Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-24
WHY IT is THUS ?
A Democratic exchange has the
rnllouinr Significant narapranh:

awe have never known such
apathy in politics as exists at the
present. 1t is not confined to any
one party or set of men, but is gem
eral. Our people as rule are as
volatile and as sensational as the
French hitherto It has only been
necessary for either party to noml-
nate a candidate, and begin the
fight, but now it seems difficult to
get the force into line. Heretofore
not a court day, or public day Of
any kind could pass without the
Hotspurs of both parties, taking
possession of the street corners,
dividing time and discussing the
political issues of the day. These
discussions were listened to by
large crowds, the speakers were
cheered and the very air was filled
with excitement, Now, 1t IS en-
tirely different, the street corner
orators are silent, and the average
voter does not know the names OF
the candidates. Ask any gentle
man the political news from ms
neighbOrhoOd, and the invaraOle
reply is, "We do not talk politics.
Both parties are virtually morgan
lied, true they have their chairman
and executive committees, but so
far as precinct organization is con
cerned, they are destitute We
are at a loss to account for this
lethargy, it is so unusual. Unless
there is a very marked change
between now and the election, a
very small vote will be polled."
The reason is quite apparent.
The people were wrought up by
promises of the great things in
store for them if only there could
be a change. The change came ID
our State and in our Nation. The
good things have not come, but, on
the contrary, seem to be recedlng
as they are approached. The man
ayers and leaders Of the new-ian-
gled Democracy are not ashamed
of what they have done, but they
are afraid of an Outburst Of indig
nation. Hence they are closely
closeted for work IN the ring way,
and do not venture out into open
day light. Times in the whole
country have not been so pressing
since the panic period OF 1856, and
our State affairs are just about
where they were in 1871.
The following from the Richmond
papers of yesterday is a straw
which shows:
GA meeting OF the Board Of Sink
ing Fund Commissioners OF the
state, which is composed of Second
Auditor Frank &. Ruiiin lpresi-
dent. First Auditor Morton Marye,
and Treasurer \. W. llarman, Jr.,
was held at the Capitol yesterday
for the purchase of Riddleberger 3
per cent. coupons.
"There were Slj2, 800 worth Of
bonds offered for sale, and only
1888 purchased. The highest
bid made was $G9.7j, and the low
est $67999.
"Messrs. Warren x Quarles offer
ed $4,000, of which S27, 800 were
purchased at SlS,9GG.9O.
"Messrs. J. l.. Williams & Son
offered $4,000 at SG7.999 (the low
est)-ali purchased at Si,O79.94.
"Jobn G. Williams offered So
900, of which $4,000 were purchased
at S2,O4G.2j.
"Messrs. Thomas Branch & Co.
offered $4,000 at from $3.50 to
S69.7j, of which $50, 800 were pur-
chased at S2l, $3.50"
Here we find these 3 per cents
selling publicly at SG9.75, when
bourbon funder six per cents with
tax receivable coupons have no
market. It shows how much bet
ter it would have been had there
been no change. BY this time
we should have had the whole debt
funded into 3 per cent bonds, and
everything wOulc have been work
ing smoothly. The election Of a
bourbon legislature in 'S3 gave en-
couragement to brokers and stop
ped the funding that had progress
ed to one fourth our debt.
Again, if there had been no
change in National affairs there
would have been no free trade ex-
element to frighten money into
banking houses. There would have
been no stoppage ofwork and wages.
There would have been no strikes
and riots. There would have been
no ouarrels between capitol and
labor. There would have been no
demand for the one hundred mil
lion dollars which a pocket veto
shut up from circulation. There
would have been money enough to
do all the business Of the country.
In a word we should have had bet
ter times instead OF worse. We
have better crops. Providence has
been bountiful. The fault belongs
with ourselves. A government IS
being found run for and in the inter
est of commercial state and
against the interests Of the thirty
seven other states. The people
are finding this out, and they are
waiting for the time when they can
apply the corrective. They know
that time is coming.
BuNgIlng Legislation
The effect of the decision Of the
Court of Appeals, delivered at