Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-11-27

iutiHAatSo Suot uO VIII III ohC tuC
agencies to which, as boss, he has
heretofore appealed to perpetuate
partizan power. He seems to have
learned nothing from the rebuke his
bossism received in his own person,
last winter, nor the still more express
sive condemnation that was inflicted
a few weeks ago. In his rage he
forgets the cause of the shattered
condition of his partizan machine,
and seeks TO hold the President
responsible for the disasters which
have come to himself aud his party,
ignoring the fact that the fault of
the President was in conforming to
his and his colleagues demands and
emphasizing the boss business by
enlarging its sphere of operation and
surrendering to its behests.
Mr.. Barbour will find a different
condition of public sentiment year
hence to that OF a year ago. He will
learn that the people have become
surfeited with boss rule-with bro
ken promises and delusive hopes.
They recognize, in State affairs, that
every departure from the legislative
policy of the Republicans has been
followed by embarrassments and
oppressive difficulties. The debt
question has become complicated
and confused to degree that ex-
cites the gravest fears. The public
schools are threatened with impover-
ishment, and even the revenues for
the support of government are en-.
daugered by the improvident acts of
a Legislature brought into existence
through boss methods and agencies.
He will discover that public senti-
ment is in open revolt against the
revolutionary measures adopted by
legislative power created by usur-
patton and fraud, and that subordi.
mating the public schools and the
election machinery to partizan neces-
stiles has worn out popular patience
and inspired popular disgust.
The people have come to believe
that there are other interests to con-
! suit than the plans and schemes of
bosses and their satellites-that they
are thinking about their material
welfare-the development of the vast
resources of the Commonwealth, the
ingress of capital and enterprise
which shun insane partizan legisla-
tion to perpetuate sectional and
race prejudices and disregards
the sancity of the ballot and the
spirit of our institutions, as de-
clared by the founders. Mr.. Bar
bour's kind OF Democracy has been
tried and found wanting in Virginia
to the sorrow and grief of the people.
1t has inflicted evils upon the State,
which are absolutely appalling to
the thoughtful, conservative under
standing, and the popular mind is
reaching to and grasping the facts
as they stare them in the face.
Nor are the people insensible or
Indifferent to the promises and
pledges of modern Democracy as
represented in the national admin
istration. They were promised re.
forms and economies in administra-
ton and exposures of frauds and
corruption committed by Republic
cans, which would attest the wisdom
of the change that was demanded
and effected, and contribute to the
elevation of the standard of civil.
service and promote the public good.
In what respect have these pledges
been redeemed ? With the excep-
ton of the qualification of an army
of spoilsmen-the turning out, with
out cause, of Republicans, and ap-
pointing IN their stead Democrats,
what had been effected? Nothing
absolutely nothing. Without a de.
fined principle or policy as it affects
administration, the party in power
has been incapable of suggesting
any change in the legislation enacted
by the Republicans that would com
mand even the support Of them.
selves, or be acceptable to the com.
try. A majority of the Democratic
members have antagonized the Pres
ident on the finance question and in
their views Of the proper policy fol
the Treasury Department. They
have denounced his evil service pro-
fession, and proved false to the
pledges upon which they gained The
indepenent vote and the control o.
government. In short, they have
failed in everything they have as
sured the people they would do, and
the only result they have accom-
plished, has been to create distrusi
in business, arrest enterprise, stag
nate trade and bring disasters aDd
suffering upon the people. OF these
things the people are not ignorant