Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-01-16
FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. IS. 1885.
IT IS NOT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY

FRIDAY MORNING. JAN. Is. 1885.
IT'S NOT THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
When the INDICATOR last spring and
summer opposed the nomination of Hon.
J. K. Tucker, by the Democracy of the
10th district, to represent them in con-
gress, 1t urged that if elected he would not
represent them. Many of his friends-for
a gentleman of his pure character and
admirable social qualities must of necessi-
ty make warm friends-were very indig-
nant at a country paper sitting in judg-
ment on distinguished Democratic
''leader." Well, all that the country paper
foretold of the availability of the distin-
guished Democrat as a candidate has been.
realized. His Republican opponent, little
more than boy in appearance, and just
Mr.. fuckers record so effectively that be
reduced the Democratic majority in the
district from $500 to 1,1S7, and captured
two counties from the Democracy. Some
of Mr.. fuckers friends in their after-elec-
ton modification over the result, attri-
buted some of it to the opposition made to
his nomination by this paper. We are fore
ed to disclaim the compliment his record
was equal to accounting for any diminu-
ton of votes, and any number Of counties
lost. Nothing but the unwavering loyalty
of the bulk of the Democrats of the dis
trict to the nomination. at the ballot box,
and not to hearty sympathy with the
nominee, is due the salvation Of the dis
trict. Hundreds of Democrats in this
county supported Mr.. Tucker, as the
VIND1CAToR did and always will do,
against any member of party, the absorb
ing, all prevailing thought of which for
twenty years has been Capitalization in
government and sectlonalism in admins
tering that government. On these ques
tions and that of honesty in administering
government. Mr.. Tucker may always be
counted on as sound as dollar, as would
be any other Democrat who could receive
the nomination in the 10th district. Our
opposition to Mr.. Tucker then, was
because nominating him at time of great
political peril to the National Democratic
party would lose in Virginia large num-
Der of Democratic votes in this congress
sional district. The result proved the
correctness of our position and the slender
majority in the State showed how vitality
necessary it was to husband every Dem
ocratic vote instead of giving them the
excuse of an improper nomination. to stay
away from the polls. To-day we find il
still more imperative duty that Demo
crat owes to his party to call attention to
a matter in which Mr.. Tucker is in Oppo-
sition to almost the whole of his party in
the State, an opposition that is being
harped on daily by the Republican papers
ia order to weaken the Democratic party
with the people at the approaching State
election and to make Republican capital.
In opposing Mr. fuckers nomination.
we urged, as we have said. that be would
not represent the views of his constituents.
If there is one question on which Virginia
is as nearly unanimous as great State
can be-even the two great political parties
being in harmony on it, it is the question
of accepting the SIS 900 900 under the Blair
bill for the education of the children of
the State. 1t il benefit without draw
back; an Unreasonable blessing to the
laboring man who has children to educate;
an inestimable gift to the hard worked
farmer, pinchlng to make both ends meet
and at present not able to get more than
five months schooling for his little ones,
with miles to be tramped by them to get
even that; sort of compensation for the
low price of wheat, aud the low wages of
work. inasmuch as despite these draw
backs at least be may see his
children getting an education-in short
just one of those measures that
makes each individual citizen feel that
there is some good in the government
for him as we'll as for the nation in mass
Beyond this, even descending to the infe.
rior plane of party advantage, the passage
of this bill is critically necessary for the
Democratic party in Virginia. There are
few days of the session left, action is i'm
portant and at such critical moment we
read the following in the Washington
correspondence of the Richmond State:
The Blair bill was also discussed by the
conference, [of Virginia Democratic congress-
men, and though Mr.. Garrison was not pres
ent, it is understood that he is an advocate
of the measure. Mr.. Tucker is the only one
of the Democrats from Virginia who is appos-
ed to it. His objections are, of course, well
founded on his construction of constitutional
law.
'sOf COURSE" says the correspondents
The whole of Virginia clamor,ng for the
passage of the bill as our readers will see
by some extracts published elsewhere; the
Democratic delegation she has sent to
congress unanimous with one exception;
every county in Mr.. fuckers old district.
in his new district, in the whole State
ready to vote, if it we're submitted to
them, one hundred to one in favor of
receiving these millions for the education
of the children of the State--and "of
COURSE Mr.. Tucker is opposing it on
constitutional grounds" Constitutional
grounds Garland, of Arkansas, the
Democratic authority on constitutional
law, thinks it constitutional. and votes
for it Wade Hampton. the chevalier of
States rights, thinks it constitutional and
votes for IL; Brown and Colqult, of
Georgia. Ransom, of North Carolina.
Pugh, of Alabama, almost every Senator
from the South-s'old issue" and new.
>:cted for it. Such men as A. H. Il.
Stuart, of Virginia. Robt. G.. Winthrop.
of Massachn sAtts Gov Jackson of Tenn.