The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-22
The Record Made.

rHuRspAy. July %, 1856
The Record Made.
1t is stated that Congress will adjourn.
about the last of this month, or as soon
thereafter as the appropriation bills can
be gotten through with. With the close
of the session terminates the first seven
teen months of Democratic rule. The
period is short one, but sufficient to con-
vince the people that the greatest and
most costly mistake made in this country
for twenty-five years was in the election
of 1884. Never was there party that
promised more. Never was there party
that performed less. Never were men
more reckless and untruthful in their anti
election charges. Meyer were those
against whom charges were made more
splendidly indicated. Not one single
promise made by the Democratic party has
been fulfilled. Not one count in their
long Indictment of the Republican party
has been sustained. The Democratic con-
troll of the National Government has been
a disastrous, ignominious, humiliating
failure, the only redeeming feature OF
which is that the party has demonstrated
to the world its utter lack of ability its
abject stupidity it's untruthfulness its
untrustfulness its hypocrisy and its cant.
The mask behind which it has masquer-
AIDED for years has been torn aside and its
naked deformity disclosed. The lion S
skin has fallen and the contemplate ass
stands forth to excite derision.
Look at the record They charged the
Republicans with all manner OF rascallty,
and claimed that an examination Of the
books would verify the charge. They eX-
amined the books and certify to the integ-
rity and efficiency of their predecessors
and to their own falsehood.
They charged that count OF the
monies would show up vast discrepancy
between the amount actually in the treas
ury and the statement of the officials. They
made the count and again certify to Re
publican honesty and Democratic false
hood.
They predicted that as soon as installed
in office period of unexampled prosperity
would ensue labor would be in demand at
remunerative prices capital would rush
for investment and all classes would feel
the impulse of the new life. Fifty mil
lions of people-many Of them ragged,
half fed and idle-rise up to curse the day
upon which that prediction was accepted
They promised to reform the tariff, and
have, thank Heaven, utterly failed.
They promised to economic the eXpendl.
lures of the government. Their only
economy has been in the reputation OF
honest debts, and the pillng up Of amounts
to be covered by deficiency bills.
They promised to restore the navy. and
provide for coast defences. They have
bankrupted the grandest ship builder OF
the nation and closed His yard, and have
refused to make appropriations for the
defenses they demanded.
They promised to repeal the Internal
Revenue system. and have voted down
every measure looking to that end.
They promised to reduce the surplus IN
the Treasury by paying off the debt. In
sixteen months they have redeemed bonds
to the amount of $5s.SOO,o0O. In no yeal
since the resumption of specie payment
did the Republican party pay off less than
$4,000, 900, and the annual redemption
ranged from that amount to $l63, 100000
The average redemption for every sixteer
months from the resumption Of specie
payment to the close of Republican man
agement was $153 900, 900, against sos, 300,
600 for like period of Democratic control
They promised reform of the Civil
Service, and have made that department
ridiculous.
They have robbed the people Of employ
ment and the just reward Of labor, they
have robbed the children of $77 900 ,00(
that would have gone to the schools under
the Blair bill they have robbed capital O
its opportunity to make profitable invest
ments and diffuse its benefits among al
classes. They have broken every promise
and forfeited every claim to confidence
This in part is the record made during thu
first seventeen months Of Democratic
reign. 1t is record that will never b.
repeated after 1889.