The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-06-03
A Dismal Outlook

OrfNDemacfatic Contemporary, the Rich
mohd Mig, under the caption OF "a
Few w lords of Caution. in the issue
OF that paper Of the 50th, presents the fol-
lowing dismal outlook for the Demo.
cratic party in the conling Congressional
elections 1t will indeed. reouira onlv
caution, commoh-stnse and al honest pre-
sentation Of the facts of the situation for
the Democratic party to be defeated in
five of the Districts Of this State The
recent municipal elections have clearly
shown that the independent voter is
about III great numbers, and that petty
bo5slSin and party despotiSm have had
their day in Virginia. We give the arti
Gle from the Wing in full as a frank and
fair presentation of the situation:
Cur Washington correspondent says the nn-
expected result of the election in this city does
not add to the serenity of members of Congress
who are candidates for reelection and adds
that between the Knights of Labor on the one
hand, the farmers ON The other free trade and
protection, civil service reform and the clamor
OF Democratic workers for recognition in the
Distribution OF the offices. the honest Congress
man VINO IS in favor of the thing that the peo-
pie want, II he can only find out what it is
Haiuly hAoWS WHICH way 10 turn. w
surprised that it should have this effect. for If
SHOWS That The independent voter is abroad in
The land But our correspondent did not men
ton all the dangers which lie in Turk for the
unWary Congressman who wants to be re-
elected, nor. indeed, some of the most serious
ones.
When the Democratic voter who has canoht
the infection of independence is approached
by Congressman seeking reelection, he will
ing questions about why the Internal
revenue laws have not been repealed and how
II was that the Blair bill-the most rnagnifi-
cent pene1action ever offered to an impover
ished people-failed to become a law For
years and years Democratic orators have been
telling The people that when the Democratic
party came into power The acknowledgements
laws would be abolished. and they would no
longer be harrassed. annoyed and bedeviIed
by revenue agents. But now it seems that all
those promises have been forgotten, since the
offices nave been secured, aud the system
seems TO be more fully established If possible,
than 1t was under Republican administration
And the ground given for its retention is
simply adding one injury to another, since the
so-called taflH reforners wish to retain IT, e
internal-reyenue tax in order that they may
reduce the tariff on Southern productions, and
thus destroy manufacturing industries
And we imagine that Congressman who at
tenpts to excuse himself or his party for the
deieat OF the Blair bill, on abstract constitu-
tlonal grounds Will receive but little sympathy
from people who have children to educate and
but little means to pay for it,
IL is therefore very natural for COngresSme II
10 1eel somewhat nervous when they such
strong manifestation OF independence in a
city SO NOTED for Its sturdy Democracy as Rich
mond and we'll may they have gloomy fore
oodlngs and fearful looking forward to iudg-
ment to come. when they think of approaching
their constituents to ask for a renewal of con.
naenee. But it is not yet TOO late for them to
make IL all right with the people by going to
| work in earnest and carrying through before
adJournment the legislation which the people
| demand. II they will do this. their return to
| their constituents will be mutually agreeable,
and they need have no apprehensions about
their reelection But ii they do not, they may
expect rather cool reception from many who
have heretofore stood squarely by the party,
and they had better be studying their politi-
cal catechism, for they will have some questions
propounded to which they cannot answer very
satisfactorily off hand. We say this much as
timely caution. which they would do well to
heed,