The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-06-14
The Democratic oriflamme.


danger and disaster in the future, on ac-
count of the internal revenue tax and the
failure of Democratic Congress to deal
with it to satisfy the people; recognizing
fatal ulunder in the treatment OF the
Blair Educational Bill, the democracy at
St. Louis took shelter under the bandanna
pocket handkerchief of Allen u. Ihur
man, and Haunting it before the people as
it's overflamme, affect an enthusiasm over
the work of their National Convention,
which is as pitiable as 1t is ludicrous.
The nomination of CLEVELAND for Pres
dent was necessity of the party, as well
as demand from the President. While
! three-fourths of the leaders and the rank
and file. deep down i'll their hearts detest
him and would gladly have escaped from
the perfunctory work OF his formal nom
nation, yet there was no alternative pre-
scented that promised hope of success
To have repudiated the first Democratic
President and the first Democratic admin
istration in a quarter Of century, would
have been tantamount TO a confession be-
fore the world. that the party could not
direct the affairs of government even to
the satisfaction and approval of its own
following. 1t would. have been an ac'
! acknowledgement of disastrous and humil-
iating failure, and promptly and eff
feetively forfeited the confidence OF even
the Democrats themselves. 1t was CON-
pulsory act, which there was no way of
evading, although its contamination car
ried with it curses both loud and deep,
with many devoted mossback.
And Mr., Thurman for second place
What train of thought it suggests Al
len G Thurman, 1.-THE nOblest Roman OF
them ALL as he has been dramatically
termed; he of the bandanna pocket hand
kerchief and yeritable snuff box, has been
a prominent figure in the political history
of the country for nearly half century.
His name has been associated in the Dem
ocratic mind as a Presidential possibility
for over a quarter of a century, yet he has
never been honored with a respectable
vote for that position in any National Con-
vention of his party. His popularity was
n 1T great enough to elect him Governor OF
his own State. when Ohio was in the
doubtf Il column. The coal oil gang was
more powerful than his boosted virtues
and acknowledged honesty, as was shown
in his defeat by his party in caucus, and
the success of Mr.. Payne for the United
States Senate, when the Democrats con-
trollel the Ohio Legislature. His record
aud his party service did not commend
him to Mr.. Cleveland for Cabinet APP.
pointment, nor did il serve to invite him
from the retirement which the fortune OF
prominence that had been given him fol-
some years before the st. Louis Conyen
ton, was that achieved in the prosecution
of d. m ,cratic forgers and ballot box stuff
fers in his own State. for whose incarce
ration in the penitentiary be labored hon
estly and earnestly Feeling that his party
had consigned him to the political waste
basket, he had retired to the seclusion anC
comforts of his home in Columbus anc
there was philOsophically Illuminating over
the ingratitude of Republics and calml,
awiiting the final summons, when ht
W ,uld be called to "shuf1le off this morta
CO H. and be at rest.
But fortunately. or unfortunately, The
Democratic party wanted an issue-it ha(
none-and the modest Roman of then
alp had bandanna handkerchief which
: b I'd PLAYED. a noticeable part in the hall OF
the Senate, whenever the snuff box was
tapped. 1t was "reminiscences OF ole
; Democratic times and Democratic discus
sons of public questions. was the only
= thing left to remind the country that there
ever had been Democratic party, and 81
it was seized upon to meet the emergen-
: cies of the present occasion. 1t was at
tached as the tail of the Cleveland kite
and is to be made to serve AS a ballast t.
give the thing a start and furnish mo
mpntary sensation for the boys, and di
$ version for the m on from the more serious
: questions affecting the interests of tht
. country,
= Had Mr. Thurman not been in the ''Sert
t and yellow leaf''-had lie possessed thu
normal vigor of his mind, he would neye
have consented to the humiliation. or per
mitted his name and his bandanna to b.
associated in such relation-a relation
that recalls the ingratitutlp of The party
o its hollow pretense of regard and conf
a dence, and places him before the cOuntr,
a in the attitude of convenience to thOs
: who had turned their backs upon him
t when real honOrs were to be conferred. Blu
e it will not effect the object designed. In
IS spasm of the handanna will soon pas
y away. The popular mind will look TO
: something tangible, practical, in this prac
d tcal day of tangible things. The great is
les which divide the two parties canno
e BE- obscured by the greasy aud besmeare'
}. lids of cotton handkerchief. The tai
o iff, the interests of American industrie
7. and American labor-the repeal Of the in
: ternal revenue laws; the passage of tn
It Blair Educational Bill; genuine civi
service reform; the preservation of Gu
v national credit and the advancement
II of all the great interests of the Nation
| will take their place in the thought an
a consideration of the people. REGARDLESS
Y of the childish Diversion and idiotic enthu
d siasm which Mr. Thurman's bandann
may arouse as the only issue the DemOc
O racy has to present.
q The people of the country will properl
% appreciate the insult to their intelligence
=. involved in the banana iosue. Thei
n sagaci.y will readily penetrate the thi
q Disguise of conscious weakness and failur
,. of a Democratic administration, all
Il clearly understand that it is to side
n ira * the important questions relatin
: to government, that the Democrats hav
q Haunted the bandanna as the banner Q
= their faith and the inspiration of thei
: cause. 1t is a humiliating spectacle 10
k a great party to present to the America
}. people, and the severes' commentary npO
Il its pretensons and deceptions that could b
70 possibly given. 1t will deceive and mis-
n lead nc intelligent voter. but will di SCI US
# many an honest man who has been ident
IS fed " 18th the organization under the delu
o sion that it had some controlling princi
n pie and some essential conviction lelatin
% to the. seriOus affairs of government an