The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-08-28
Platform Pledges.

pledge to leglSlate III the interest OF 1alr
md free elections throughout the coun
try. to justify their support of the Elec-
lions Bill. This pledge, it is contended,
binds every Republican to give his efforts
to the passage of that measure. Whether
such bill as that introduced by Mr..
Lodge, was ever in contemplation, no one
can truthfuly say. Certainly not, if it
was expected that the Republican party
was to have an existence in the Southern
States, and that its representation in
Congress was to be maintained at its
present strength For as soon as the
Lodge Bill, or any similar measure be-
comes law, so sure will the number of
Republicans in Congress be decreased.
But be this as it may, there is another
important phase of this national plat
form pledge, that ought not to be over
looked. If one pledge is to be held sacred
all others ought to be of equally binding
force. The same platform that is quoted
as pledging Federal interference in cleo
tions, also pledges the Republican party
to enact into law the Blair educational
bill, or something similar, and to repeal
the internal revenue tax on tobacco
Both of these pledges have been dis
tinctly violated; the Blair bill by direct
vote of the Senate, and the tobacco tax
interest. in the passage by the House
of the Mckinley tariff bill, which leaves
that tax as it is
The difference between the Elections
bill and the Educational and tobacco
questions, as they affect the South, is
that the first would be positive harm
to the South; would work untold injury
to our material interests; would disturb
our social and industrial systems, and
precipitate condition of things that
would work detriment to everybody and
everything in the South; and operate
to the disadvantage of the Republican
party both in the South and North, and
especially in the South.
The enactment of the Educational bill
and the repeal of the tobacco tax would
have had Numerically the opposite eff
feet The one would have aided the States
to enlarge and perpetuate their edpca-
tional system; helps the poor and needy:
give knowledge to the ignorant, and
tend to remove the greatest bane the
South has to contend with-an ignorant
and vicious ballot. The other would
have relieved the tobacco growers of a
burdensome and unjust tax, and given
10, al Il Oh rot
would have resulted in benefit to the
whole country. Neither of these meas
ures could possibly have melted Sec
tional or race prejudice-no part of the
country could possibly have been harm
ed by their enactment, but universal
and helpful benefits would have been
youchsafed to all classes and conditions
of the people.
If pledges are sacred, why did the Re
publicans who feel bound by their ma
tional platform, not observe these two,
as well us the other? They would have
helped the South in it's material and
social relations, and would have helped
the Republicans in the South, as party,
fight against the Democratic party. 1t
would not only have enabled them to
maintain their present representation in
Congress, but increased it, and given
| them good fighting chance for Elec-
toral votes from several of the Southern
| States in 1899.
| Analyze the animus of the several
measures to which we have referred.
| The Elections bill is purely a party
measure, designed to help party, at the
expense of social order and material
progress, and it is urged by President
and Senators and Congressman as of
paramount Importance. The Education
bill and the tobacco tax are only incl
dentally related to party. They direct
ly and largely implicate the moral and
social and industrial relations of the
| South, and to their enactment, the party,
the President. and Republicans in Con-
gress are solemnly committed, Out of
the latter two nothing but benefit could
have come to the South. Out of the
former nothing but harm.
Looking at the matter viewed in this
light, where does duty and honor and
friendship come in for a Republican ad-
ministration and Republican Congress?
Is it not in the faithful adherence to
pledges, involving the social and ma
teral welfare of the South and all of it's
people. rather than with the pledge that
is pregnant with evil, aud the effects of
which must prove disastrous and ruin
Gus in as great a degree as the other
would prove beneficial?
No party can go before the country
with the hope of commanding popular
approval that deliberately chooses an
issue that means strife apd contention,
| disorder and disaster to a whole section
| of the Onion, while it ignores other
questions which would insure blessings
and benefits to that same section and
people.
II there is an obligation resting
upon the Republican party and the Re
publican administration, by reason OF
its platform pledge, to enact the Elec-
tions bill, is not the duty doubly imper-
alive to respect the pledge that com
mits the party and the administration
TO the Educational bill and the repeal
of the internal revenue tax? Certainly
SO, il the spirit and grasp and purpose
of craftsmanship are to be consulted.
And wonid it not be wise fer the Repub-
licans in Congress and the President to
measure up to a high standard of states
manship rather than to grovel in the mire
of partizan eApedients, and level down to
the worst kind of political mid summer
madness2 There is nothing national in
such course as that implied in the en-
actment of the Elections biz, and the
utter abandonment of the educational
and TOBACCO tax measures. 1t is the
baldest kind Of gectionalism, and the
most offensive sort Of Dartizanism to
which eminent party leaders wOnid com
NIT the Kepubliean party and the adj
ministration, in the matter under con-
sderation. And the effect of it will not
be confined to tho South. The business
interests of the entire country will recOg-
nize the wrong of it. and will enter n
protest, that will be forceful and relentless
when the time comes for public iudg
ment to be rendered