political organization ever
known in America was struck down by
the people in its tracks last November,
just because it was filed with the old
ideas; had party machinery which creaked
with the rust Of cid hates and prejudices,
and did not keep up with the progress of
the popular mind towards a fraternal
nationalism. The true secret of the de-
feat of the Republican party in November
was that large body of its members had
rebelled against the old, Bourbon, never
changing policy of sectionallsm, centrali-
zation and governing with the iron hand,
which characterized it's lie aders. Grover
Cleveland was elected President Of the
United States by the Modern Expedients,
and the leayen of Modern Expediency is
rapidly pervading the Democracy of Vir-
ginia and the Union. 1t has abandoned the
mark time movement of constitutional
petrifaction prescribed by the martinets
of the past, and is advancing at free,