The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-09-27
Richard f. Bierne,

| leiCAd1 9olGl n.y.
Mr.. Bierne, editor OF the Richmond
Stu8, and elector at large of the Demo.
cratic party, addressed the citizens of
Stanton and Augusta county Monday last,
court day. The crowd in town was not a
large one, and Mr.. Bierne had very small
audience, not over 200 being in the court
house at any tina. The speaker opened
his address with an appeal for an increased
majority in the State and district. He
said that the majority Of Federal soldiers
were Democratic, that the Republican
party was war party, uniting all the
worst elements Of both races against the
honesty, intelligence and thrift Of the op-
posite party, 4 the Rep4hhe4n oandi
dates for Tue Presidency had been elected
by northern votes, ard the South would
remain solidly opposed to the North. Sen
atOr Hampton S report of reconstruction
in South Carolina was rehearsed, and Sen.
ator Sherman condemned fer his speeches
made in the North AFTER having enjoyed
the hospitality Of the South, as was also
Blaine Tor his Maine speech 4 years ago.
Gov. Foraker of Ohio, came in for his
share of abuse as to the flags. And Gent
Harrison was condemned fer his address
to ex soldiers and his vote on the Chinese
question. He declared that the economic
policy OF Grover Cleveland was blocked by
the presence Of q Republic ID Senate. that
the people were taxed to death, and that
q CT to Il
rectioD. He enumerated .neaeGres passed
ly Tie present administration, the restora-
tion nf 100 millions of public lands, which
furnished an outlet for surplus population
and the surplus of population thus dis
posed of kept up wages. He condemned
the grant OF lands to the Pacific railroad
which was built at a cost of SIS, 900 per
mile or less, and which had land grants
amounting to $72 900 per mile. Grover
Cleveland did the work Of restoring these
lands, and was justly enttled to be con-
sldered the s'Tiberas Gracious of the Dem
Qcratic party" Grover Cleveland had at
the same time broken up the alien landlord
system which was being carried out by the
railroad companies.
Mr.. Bierne said that the Democratic
party was opp osed to Chinese immigration,
skilled or unskilled: but was not opposed
to immigration from Europe. The ex
plOdeG idea OF Harrison IS Chinese record
was spoken Of. The action Of Presi lent
Cleveland in yetoing the dependent pens
sion bill was approved. The speaker de-
claripg that Of the 100 millions appropria-
ted, the South would have paid 60 millions
and get none back, al the money going
North. The old Star Route scandals were
brought up and the navy was passed iu
| review as an example of extravaganza.
Referring to the exhibit of the books, and
counting the money in the Treasury when
the Democrats came into power, Mr..
| Biefne said that published statements
were all wrong, that tho Auditor of the
Treasury had discovered that there were
l3,000,000 dollars missing. That Re did
not make any charges, bur that Sherman
had been Secretary Of the Treasury, and
had grown rich, and the people could
draw their own inference.
The Inter States Commerce bill was
fully endorsed, Grover Cleveland Was com
mended for calling Southern men to office.
| dust here there was some Interruption by
some one in the crowd, and the party was
elected. We are glad to say the disturb
ance was not by a Republican,.
Mr.. BieEne said that Grover Cleveland
| encouraged tariff reform. That tariff
means tax, and that anything collected be.
yond the actual needs Of the government
becomes burden and a tyranny. That
protection was false principle, He held
to the old Democratic idea that the tariff
as tax was always added to the article
sold and the purchaser had to pay it, and
not emily Oh the imported article but also
Oh the article of domestic production in
consequence of the tariff. He said it
would be entirely safe to come down lower
than the Mills bill. and went into dem
onstration TO show that European laborers
were paid higher wages than American
lab0rerS. He declared IN favor OF free raw
materials and that we should "open our
markets to the world" That wages in
81
period Of 1850 to 1860, when wages i'll
creased under low tar If. and 1860 to 1870
only per cent.and Ii per cent from 1870 to
1880, aud that the latter was in conse-
quenGe OF improved machinery and in
creased hours of labor. That the true
principle was in trading" our commodi-
dities for those of other countries, with
out the intervention OF tariff-that we
should not depend upon a home market. :
The sugar trust, the iQte trust. wood
screw trust were all condemned as crush,
ing evils.
Mr.. Beirne declared that the Mills bill
did not go as far as be would. That be
did not believe in a revenue tariff with
incidental protection. Waterson said there
was some protection in the bill and he was
sorry for it: but we would let them of
easy this time
He took the usual Democratic position
as to the abolition of the Internal Reve-
nue. declared hat States lights have moi
gone by, and that secession has passt
away, but had not gone. Mr.. Bierne
closed his address by az appeal for har
mopy, united action and organization.
Deaths.
Mrs. Sarah Thurmond, wife eff Richarc
Thnrmopd, dec d. died on the morning Of
the 26lh inst, at her residence, of heart
disease, il the 58th year of her age. Mrs
Thurmond leaves two daughters, Miss
Lal Thurmond and Mrs. DR.. r.. Tatum.
Hill Carter Strayer, infant son of II. V.
Strayer, Esq. died On the oath inst. al
, the Revere House. aged months and Is
: days. Buckingham Register.
Death of W rs. Gee. w. MeCmtchen
. Mrs. Geo. w. McCutchen died at hel
, sdence near Craigsville, on the 18th
In, affn cI,> SI,, 90