The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-22
What for the People I?

Under this caption. the Petersburg Ilode:c-
Appeal, the most sagacious, aggressive and
intelligent democratic paper in Virginia
or the South, furnishes the following edi-
torial extract. 1t contains food for the
people to think over, and for the voters to
ponder before they cast their ballots for the
party, or the candidates of the party, that
is responsible for the Morrison Free Trade
bill, and the defeat of the Blair Educa-
tional bill. Every voter should read what
our able contemporary so well and forcefully
says:
The adjournment of Congress cannot be long
DELAYED Even if the hot weather did not dis
perse the body the anxieties of representatives.
TO see to their denomination and reelection
will carry them home at an early date But
what will they carry to their people? What
will they have to tell their constituents OF what
they have done, and left undone? what ae-
counts will they give of their stewardship
An assault in force has been repeated against
protection and specially against Virginia pro-
lection: and it only failed of success by IL votes,
through a combination of IS democrats with 10
republicans-the assault being made by the
solid southern democratic force, WIN I'VE e4-
ceptions supported by II northern democratlc
and northern republican votes-30 OF the 20
democratic votes which helped repel the assault
being from the north. This is a very serious
matter for reflection in Virginia. SO largely de-
pendent for prosperity on protectlon, WlSn
eight OF her ten REPRESENTATIVES. 9olnem IN tne
fully and finally to anti-protectlon, II not 10
free trade, by this action at washington, IN
which 1856 democratic congressman formally anu
deliberately cOncurred, after full warning from
the press of the country including mat OF pom
parties in this state? tits question the people
must consider WELL and it is for them to decide
what is to be done in the grave emergency thus
presented.
reduced: the tax on fruit brandies has not been
touched; and the internal revenue system mas
not been abolished. Democrats and repuDn-
cans alike have failed to get the house OF repre-
sentatives even so much as to- consider any
proposition to do all or any OF these Things;
Meanwhile tobacco is crushed by the tax, and
the administration of the internal revenue
system has become even more afs
before. What do the people think OF II? WhaG
will they do about it? Does the mere demo
cratic name bind them in absolute subJectlon- 10
the party, while it absolves their representa-
tives wholly from all popular allegiance? III
the party discipline and influence at Wash1ng-
ton compel representatives to disregard and
contemn the wishes of their constituents, what
is 1t that can or should compel these constltu-
or, at least, to these recalcltrant represents
tives Is Virginia to be sold out to tree traue
and a federal revenue exclusively internal that
certain gentleman of a certain party snali
draw their SIS, 900 year as the real representa-
tives of British interests at Washington! Here
is food for thought -..,,,
And the Blair school bill is again throttied
Over 900 for the free schools OF viTglnla is
not allowed to come to u.s. Gov. Holiday pro-
nounced free education a luxury for the people
which the state could not afford: and now az
Washington we are told that 1t is not only a
luxury which the federal government mnss
Indulgence to the poor-to poor states and TO
poor people!
All this and much more to the same effect
that might be cited is an unfortunate exhibit to
20 before the people upon. tits very unfortu-
nate for the men responsible for 1t, but Is Is
even more unfortunate for the people. What
is to be the conclusion on these important sub
jects? Are the. people to rule parties, or are
Or are the voters to be independent and coerce
the party? Our Judgment is that the party
mast yield (that is, so far as leaders constitute
the party)-must acquese-in the popular W III
right and interest, or the party must ''go!'