The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-07-08
A Failure.


licans are arraigned for charging failure
on the part Of the present Democratic
administration. The position is taken that
when such complaint is made it is a con-
fession of weakness on the part of the Re-
publicans and that their own policy de-
mands reform. This is very superficial
and indefensible view to take. The Re-
publicans have charged that the Demo
cratic party was incapable of conducting
the affairs of government on Democratic
ideas. and that the enforcement of the pol
icy of that party as involved in their plat
form and creed, would bring ruin to the
country. The simple fact that the Demo
Gratis have failed to make any material
change in any of the cardinal measures
enacted by the Republicans. is evidence
that they have no confidence in themselves
and have not the courage to carry into eff
feet the declarations they have made in
their conventions and in discussions before
the people That party has proved fall
ure in their charges of corruption in the
Treasury Department. 1t clamored Tor
an insight into the books, . promising to
astound the country by the corrupt expo
sures that would then be made. The books
were then opened to them and they found
that every cent that had been received into
it's vaults was accounted for-the accounts
were square and not even microscopical
investigation could reveal anything wrong.
So efficiently had all the departments OF
government been conducted. that many OF
the important officers under Republican
administrations were retained, not because
of any respect to civil service law require
ment, but for the reason that the honesty,
fidelity and efficiency of the officers could
not be dispensed with. In all the depart
ments and bureaus the condition of the
books testified in behalf Of the Republi-
| cans and in condemnation of Democratic
| clamor and SANDER.
The article from the Louisville paper
admits that the Democrats have not made
| record of economy in the administra-
ton of the Departments and Senator Beck
says that he is not proud of what his par
ty has done, after all its extravagant prom
ises-that the surplus has not been re-
duced, and that free trade has been de-
feated 1t admits that a Republican Sen.
ate passed the Blair educational bill, and
| that it was a Democratic House which
smothered it. Yet the promise was given
| in Virginia that if Cleveland was elected
and the Democrats should control the
House, the muniicent donation to the
cause of public education embraced in the
Blair bill. would be secured. and the Dem
ocratic party prove its fidelity to the peo-
| pie in the enactment of that measure into
| law, Now we have leading Democratic
paper claiming it as Democratic virtue
that the bill was 'smothered" by Demo
cratic House. after it had been passed by
alRepublican Senate.
The Republicans have arrested the free
| trade measures of the Democratic House,
and saved Virginia from the paralysis and
| ruin which would have followed the enact
| ment of the Morrison bill.
| These two measures and the attitude OF
the two great parties in relation to them,
ought to determine the people OF Virginia
| in the votes they will hereafter cast. 1t it
| is their wish that free trade shall prevail,
let them support the Democratic party
and the candidates who represent 1T. Ii
it is their wish that the public free schools
should not receive any aid from the Ma
tional Treasury, to assist in bearing the
expenses of removing the illiteracy which
| prevails in the South, let them support
| the Democratic party and the candidates
which represent it. If they prefer, how
ever, the protective policy, which has
| brought the country to such a marvellous
degree of wealth and progress-bullt al
| industries, which have given employment
| to home labor, opened up mines, furnished
a market to the farmer and encouraged
every branch of enterprise. let them sup
port the Republican party and the candl
dates who represent it. If they want to
see our public free school system grand
success, so that every INDECENT child III
the State may have the opportunity OF ac
curing at least the rudiments OF an edu-
cation. and given chance in the strug
giles of life, let them support the party, one
of whose cardinal principles is popular ed
utation, and whose candidates will defend
and maintain it in every form it may be
presented.
When out of power the Democratic par
| ty was conspicuous for its opposition tc
every measure and every policy that looked
| to the progress and prosperity of the Ma
ton and the improvement and elevation Of
the people. 1t opposed every law that had
for its object the development of our ma
terial resources, the advancement OF the
interests of the people and the promotion
of the public veal. When in power, ii
has shown its utter incapacity to inaugur.
ate system or policy of it's own, or in
any way administer to the welfare OF the
on all public questions, it does not dare tt
repeal or mutilate the legislation which
it opposed, when introduced by Republi
cans, nor will it dare to ask the confidence
of the people upon the miserable record il
has made. 1t has been a constant M nace
to business ever since it has been in power
| Capital shrunk from public enterprises
until it was demonstrated by recorded
vote that the Democratic policy could moi
become part of the economy of the COY
eminent, with the political Influences ad
| iusted as they now are in Washington
| Now, however, that the assurance is giver
| that British Free trade cannot be insti-
tuted as the policy of this country, there
are signs of reviving business and grounds
for hope that we will soon realize some Of
the results of this returning confidence
not in the wisdom of the Democratic par
| ty, but in it's inability to change the legis-
lation enacted by the Republican party.
In State and Nation the Democratic
party is failure, and this the people
ought to recognize at the ballot-box.
1t was stated that Hon. Geo. G. Cabell
the member of Congress from the Fifth
Virginia District, following the example
of Barbour and Tucker, would not be a
candidate for reelection. To those who
have observed Royal George as he aired
! his greatness in the corridors of Congress.