The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-09
Hard Times,,


10 his keynote speech at Monterey,
Va, On last Highland County Court day,
Capt Bumgardnar is represented by the
Vts.dscdtor 10 have said. to referring to the
hard times,
They can be ascIibed to no change
made by the Democratic party, for since
that party book possession Of the Admins
tration the tariff has not been touched OF
changed in a word, figure or letter. The
tariff Of to day is the same Republican
tariff that has been in 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 labor This is their tariff ; how
do they explain its failure to give prosper
ty : From 1861 to March 4, 1855, there
have been Republican laws executed by Re
publican Administrations. How do they
account. then, for hard times eyer since
1888 ~
There was no change, it is true,
made by the last session of Congress
which had a Democratic majority or
90 in the tariff laws, but not because
the Democratic Speaker and the Demo
cratic Committee of Ways and Means,
and Democratic majority in that body
did not want it. 1t was because thirty
four Democratic members, led by Samuel
J. Randall, united with all the Republl-
cans except four to prevent 1t. Had the
Democratic party, as such, been able to
carry out it's policy a disastrous change
would have been made, and the Demo
cratic President would have approved the
change. The fact that the Democratic
party as such, which had opposed every
act of Congress that brought about our
national prosperity, was in power, fright
ened capital and capitalists, and as
consequence money was placed behind
strong bars, instead of in the active chan
nels of industry as when the Republicans
were in full power, and this brought about
business stagnation It was the fear OF
the Democratic party and its policy that
brought about hard times. The business
of the country for twenty years had beer
adjusted to Republican legislation; The
country had passed from bankruptcy and
poverty under Democratic policy, to wealth
and prosperity under Republican policy,
and when the Democratic party which
was recorded against all the wise measures
which contribute to national advancement,
came into power with platform adopted
in their National Convention antagonistic
to Republican legislation, and a record
hostile to American labor, it was natural
that distrust and doubt should follow
And it is only the assurance. now that
Congress has adjourned, that no legisla-
ton can be enacted which will radically
change present customs laws, for twelve
months, that the indications favor a
revival Of business. It is damaging re-
cord for the Democratic party, and it
amounts to reckless Indifference to the
history of that party that Democratic
candidate for Congress should refer to ii
| at all.
The panic of 1878 was the outgrowth Of
an Inflated currency, resulting from the
war and yet the Democratic party pei
sistently opposed every step which looked
+ 0 solid, enduring financial basis 1t op
posed the resumption act of 1876, and pre-
dicted the most dire effects from the opera
ton of the law in 1879, the period fxeC
for its enforcement The Republicans had
confidence in the people, and believed thai
the promises and integrity of the govern
ment would be maintained by them, and
in this they were not disappointed From
the passage of this act to 1884 the bust
ness of the country was extended, the
wealth of the Nation increased and oul
industries were expanded. Not until the
apprehension of Democratic success in
that year seized upon the people were the
currents of business stagnat 4, and the
people became idle and the country
groaned under the oppression OF HARD
times - Democratic orators and writers
predicted change in this condition
should Democratic President be elected
and Democratic Congress chosen. But
| instead of change for the better. it was
| for the worse, and not until it was demon
strated that a Republican Senate stood as
! a bulwark of defence against Democratic
| theories and policy and the ruin thai
would follow thei~ practical enforcement
was a degree of confidence inspired. 1t is
to the fact that we have a Republican
Senate and Republican strength enough in
the House, aided by few Democrats, te
resist the ruinous policy Of the Democrat
ic-party, that we owe the absence Of pc
Rod Of absolute ste ynation to all business
and enterprise.