Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-04-30
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion. April -, 'o6.

the wind, end sometimes the minor
elections show the temper OF the
people in political affairs.
The Democrats have been in pow
or some fifteen months, and they
have clearly proven, even to the sat
isfaction of the intelligent members
of that party that the Administra-
ton is a failure. Never, in our re-
membrance has party come into
power under more favorable clrcum-
stances than did the Democratic
party. The Republican party had
been in power for a quarter OF a
century. They did a great deal OF
good, and some wrong. They gave
peace and prosperity to the entire
country. They gave us finance
as strong, stable impregnable as
the Government itself. They gave
us a Tariff that protected American
Labor and Capital against Foreign
cheap labor. Thousands of miles
of railroads were constructed, and
elevated the people to a high plane
of prosperity.
This record did not satisfy the
people. They clamored for a
change The Democratic leaders
fomented and encouraged this dis
content. In their platform and on
the rostrum they promised the peo'
pie economy, good laws and greater
prosperity.
How have they kept those prom
lses
Has a Democratic Congress CIV
en- to the country laws calculated to
increase prosperity to tue people 7
Nothing. All the important meas
ures they promised are still unen.
acted. They promised to repeal
the Revenue laws. Have they kept
their faith 7 Nearly 100000 persons
are supported by the continuance
of this law, and it is a political
factor they dare not destroy.
They are now tinkering at the
tariff, and their hostility to Ameri-
can industry has begat distrust
among capitalists and caused great
idleness and want among the s.
OOO, 900 skilled and unsSilled labor
ers of the country. We do not be.
lieve they can pass the tariff law
now before Congress, but its con-
slant agitation keeps up tue dis.
trust and is prostrating all the vital
interest of the country, and it is al.
so an earnest of what they would
do had the party control of the
Senate as well as Congress.
Mr.. Cleveland entered upon the
discharge of his duty with the peo-
people ready and willing to give
him a fair trial. They believed in
his honesty and intentions to do
what his party promised in their
platform.
Has he done this ? Has he even
satisfied the leaders of his party !
Is the party stronger today than
it was when he assumed the duty
of the Chef Magistrate? If the
voice of discomfort and dissatisfac.
ton, and even disgust are indica'
tive of the temper Of the Demo
cratic leaders, it is not stronger OF
more united now than it was at his
election to office.
If the Spring Elections, which or
dnarily are of but minor import
ance, are any indication Of the feel
ing of the Democrats, they show
that there is a radical change going
on among the people. In New
York, Ohio aud Illinois the words
of condemnation and of Mr.. Cleve-
lands administration and the policy
of his party were loudly spoken.
In Madison, the home of Post
master General Villas, the Republi-
cans carried it by a handsome ma
jority. That city has been Demo
cratic for many years, and this
change means more than the pOpu-
larity and unpopularity of the can
dldates. 1t means that the honest
Democrats are dissatisfied and have
lost confidence in the adminlstra-
ton, in the party of magnificent
promises and stupendiOus failures.
The next great struggle will be
the elections of members of Con-
gress, and il the dissatisfaction in
creases in the Democratic party,
the President will find himself de-
prived of the support of Congress
when the new members assemble
i'm nacemher prO1reSSire Ale.