Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-08-27

IOunQeQ-GnaG Gno people must control it.
Beaten one year, they were at the polls
| In larger numbers the next. but always
with the same cry--that the people must
rule. They had no new doctrine on which
to ask for success; they only repeated the
same cry with stubborn and answering
courage. Die they might, but yield they
/ would not. The bribery of position, the
threats of force, were tried upon them in
vain Their courage was chronic and
their persistence memorable. AT last, un-
der their terrific blows, the rock began to
yield. The civil disabilities, the test oaths,
the prescription were shattered and scat
tered in the border States. State after
State in the South lifted itself out of the
mire and started on a course of unexam-
pied prosperity. Then the Democratic
party marched straight on and fearlessly
to assault that Republican party as it
stood entrenched behind the Notifications
of Washington City. 1t first drove the Re
publican majority from the hall of the
House of Representatives, and the coun-
try drew long breath of relief as:it felt
that the possibility of further reconstruc-
tion bills and force bills, which were de-
vised and passed to fasten Republican SUI
premacy on the country, was ended. Then
came the supreme effort and Democratic
President was installed at the White
/. House. Such has been the career of the
Democratic party. Its history stands be-
fore the American people, and you al 9 now
called Oh to choose between that and the
Republican party.
THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
The Republicans are making desperate
effort to paralyze the Democratic admins
tration by electing hostile House of Re-
representatives.. In this they are opposed by
the Democracy, which brings this platform
, of principles:
That Government cannot interfere with
the citizen more than is absolutely neces-
sary to perform the functions for which it
was ordained.
That the Federal government is one of
limited powers prescribed by the Consti-
tuition, and those not SO prescribed, are re-
served to the States. The Republicans held
that these reserved rights of the State can
be recalled. But the Democracy of the
country hold that while the war settled for
all time the right of State to withdraw
from the Union, every other right of the
States remains to them in full force, and
can only be affected by change in the
Federal Constitution. The Republicans
profess to discard the doctrine of States
rights and yet themselves conceded the
force, by passing the 18th, 14th, and 18th
amendments to the Constitution to be &C.
cepted by the States, in order to adjust the
country to the new order of things.
That the revenue necessary to admins
ter the government must be derived from
tariff on imports and from no other
source, and that such tariff so laid must
of necessity protect the articles on which
duty is levied. They hold that the tariff
should be adjusted in it's application so as
to protect the natural products of the
country, protect cur home industries, and
protect our home labor from foreign COM
petition. and that the benefit of this pro-
lection should be distributed among the
people and not piled up upon monopolies.
That there shall be sound currency
and that 81 worth of work or 81 worth of
any commodity, shall be worth one dollar
in gold or silver. and that every bank note
Issued under the government shall be con-
vertable into its face value in coin.
THE BLAIR BILL.
The Democracy Of Virginia has declar-
ed unquestionably for the Blair bill. It is
not only expedient and necessary but it is
right. 1t Is the only fair and just method
by which the surplus of taxation taken |
from the people can be returned to them. |
THE HARD TIMES.
What has produced the hard times,
which. have now begun to brighten up
little, but which, with brief interval of |
two or three years, have been trying the
country ever since the year 1873? They
have not been confined to the United
States-High tariff France and Free trade
England, only separated by body of wa
ter that you can see across, have suffered
alike and at the same time, and still suffer |
side by side. In this country they can be !
ascribed to no change made by the Demo-
cratic party, for since that party took pos
session of the Administration the tariff
has not been touched or changed in word,
figure or letter. The tariff of to-day is
the same Republican tariff that has been
III active operation for fifteen years. And
yet the Republicans tell you that their
tariff is sure guarantee of good prices
for farm products and good wages for la
Dor. THIS is their tariff; how do they ex-
plain its failure to give prosperity? From
1861 to March 4th, 1885, there have been
Republican laws executed by Republican
Administrations. How do 5hey account,
then, for hard times ever since 1873. What
are the facts about our prosperity? More
money has been invested in Virginia in
the last six months in railroad extensions
anG manufacturing plants than in any
year of her previous history. With Dem
ocratic President in his seat and Demo-
cratic House of Representatives in Con-
gress, with but slight prospect of change,
this has been done. What comment is
that upon the apprehensions which the
Republican politicians alleged we're felt
about the Democratic party coming into
power! Throughout the whole South the
Investment in new plants Of industry in
the last two years has been the wonder of
the world. The South once Door. pros
trated. DEAD and still, has become prosper
Gus. erect, alive and active, just in pro-
portion that the Democratic party in the