The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-08-02
Another ISgua

The Viadicator fleets to have another
issue N charging the Republicans with
heil in favor Of free whisky" This is
strange allegation for oar neigbbor to
make. His memory must he very short
or be must think The people are all a LOT of
ninnies. The charge is based on the fact
that the Republican platform, adopted at
Chicago i'll declaring for the principle and
policy of protection TO American labor
ana American Industries, announced that
rather Than surrender this principle or
weaken lis vital power. it would prefer the
repeal of he entire tx on distilled sDirits.
fhe condition upon which this extreme
position is predieated is not likely 10 oe-
cur. hat the Republicans did not care to
leave any doubt in the public mind as TO
th' in sincerity in ma;naining the interests
Of American labor and American mann.
faotues. In the earnestness of their con-
viction as to the true policy of this conn
try, in relation TO its material development
its mechanical advancement, its Industrial
progress, the employment of its labor. and
the establishment of its industrial indepen.
dence, they want ed to impress the idea that
any policy or legislation which threatened
these interests would bs considered sec
ondary,
But how is it with the Virginia Demoe
racy and our neighbor just thirteen
months ago the Democrats of Virginia in
Convention assembled at Roanoke, after
solemn delibeIation, resolved that
l. I'VE demand the immediate repeal of
the internal revenue system. relic of the
war and no longer necessary to meet the
demands of the government. because it is
oppressive, fosters ElOn0pOlies. and is OBJ
noXioua to the interests of the people,
The Vaedicator supported the platform,
of which the above quotation is part
1t was paraded before the people as the
| true policy to be adopted, and the
Democratic party deliberately pledged it.
self to the repeal of the entire internal
| TO change the mind of our contemporary
| lie must have been either trifiiEg with a
grave public question then, or he is doing
SO now. And then for a Democratic paper
or Democratic speaker to state to the
country that the Republican party is in
favor of free whisky with the tradi-
lions, the records and the practices of the
two parties familiar to the people, is to
assume degree Of credulity and ignorance
on their part that is not complimentary to
the sagacity of those who do it.
This is another tissue" our neighhor
will haye to face and tackle, and explain to
the people of this State whether the Dem.
ocratic State platform meant free whisky
and dear clothing OF not And if not why
not, provided such result would follow
the adoption of conditional resolution
such as that in the Chicago.platform The
one Was a demand for repeal without con
ditions-cool, deliberate, calculating, and
the Vindicator and the Virginia Democ
racy supported it. The other is repeal.
conditioned on a certain state of things
affecting the entire industrial relations Of
the country harmfully, and the Republic
cans support it.
While we are not apologizing for the Re
publican platform by way of comparison
we believe its position is right, Had we
drawn the resolution, we might have dit
ferently worded it, hut the purpose it was
designed to declare, implieates interests
so vast and so far-reachipg, and so init
mately associated with national progress
and prosperity that no true friend of the
country ought to antagonize it. We sim
ply place the Democratic declaration one
year ago. and the Democratic demagogit
| appeal now, before the people for them tt
determine the sincerity of the charge OF
free whisky against the Republicans.