Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-04-10
WOOL AND HoTcHPoTcH.

have known that our brother editor
would get wool gathered in discuss
ing so woody question, having had
his editorial forces constructed in
the "pterodactyl PERIOD" Gas one
born out of due time" with feathers
on his feet Mt the expense Of some
other parts that might have added
symmetrical beauty. His argument
for inciSive keenness has an exhil-
arating freshness only equaled by
the persistency with which he Ell.
beavers to escape the point at is
sue. We said nothing about tire
"enormous aggregation of capital"
and yet in reply the Statesman gives
it's whole article to the general well
fare clause and discusses the govern
ment at large, without ever men,
tioning wool. 1t is to be presumed
that the wool growers of Berkeley
County come under the appellation,
"enOrmous aggregation of capital"
If not, in the eyes of our contem
porary they have fallen into that
delightful paradise of "inocuous
dissnetude" so lately discovered by
our ingenious chief magistrate. Our
youth, although blessed with "sa-
pient and analy tical mind" built up
on the lessons taught by the sages
who have gone before and trod the
rough roads Of experience, has too
much respect for the good intentions
of mistaken fathers to chide them
for wrong doing, knowing as Inger-
soil says that in trying to do wrong
they sometimes did right. There
fore, we shall not attempt to split
hairs with the ancient editor of the
Statesman. He was born earlier
than we were. If he had been more
tardy in coming, possibly be would
have escaped the fossilized notions
of his predecessors, and learned
enough to know that his statements
about the financial history of the
country before the war are at var
lance with all recognized history.
The position he holds he can only
prove by his campaign documents,
and by no authentic history. Plenty
of people not biased by politics re-
member the straits in which the
country was left by the great free
trade doctrinaires, and plenty of
people now living will never forget
the results of the "changen for
which they were so eager. A ma
ton like an individual is the better
off with cash, and a good credit is
the next best thing. The Republi-
cans inherited neither and left both,
as is shown by every historian OF
national reputation, and as the pub.
lished financial statements of the
government now prove.
1t is pity to mix the truth with
folly. THE HERALD could have
been born earlier if it chose it didn't
want to. We knew the effect of be.
ing born too early. We have not
been compelled to wallow in the
mud Of inocuous dissuetude or soar
in the gloomy empyrean of Tariff
ic wooldom and we shall not eXer.
else orr "sapient analysis" to split
the hairs in We ancient editors lie.
gerdemain article on the golden
| fleece of the lnxurlant monopolistic
political goat. for we find we can
not get wool off a sea-lion's head
while he founders in free trade
pool.
To be candid. The history of the
times proves all we assert, and it is
nothing more than history repeating
itself. We are not dependent on
politics for our existence and are
not bound to defend the wrong for
the help recei"ed. Neither are we
so sorely pressed for arguments as
to beg the question and seek refuge
on grounds not assaulted. Truths
defender should be model of prin-
ciples honestly and fairly maintain
ed. No man or party should be set
up as perfect guide to follow whose
actions do not stand as firm and
conspicuous as the rocks of Gibral.
tar, outlastlng life and time,-whose
memory never fails and whose fame
never dies. If the English free
trade of the American Democracy
is the salvation of the country as
claimed, the country has been slow
to embrace the grace so laviShly and
perseveringly proffered, and is now
going down to its grave without any
signs of repentance. Every house
that is divided against itself must
fall.
The Republican Executive Com