The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-08-12

to represent them in the Senate of the
United States. He is now in the House
of Representatives, and member of the
Committee on Labor. AS recited above,
after hard struggle and only by Repub-
lican votes, the Blair bill was practically
taken from the Educational Committee
and referred to the Committee on Labor,
in the hope that it would find friends
enough there to report it back again for
consideration by the House. But a ma
jority of that Committee were also Demo.
Gratis, and there the bill was buried never
to see the light again until a Republican
majority dominates the House and con-
trole the committees. But this isn't all.
When the effort was made to secure re-
port from the Labor Committee, John w
Daniel bitterly and persistently opposed it,
and offered as a substitute 1.-THE "better (?)
measure" provided in the platform) bill
to appropriate to public school purposes
the proceeds arising from the sale Of pub
lie lands, during the next fiscal year. He
well knew at the time that no such sub.
stitute would ever be considered. and the
only object he could have had in Offering
it was to Kill the Blair Bill That he sue
ceeded in doing.
And yet. re-endorsing this record, the
Democratic party of this district comes
before the people and asks that theil can
didate be accepted as friend of the Blair
Bill. They declare him to be a brave,
honest man, and place him upon plat
form, which, il. it means anything, means
the bitterest hostility to the measure, and
when one of their number demands clear
and explicit declaration from the candid
ate himself, the demand is practically
laughed out Of the Convention.
If Capt. Bumgardner really favors the
bill, his position is most embarrassing
one, for he comes before the people pledged
to carry out the declaration against it
which his party has formally announced
and consistently supported. He must
either abandon the Democratic party or
abandon the Blair bill. The two are at
war, and he must choose between them.
But whatever may be his action in the
premises, will matter but little. A revo-
luton is going on in the ranks of the
masses which the politicians little dream
of, Hoodwinked, deceived and defrauded
by Democratic promises, the mechanical
and working classes are at length beginning
to open their eyes to their true interests.
They see their children growing up in igno-
rance because, under Democratic rule, the
school houses throughout the State are
practically closed. They see one Of the
great political parties declaring in its
platform that the National Government
shall stretch forth its strong arm to aid
them. They see the same party support
ing that declaration by every means in its
power. They see the other political party
denouncing any such aid in its National
platform, and making good their declara-
ton by pronounced and effective hostil-
ity. They know that the Blair bill has
twice passed Republican Senate. They
know it has twice been killed by a Demo-
cratic House. They remember that two
years ago they were told that the bill would
have passed in the 4Sth Congress, had it
not reached the House too late to be con-
sidered ; and they were promised that it
should be passed by the 49th Congress.
They trusted to that promise and agreed to
give the Democratic party one more
chance to prove to the world whether Or
not it favored the education of the masses.
The chance was given and the old story
repeated in an aggravated form. The bill
for their relief again came to Demo-
cratic House, fve months before the session
adjourned, and there it was smothered as
it had been smotkered before.
Thank Heaven! the people are not all
fools. They may be deceived. once, but
when the Democratic party again appeals
for their support, and comes fawning to
them for a second time, they will strike it
down as the enemy of their interest, and
the arch enemy of their children. No man
who represents the Democratic party on
the Blair bill will ever represent the peo-
pie ofthis District.