The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-31
Prof estlng too Much.


proposition 10 change the rules Of the
House Of Representatives, on Tuesday,
the 15li, Nj Randall made q boast for
himself and his party that admitted more
probably than he intended. Mr.. Gibson,
of ". Va. was arraigning Mr.. Randall
and the Appropriation Committee as or
gained under the present rules. During
/ his remarks he asked When these i'm
meDse land grants were given torailroads ;
When thieying appropriations were made;
where was this great committee to pro-
! Jecl the interests of the country ~ Mr..
Randall replied II never voted dollar
NOR an acre Of land for any railroad" II
am glad to say that the Democrats voted
aimo unanimously as l did. "
Here IS an admission by one Of The
NEST influential, prominent and reputable
/ Democrats in the country, that the Dem
ocIalie party had no part or lot in the
construction of the Pacific Railroads.
which have bound the Pacific Coast to the
Atlantic States. opened up the vast waste
domain OF the country, populated it with
Tie adventurous and enterprising people
of tic nation. created States and organ
izcd Territories. and developed the fabu-
Ions wealth which would otherwise have
remained where nature placed it.. Had
Democratic policy and Democratic votes
been potential there would now be no
community OF interests between our pos
i All Br Go In
Eastern States, nor would the vast area
Of public lands which has been brought
under cultivation by reason Of access to
it by rail, be anything more than all
immense sea Of Territory, given over
to predatory Indians and the buffalo,
With no avenue Of reaching the Pacific
coast except by steam vessel around Cape
Horn, and consequently no Identity Of in
terests between the people of that portion
of the Union and the Eastern States, the
probability is that without the construc-
ton Of the Pacific railroads, we would
have had revolt on the Pacific coast be-
fore this time. But it is not necessary TO
the magnifying Of the Importance Of these
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tive possibilities should be referred to-.
We have the realized results Of the wis
dom and utility Of the land grants to these
railroad corporations in the States and or
gained Territories which have been Gre
ated, the civilization which peryades from
the Missouri to the Pacific and the multi
piled Industries which mark the reclaimed
wilderness and its dedication to the USES
Of the husbandman and the activities Of
business.
1t was Characteristic Of the Democratic
party that it should oppose any legislation
looking to the advancement Of the inter-
ests and increase of the power.of the Ma
ton. It's history is that of obstruction
to all enlightened measures looking to ma
ti0Dal growth and independence. 1t OPP
posed the issuing of greenbacks when the
life Of the Nation was at issue and the
currency was needed for its preservation.
L opposed the homestead act, giving to
actual settlers q home on the public do
tariff laws, which had for their object the
building up Of American industries and
protecting the labor and enterprise Of
the country from the pauper labor Of
Europe. 1t opposed the Resumption
act, upon which depended the business
stability and prosperity of the Nation.
1t opposed the national banking system
and chung to the State banks as the eX.
preston Of tie doctrine Of State Rights.
1t has opposed every measure and every
act that looked to the advancement Of the
interests of the people, the development
of The wealth of the nation, the integrity
of the Union, the credit of the country
and the general welfare Of the people.
In the light Of the consummations be-
fore Us, it is strange that any public
man, protesting to have the good of bis
country at heart and proud of the eXpaa-
sion and achievements Of The Nation,
should have the audacity to boast that
he voted against furnishing the means,
out of these worthless lands, to aid in the
construction of the Pacific railroads.
Apart from the national strength and
power and wealth resulting from their OPP
Grafton. as mere question of business
the surrender Of alternate sections Of pub
lie lands has been source of profit
to the government and furnished the
evidence of sagacious craftsmanship
\ domain which was inaccessible and
worthless has been made accessible and
valuable. The way has been opened
for the profitable employment Of the
energy and capacity Of the adyentur
GUS of our people and busy scenes Of in
du8try have been created out of the
wastes of the wilderness.
Bourbon Democracy cannot appreciate
anything Of this kind. 1t never has
thought for Improvement in the future
for national growth and advancement
the glory and grandeur of the country.
It lives among the tombstones. It reyels
amidst the lava beds, and is only useful as
1t may illustrate the difference between the
activities and grasp and progress Of the
Present and the dead things Of the Past.
To utter the boast that he had never
voted dollar or an acre to aid in con-
structing the great continental channels
Of communication between the Atlantic
and Pacific, by which the unity of the
country was preserved, the wealth of the
Nation developed, the lines Of civilization
extended, and the power and proves of
the country advanced, is distinction that
10 one bat a Bourbon would aspire to and
no party hat the Democratic stand com
mitted to,
UnQuestionably the agricultural inter
ests have been made to suffer the most of
all through the operations of the present
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