Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-09-13
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE CON.
TENDING FOR.

Thepeop1e of Virginia are in this campaign
put on the issue of defending and maintain.
ing republican form of Government. II
is incontrovertible, from both Democratic
experience and Republican testimony, that
if the government of Virginia passes out OF
the hands of the Democracy this Fall, il
goes into the hands of man who will ad
minister it on his personal will and caprice
and it ceases to be government of the
people, by the people, and for the people
There is far more in this Virginia election
than simple party struggle to keep OF tt
get power. The real issue finds it's root
in the republican character of the institu.
lions of the country. 1t is an attempt of q
National Administration, by it's aid, to put
the State Of Virginia under the feet of al
autocrat-an array Of the power of govern
ment against its citizens. In his eagerness
not only does President Harrison arm Ma
hone with the Federal patronage against the
Democrats, but gives it to him to use against
those Of his own party who will not submit
to his will. The Administration tomahawl
is as ready to brain Republican who will
not submit to Malone, as to Stay the Demo
GRAFT who is equally unwilling. 1t is an in
auguration of series of essays at govern
ing States from the White House, and the
unrepublican scheme should be put to an
ignominious death. 1t is against the spirit
of the Republic and contrary to the ideas OF
Of the men who founded it, and the steps OF
the consyirators both in Washington AND
Virginia who have prepared it all, lead
away from the American theory of liberty
1t elevates what would otherwise be a
mere State election, into an issue in which
every State of the Union is interested.
1t is this elevation to SO important q
plane that has attracted to the Virginia
election the eyes of all the States. Does
that plan work well in Virginia to-day it
may be put to work in some other State to-
morrow! In no Northern State has it been
essayed without disrupting the party that
fathered it. President Arthur's admins
tration tried it in the Folger candidacy in
New FORK, and the people marked their dis
approval Of it by all overwhelming defeat.
1t should meet the same disastrous end in
Virginia where the people are no less Jealous
of their political independence than those
of New Y orl1. There is no State, North OIL
South, in which indignant voices in all par
ties are not raised in adherence against
this new attempt to govern the States and
the Nation by a syndicate of political
bosses headed by the National Executive.
That unflinching Republican paper, the
Philadelphia American, thus expresses the
feeling Of thinking Northern Republicans
on this subject
''The same malign forces which have al
ready fastened themselves upon the Admins
tration, and which will in all probability
wreck it, are seen in close ALLIANCE with Ma
hone, meaning that if he wins in the present
desperate fight, he shall become factor in
the adjustment of national politics. AS Plat
tlsm dominates and terroriZeS New York, as
Quayism manipulates and corrupts Pennsyl
vania so NIahonism is to seize and absorb
Virginia, and the three in harmony, if not in
actual partnership, are to dictate Republican
action