Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-01-21
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.


be held, and the political machinery
put into working order for the Presi
Dental campaign. Though there is
no impending crisis in government
affairs, the election Of 1883 is going
to be as formidable a contest of the
relative strength of parties and
principles us this country has exper
fenced for many years. The issues
will not be complicated or hard te
define. The Republican party need
not vary an inch from the platform
upon which it stood for twenty
years. The Democratic party has 8
fresh record to confront, and if II
has any declared issue to put before
the people it must be a com
promise within itself. 1t has the ad
vantages of Government inf1uenc,
on its side. 1t has no enemy in of
flee to hold between itself and the
people. The voter looks the ISSUE
sQuarely in the face,-the Democra
tic party and its promises, and foul
years of Democratic administration
and its friends. There need be M
appeal to passion or prejudice
there can be none to misrepresenta
ton and subterfuge, for the party al
it is, is living issue, and canno
stand upon what it will do, but mus
be judged by what it is doing.
There is great element of uncer
tainty for both parties, and that is
the questions outside of politics tina
have formed issues for themselves
Yet the struggle will be between
the old parties, and by them decid
ed, whatever effect the various othel
forces in the field may have.
The contest for President THU
year will be one in which every mar
has direct interest, no matter wha
his politics may be nor to which
party he may belong. The country
is in ooe of those stages of progress
sion in which the evil effects are iel
by the greatest capitalist as well al
by the lowest tradesman or wage
Garner. The good results hoped fol
after the new order of things ha'
been adapted to the wants and de
mands of the times and the condi
tion of the country, will be equal,
enjoyed by every class of citizenship
Therefore every voter owes it tt
himself and his country as a mos
sacred duty, to inquire honestly ant
impartially into the policies of eacI
party and their bearings upon thu
prosperity or adversely Of our com
mon country. Every voter has ;
still higher duty to perform, that il
the exercise of his privileges as f;
citizen according to the dictates o
his conscience to vote as he think;
best and to use his influence to tina
end.
Believing that to be the right an(
duty of every man, The HERALI
will endeavor to carry the principle
into practice.
Though our individual preference
has not changed, the Chicago nomi
nees will represent the Republican
principles upon which this country
has prospered for over twenty years
and which we believe would be fol-
the best interest of the people if puI
into force and power for twenty
years more to come.
Blaine is undoubtedly the choice O
the great masses Of the people ant
in this particular crisis between the
political economy of America an(
the threatened invasion of Englist
ideas, Blaine would settle the govern
ment upon the rocks of American
craftsmanship as solidly as the pat
riots of the Revolution settled it BY
force of arms. The representatives
Of Blaine ADMINISTRATION would
have millions for business and indus
trial defense, but not one cent 70:
social tribute or foreign subservien
cy.
If we look to individual experience
in the past few years, and remem
Der the promises of ga change" il
our political administration, there il
nothing to hold out the least hope O
better times or a more settled anG
clearly defined course of administra
tive policy. There has been a wav
ering and hesltating in all matter;
pertaining to good government, thai
reminds us of nothing better than &
stalled or balky team, now going
forward by vigorous pull, now
backward with crash that snapped
the strongest trace chains of legisla
ton. To prove this 1t is only neces
sary to look over the messages, plat
forms, declarations, &c, and ASK
your nearest Democratic neighbol
where his party now stands. 1t is
hard to tell. Civil service, tariff
internal revenue, finance, and other
leading points upon which the pros.
A., ~