Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-05-29
statesmanship dIsappears wheI

Craftsmanship disappears when
caucus-fxers and spOils-brokers as
sumo the leadershipof any party.
Tyranny of Opinion is twin broth
er to Tyranny of Sword you can
not foster the former without invit-
ing the latter.
We should be actuated by more
than personal and selfish cOasidera-
lions If we would make the world
better because we live in it.
1t is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of needle than
for wOrkingmen to get justice from
their representatives in the legisla-
iure.
The spirit of independence is
growing among all parties, and
should hard times continue a few
years, the old parties will be monu-
ments to the foOlishness Of leaders.
The amount of wages paid to
labor determines the consumption
of products-so, if there is an APP
parent overproductiOn, it is wholly
attributable to the underpay Of
labor.
II makes all the difference be-
tween good times or bad whether
the farmers receive 81, 100000, 900
or $4,000, 100000 for their annual
produce. If the money earnings of
n farm amount to 1000 in a good
wear il must be serious matter to
the owner when they are reduced
TO 5000 or $500.
The farmers should constantly he
studying the political situation. 1t
is imperative that they should do
so. The time has come when the
question of selfinterest must con-
frol their votes rather than party
ties. The experience OF the past
has fully demonstrated that parti-
Fan feelings and strict adherence
TO party fealty has ruined every
opportunity of relief. The impress
sion among the farming classes that
hy casting off party ties they lose
every hope of reward is a sad mas
take. A vote for principal IS never
lost.
Closely allied to taxation placed
upon our farms and other possess
Sions is that system which taxes
products in transportation, more
burdensome in pastyears than any
and all exactiOns made by the State
cor the maintenance Of Govern
ment, for public improvements or
other use. irresponsible authority,
expanded to a dangerous degree,
las heen exerted TO increase i'm
mensely the burdens of taxes and
deprive farm products of a great
part of their value through exces-
sive charges for transportation
Prices have been fixed in the prin.
cipal markets, and, as conse-
ouence, the products of our indus
Try have been gagged by those
prices, no matter whether sales
we're elected at home or at distant
points.
1t is as easy to teach a pen Of
hungry hogs good mannersat meals,
az to secure high state of honesty
aud morals under the present I'M
godly and insane competitive sys-
TEN. Offering the prizes of life to
him who grabs quickest and clutches
iightest, from the common store of
nature, regardless of the rights or
needs Of others, is not the way to
develop noble men or good morals.
We speak of the brute creation as
being inferior to man, yet initiate
the brute's worst vice, selashness.
You can't have honest + 2Ople when
want is permitted to force honesty
TO the wall. You cannot have char
table people by making utter self
iShness the condition Of existence.
Some day the churches may see
these things and then it will have a
place in mems hearts, such as it
never had before.
The tendency of modern legisla-
lion is to concentrate the wealth OF
the country in a few hands. In
TACT, the legislation of the country
is to Il large extent in the interest
of corporations. The public do
main has been squandcred upon
the great railroad corporations and
millions of acres of the best lands
~ the nation, which should have
b,cn preserved for homes for the
l.cople, have been given to these
corporations without compensation.
Tile welfare Of the State, aud the
vested interests of individuals are
alike disregarded by our modern
legislators, who seem to be put IN
illcif places to do the bidding Of
ihc great corporations, and unless
the power of mOnOpOlies is curtail-
cd, and the people protected from
heir extortions, our rights will
soon be gone beyond the power Of
recovery, save by the dread ordeal
81 revolution.
We must stop voting as ma
chimes, and vote like thinking, >ensi-
vi, business men. The protection
II tho neonle from the AGGRESSION