The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-11-15
A Paramount Duty.

d.. Of intiper tial papers as to the necessity.
Or at least, TIE 'expediency of President
Harrison eslliE5 Congress together in sx-
ira session fer the 4th of March. The
necessity fer this is alleged to he the finan
cial situation arising from the condition
of the treasury. and the surplus that will
under present laws. before the
5lst Congress cunvenes in regular SEES
sion. There is something in tt is, and as
the Republicans will have a working ma
jority in both branches Of the legislative
department it will hot only be safe. but
eminenty proper that such notifications
in present legislation relating to the reve'
nues be effected. as will comport with the
declared policy OF the Republican party.
There " i'll not be much difficulty III ad-
iusting the laws and equalizing the Gus
toms duties to conform to the protective
theory, and at the same time reduce the
iucnme from the customs laws. The Sem
ate Tariff Bill comprehends the demands
of the hour, and with such notifications
as careful study and intelligent scrutiny
may suggest. measure can be perfected
that will met all the demands and neces'
stiles of the government, AS well as The
business interests of the country.
But there is another and far more pre- S.
ing necessity, TO our mind. which should
influence the incoming President in con-
vening Congress in extraordinary session.
It is not so much a question of mere dol
lars and cents aid the construction of
laws which Will equalize tariff duties, as
it il one of underlying principle. affecting
the rights and interests of the people and
duplicating The dignity and character OF
the government.
Under the partiZan administration OF
Cleveland and the low guage of duty of
the Democratic party. the Territory OF
Dakota. with its 600 600 people. has been
shamefully denied The right which
belongs to her. of entering into the sis
terhood of States. and having her legal rep
resentatives in the Senate and House Of
Representatives. Gen Harrison, when in
the Senate, discussed this question with
remarkable ability. and demonstrated the
injustice that was bs ing done to over half
a million American citizens in refusing
their demand for admission into the Union
as a State. He is committed to the justice
of the claim and will, no doubt, be swift
to recognize the right involved, as u para
mount duty.
Not only Dakota, but Washington and
Montana Territories. embracing more than
a quarter million of people, have had their
rights set at defiance by Democratic partiZ
an administration, and denied the privilege
that never before has been refused Terri
tory, when measuring up TO the constitn-
tional requirements of a State.
We believe it should be- the first duty OF
the Republican administration, after il
has been fully inaugurated, to vindicate
the rights of those brave and intelligent
people, and to illustrate the proverbial
Justice of the Republican party, by calling
Congress in extra session. to enact the
necessary legislation TO constitute these
three Territories States of the Union.
Not only would it be an act of simple
justice to the people directly intereste d.
but it would be movement of pregnant
political significance. 1t would be notice
to the world that the solid South and the
city of New York could no longer dicta
the political complexion of the govern
ment and threaten the industrial syste NJ
of the Nation. that Democratic supre
macy might be perpetuated. With the
fact realized that the solid South as a 70
lit:cal factor would be powerless, it We uld
soon cease to be solid. Virginia, Tel mes.
see, North Carolina, Kentucky and Mis-
souri, would wheel into the Republican
column. from considerations of self-il ter.
ests. They are as much, if not more in
tecested in the protective policy than any
other States in the Union. Nature hi s
beea prodigal in her gifts to all of hem
Diversified minerals, unsurpassed fertility
in soil, water power unequalled-the mate.
rial life of these great Commonw ealths
their progress and prosperity - is de-
pendent upon the perpetuation of wel-ad.
justed protective laws. With the change
in material conditions which would be eff.
fected by the introduction of Northern
capital and enterprise, would come a
change in political sentiment. Bourbon
ism, with all its obstructive and des-
Gructive tendencies, would be eschewed
and a higher ideal of duty. aud broader
Americauism would be- the guage and
guide of the people.
Not only would these results follow the
admission of the Territories named into
the Union as States. but menace to the
perpetuatiOn of the Union be removed. in
she recognition of the political rights OF
the people of the South. With prevail
ing consciousness that solid Democratic
South would be powerless to dictate the
policy of the government, would come a
sense of justice and fairness. and of duty
to the fundamental law in the recogni-
ton of the right of every voter to cast
his one ballot and have it countei as
cast.
The greatest danger TO the Republic
that has confronted it since the assault
upon Sumpter, has been the manner
in which the people have been de
MED their fair representation in Con-
gress and the Electoral College from
some of the Southern States. To the
observant student of current events and the
expression of public sentiment, it isappa-
rent that there has been of late deep
feeling of unrest. an aggravating chatting
under restraint, a growing conviction that
there must be change in some way 10
bring about popular representation in
Congress and the Electoral College, or
the most serious consequences would fol-
low.
We believe that the admission of tie
Territories named as States would remove
this threat-would bring the people all
over the country to a calm, patriotic con
siderati0n of the situation and its de-
mands, and SO modify political methods
and SO restrain pdrtizan feeling as to prove
a blessing 10 the country.
If Gen. Harrison should be instrum en-
tai in effecting such propitinns results, as
the fist acts of his adm. inistration, he
would be exalted into the highest nici-e of
statesmanshjp, and prove benediction to
the Nation.