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


nration of Democratic policy on the
tariff question, would be the practi.
cal and irretrieyable ruin of their
own State. They voted the Dem
ocratic National and Congressional
tickets, with the understanding with
themselves that, il successful. they
would be saved from their own
party by Republican Senate. That
is their hope now. The nervous APP
prehension manifested about free
ores, recommended By a Democratic
Free Trade committee on Ways and
Means, is the evidence of their DIS
trust of their own party and the
condemnation of their own votes.
They are too much absorbed by their
prejudices to openly acknowledge
that it is to Gen. Mahone-whom
they never tire of villifying-that
the present tariff on ores is due.
They all denounce him as an arch
enemy of Virginia aud yet so into o
spasm of fear lest legislation passed
by his motion for the protection of
Virginia interests shall be repealed
by the men they helped to place in
power. They know that the Dem
ocratic party cannot be trusted to
care for Virginia or American in
dustries and progress. They are
compelled by their fears to appeal
to Republicans to save from them
selves and to enforce Republican
policy under a Democratic admins.
tration. The confession ought to
humilate them as deeply as it expos.
es their hypocrisy, prejudice, treach-
cry. They have not the courage to
be men. They do not deserve to
be recognized as such. They are
simply the embodiment Of the most
fragrant and reprehensible prejudice,
and have not the moral force to rise
above the malign influence of their
hates and passions, until they are
confronted by danger to their ma.
terial interests.
1t is a pitiable condition in which
men claiming to be intelligent, pa
trlotic and honorable, place them
selves. 1t advertises to the world
the motives which control them
when they exercise the most sacred
privilege our laws secure, in casting
the ballot. They tell in unmistall-
able terms that their convictions of
right and dnty are subordinated to
their partizan hates, and admit, in
their subsequent action, that there
is no security for the public veal
through the party with which they
are identified.
If the rewards OF their own folly
and passions could be visited upon
them alone, the lesson would be
salutary and impressive. But uu.
fortunately, in this case, our laws
and the policy of the government,
like the rains of heaven, must fall
upon the just and unjust and oper.
ate alike upon all. They can not
De singled out from the aggregate of
community and be made to reap the
fruits of their own sowing. Could
this be so, it would be retributive
justice 10 have it that way. They
then would get precisely what a
Democratic vote Means-paralysis
and ruin to all Industries, all ma.
terial development, to business in
all its ramified relations, to national
credit and national character.
1t is q condition which the people
ought to study. They ought to con.
slider that the policy Of tho Dem
ocratic party, is disastrous to the in
terests of Virginia, and that it is
with the policy OF the Republican
party that their material welfare is
identified. When bitter partizan
Democrats denounce Malone and
"Mahonism," the people ought to
remind them that Malone is the
only really able politician that Vir.
GINA has developed since the war
that every legislative act, either in
State or Nation, which he has favor.
ed, has looked to the preservation Of
Virginia interests and the vindica.
ton of Virginia's rights. No. man
can truthfully impugn his devotion
to his State. His oifense. is that he
will not wear the Bourbon collar
and strike down the interests OF the
Commonwealth in obedience to Bour.
bon commands. He has dared to pro-
claim himself Republican because
the principles and policies of that
party are best adapted te the build.
ing up Virginia prosperity. lie acts
with the party whose legislation the
interests of her people are identified.
and in doing SO is not compelled to
unite in public meetings to protest
against what be voted for. His po-
litical identification and his votes
are consistent and be is not forced