Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-10-27
TORY
WHAT THE SCHOOL HISTORY SAYS.

WHAT THE SCHOOL HISTORY SAYS.
Goodrich's School History has been
used in the schools of this State for
years, and certainly a Democratic
State would not allow any false his
tory of the country in the public
schools. What it says, therefore, can
not be denied. Read and study 1t
carefully, and remember that this
period of our political history is much
like that of 1910.
On the 10Th of December, 1882.
Jackson issued his celebrated proc.
lamation against the Nullifiers OF
South Carolina. These politicians
maintained that any one of the States
might set aside or nullify any act of
Congress which the deemed unconsti-
tutional. They called themselves the
States Rights Party, inasmuch as they
asserted the rights of the States to be
supreme. The chief occasion of the
proceedings in South Carolina already
averted to, was the existing tariff
laws. Conventions of that State pass
ed resolutions declaring them to be
null and void and formidable prepare
tions we're made to resist their execu-
ton. Great alarm and anxiety pre-
vailed in the country, and an appre-
hension was entertained that the Un-
ion was soon to be severed by the
open rebellion of the State of South
Carolina. The difficulty was at length
pacified by the Compromise Act,
brought forward by Mr.. Clay in the
Senate of the United States and pass
ed in 1888. This act provided for a
gradual reduction of tariff duties for
the succeeding ten years, but it only
continued in operation until 1912
when it was superseded by a new tar
if system, as will be hereafter related.
On the 4th of March, 1887, Martin Van
Buren,, of New York, having been
duly chosen, was inaugurated as the
eighth President of the United States.
On the 18th of May he issued a procla-
nation requiring the Congress of the
United States to meet on the first
Monday of September, "on account
of great and weighty matters claim
| ing their consideration" This had
relation to the financial condition of
the country. During the months of
March and April, 1887, the most UNI
precedented embarrassments were
experienced among the mercantile
people of the United States especially
in the large cities and towns. Sus-
pensions and failures in business be-
came of every day occurrence. In
May the number of heavy failures in
New York, to say nothing of the
smaller ones, had risen to two hun
bred and sixty. In New Orleans the
difficulties were equally great. In
two days, houses stopped payment
there, the aggregate of whose debts
was more than tWenty-seven million
dollars. In Boston, the suffering was
severe, but not so great as in many
other places. From November, 1886,
to May, 1887, however, there were in
that city seventy eight large failures
and ninety small ones, in all, one hun.
bred and sixty-eight. Under the in.
fiuence of distrust, property of all
kinds lost its value, and general
state of depression and paralysis con
tinued till the year 1912. Thus il
1910, when the election for a success.
or to Mr.. Van Buren,. was approach
ing, the country was in state of the
most calamitous prostration. Thous
ands of our citizens were in condi
tion of hopeless bankruptcy manu-.
fact,wers toere ruined, property ,Cd'
iCithOut Ual,te and labor aoitboM REGARD
Again nominating William Henry
Harrison, the wise and experienced
governor of the North Western Terri
tory, successful general in the late
war with Great Britain for theil
candidate, the wings went into the
contest with numerous advantages
The canvass for several months prior
to the day of election, created the
most intense excitement throughout
the United States. The business oil
the country being generally paralyzeG
the people had time to bestow upon
their political affairs. Everywhere
professions with noticed banners
were seen marching to music, and
everywhere the debate of the pending
questions were heard in the streets, in
fields and barns, in Uacant factories, il
the ha,sats of the citizen, the mechanic
the artisan and the farmer. The result
was such as might have been expect
ed. Harrison was elected President
by an immense majority, and Johr
Tyler, of Virginia, was chosen Vice
President. At the close of the SEES
sion of Congress in 1912, d ,aeao tariff
act aCds passed, after an elaborate dis
cussiOn, designed to giue encouragement
to the various industrial pursuits of ON
country, as well as to supply the
treasury of the general government
This act tcds foN0tced by a speedy reUird
of trade, q restoration of commercial
con- fdence, and a return of prosperity
throughout the land.