The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-07-26


there more sincere sorrow over the death OF a
brave, tender faithful and honorable GENTLE
man.
"For truly we may say great and good man
has falieul'
Mr.. Randall a d tho Mills Bill.
The position of Mr.. Randall has never
been in doubt in regard TO the Mills tariff
bill with lhfs4 who Know his character
and his views on the tariff question. But
it suited the purpose 0f a few Democrats
TO stale that he would support it when
the final tess came. and our contemporary
of the ViRdicutor went so far as to assume
that Mr.. Randall and itself were in accord
on the subject We could not understand
how this could be. knowing Mr.. Randall's
position, and the fact that the Vildicdt0r
had announced its purpose to support the
Democratic platform of 1884. as inter-
preted by Cleveland s free trade message,
and also the Mills bill. Mr. Randall, how
ever. settles the matter over his own sig
nature. Lingering on a bed of sickness
and unable to attend upon the proceedings
L
sideratlon of the Mills bill, he was so so
licitous aboat the measure and his relation
to it that he wrote the following letter to his
colleague, Mr.. Sowden, who read it, at
the request of the author, about the time
the vote was taken. 1t is as follows:
JULY 10, 1883.
Hon VI. II. Sowden. House of Representa-.
tires:
Dear Stiff the vote on the Mills tariff
bill is to be taken Saturday, the Dist inst,
| fear my strength by reason of recent i'll
ness will not permit my presence in the
House on that day, and If absent | want
you to secure me a pair with some one
who favOrs that bill, as | would, if present
| record my vote in opposition to it, Give
| this immediate care as | do not want to
lie misunderstood. | want it announced
and distinctly known that [ am opposed
to the passage OF the bill in question:
Yours truly.
[Signedl SAMUEL J. RANDALL.
This is the view and the position of the
man who saved the Democratic party
from defeat in 1884, by gong into the
States of New York, New Jersey and
Connecticut, and declaring that Cleveland
was sound on the protection question and
held to the same opinion in regard to it
that he Randall, did. He is the first man in
the Democratic party, the ablest and pnr-
est and most influential statesman that
acts with the Democracy, and has done
more to preserve 1t from destruction, and
to restore it to power than any dozen men in
the party. And TO day he voices the honest
sentiment of majority of the intelligent
Democrats of Virginia, but they cannot
stand before the patronage and power of
the administration which is waging re-
lentless warfare upon the intrepid and
courageous representative from the Key
stone State. Consequently they simulate
approval of the Mills bill and the free trade
message of the President, and denounce
Randall as an obstructiOnist because he
is true to his convictions and speaks and
votes for what they know to be right.
The Free Trade Democracy has chosen
its path. and Randall has announced
wherein he will tread. 1t will not he
twelve months before Mills and Cleveland
Will be execrated by the same men who
now seek to cruelty Randall. But it will
be too late. The sceptre will have departed
from Judah, and the ''rascals" all turned
out to feed upon husks.
Tue Mills Bill Passed.
On Saturday last the debate on the Mills
tariff bill was closed by a speech from Mr..
Mills, summing up its provisions and inter-
preting its meaning. He proclaimed
against free trade vociferously, although
only a few months before he had boldly
declared for the principle. But after the
Oregon election his expressions were mod
ilied and the bill so emasculated, at the
demand Of members, whose districts pro-
tested against it. as scarcely to be recOgs
niZed as bearing a legitimate relation to
the original measure. The vote, as re-
corded, was 1862 ayes and l4a nays, The
Democrats who voted against the bill,
were Sowden. of Pa, and Merriman,
Greenman and Bliss. of New York. Mr..
Randall went on record against it, being
paired with Mr.. Hogg. of w. Va. Messrs.
Fitch, of New York, and Nelson. of Min
nesota, Republicans, voted for it. as did
Anderson, of Iowa: Hopkins, of Va, al d
: Smith, of Wisconsin, independents. Fo-
ran, Of Ohio, did not vote. The Demo
Gratis received the result with earnest man
ifestations of sat isfaction. Bnt beneath
this apparent satisfaction, is a deep feel
ing Of unrest and distrust, for the evil
deuce is developing every duy that the
people of the country will not approve the
measure.
The Republican Senate will prepare a
bill rejecting the Republican platform on
the tariff question, and thus the issue will
be squarely presented to the voters of the
country as to which policy they will en-.
d0rSe.
Mr.. Randall is improving, but Lis
condition is still precarions.
Gen. Sheridan's symptoms are more IA
Vorable, but he Is still very sick man.
| Next Wednesday is the time for putting
up free trade lamb for slaughter in this
district.
The Big Stone Gap Age says a Scotch
capitalist will probably 1emove his ste ell
works to that place.
Mrs. Sarah Strother, sister of Mrs. M,
G. 1.upton, died in Harrisonburg on
Thursday last, aged about 20 years.
NJ. W. Fuller. of Chicago. nominated
by the President to be Chief Justice of
the supreme Court. has been confirmed by
thu Senate. The vote is said to have been
40 to q.
The Democrats in the last campaign in
this State favored the removal of the tax
on tobacco, and also the passage of the
Blair educational bill. They have done
nsither. Can they be trusted again ??
The trial of Edwin Barbour, charge d
with killing Ellis B. Williams at Culpeper,
last March, is in progress. Able counsel
have been employed on both sides, Hen
John S. Wise appearing for the prosecu-
tioa.
Lewisburg Independent Col. R. S. Turk
spent the past few days in LeWisburg, and
left this morning tor his adopted home i'll
Wichita Kansas. Having bought prop.