The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-02-02
Dtscordant Democracy.

ocratic party of Pennsylvania, it clearly
points out the line of the Democratic cam
paign in 1855 Hon. w. =. G. Breckin-
ridge, who addressed the reformerS on the
referred to, boldly declared that
the Presidential campaign would be fought
on the basis of The Presidents free trade
He congratulated the Demo-
cratic party and the country on the tact
that they had brave man in the PreSl-
Dental office, who dared to make the issue
against the protective policy, at the risk
of losing his high office for a second term
who had the "civlc courage" to risk
a Presidency for the performance OF
public duty" Mr.. Frank IIurd. who lost
his election to Congress in strong Dem
ocratic district. on two occasions, because
of his free trade notions, also spoke to the
Philadelphia reformers. on the 18th. He,
too, seemed to be happy in The assurance
that plain, blunt, aggressive contest was
to he waged i'll the next national fight for
free trade against protection. and said he
would rather be defeated standing square
for his convictions, than to be successful
by means of compromise.
There can be no reasonable grounds 10
doubt that the President, after consultation
with w. H. Scott, ,Jno. e. Carlisle, w. p.
G. Breckenridge, Roger @. Mills, Secretary
Fairchilds, and other free traders, formu~
laced his message as the Democratic plat
form for 1888, on the tariff question, and
that in this position. his nominate on be-
ing taken for granted, he was willing
to go before the people. The issue is
m ,de up therefore and officially promul-
gated. 1t is to be an appeal to the voters
Of tne Nation to decide between the two
policies illustrated, in their effects upon
the country, in the conditions which ex-
listed in 1861 under the tariff for revenue
only, and those which exist to-day, under
the operation Of the protective doctrine
L requires no mental strain or refining to
discern the difference in the results. We
know what was the state of the national
treasury, the national credit and the in
dustries Of the Nation in 1861 las the legit-
innate consequence of Democratic theo~
ries and assumptions, and we know what
they are to-day, as the natural outcome OF
the practical application to the admins
tration of government of Republican
principles. Under the one we had bank
rupt treasury, impaired credit. and indus
trial dependence. Under the other we
bau nuorfinUipU with the
plus problem to dispose Of; credit sur
passing that of any of the great powers on
the globe, and an industrial system that
has established our independence of the
workshops Of Europe, and even enabled
our manufactures to invade and capture
the markets of the old country, in some
branches of mechanical skill. Depression,
5tagnation and poverty under the one
system. have been succeeded by vigorous
activity. robust vitality, abundant wealth
and prosperity under the other. The one
| building up the workshops and the manu-
features and employing the labor of for
eign countries: the other effecting the
industrial independence of our own coun-
Try, by developing our mines, and utilizing
their products through the well paid labor
Of our own people.
From party standpoint, the only APP
prehension we have is that the Democracy
| burden too heavy to be borne. The re-
cent measurement of strength between
! him and Gov. Hill, of New York, in the
contest before the State Democratic Com
| nlittee for member Of the National
Democratic Committee. indicated the
| growing dissatisfaction with the Pres
ident. In that Committee, presumed to
| be almost solid for Cleveland, the test re-
suited in a tell to II, although the pa
| tronage of the government, through its
| appointee was massed to control the
| committee. There was no choice of a
National Committeeman, and the selection
had to be referred to the National Commit
tee when the democratic convention meets.
I he general surprise at this result, attribu-
table to the free trade position of the Pres
ident has given encouragement to the dis
satisfied, and now, it is stated, there will
be organized effort in the party to defeat
his nomination. 1t is known that Secre-
! tary Whitney is not in accord with the
sentiment of the message; that he was
not consulted in its preparation and in
deed, that his reputed illness abou. that
time, was feint under which he absented
himself from Washington.
1t. however. is very manifest that the
| President is determined to effect his own
nomination. if the power and patronage
at his command can accomplish it. Never
in the history of any administration has
there been more systematic purpose pur-
sued to bring about political result than
is now being enforced by Mr.. Cleveland
to control the determination of the next
Democratic National Convention. With
organized forces contending against an
unorganiZed sentiment, it is not ditfic ult
| to forecast the outcome. 1t is more than
probable that Mr.. Cleveland will be the
| Democratic nominee for the next Presi-
dency, and if SO, he will stand square on
the policy outlined in his message. He
/ can have no alternative And it is this
candidate and it is this platform and policy
that the Republicans Will have to con-
front, and the people have to pass upon.
1t is challenge they will cheerfully take
up, and meet it fully and frankly, not only
i'll the candidate they will select, but in
the principles they will declare.
A writer in the columns of the Peters
burg Lnder Appeal contends that the con-
stitutlona provision which entrusts
each House of the General Assembly
with the right to Judge of the qualifica-
tons of its members. cannot be abridged
modified or denied by legislative enact
ment. This position is stated in view of
the recent action of the Senate disregard
ing the statute that requires notice to be
given of a contest for a seat in that body
within ten days after the election. In
the case Of Ellis VS.. Houston this notice
was not given, yet the Senate, by the cast
ing vote of its President, declared that it
had the right to entertain resolution to
open the case and go into an investiga.
ton, in defiance of the statute. If this
position is right, what power has the