The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-07-24
1902.

edition, has been defeating a good deal
of its space to a discussion of both Re-
publican and Democratic aspirants for
the Presidency in 1892. In the issue of
the Goth, in an editorial, it states that
President Harrison will be the logical
Republican candidate for reelection.
1t gives us the legislation of the present
Congress as it relates to important public
questions with which the Republican
party has become identified, and sum-
marizes the result as follows:
Turning from men to measures, which, as we
have already said, must be the test for 1S!2, the
outlook is, if possible, more satisfactory. With
out attempting to force his personal view or to
assume for one moment that the principles of a
great political party are the exclusive and per
sonal property of the President, the chief Mag
istrate of the nation has never once failed to
use his influence to aid in every possible way
the able and aggressive leaders in both the
Senate and theHousewho are struggling through
these hot summer months to make record for
the Republican party which will enable it to go
before the people OF the United States with all
its essential promises redeemed. If success at
tends these efforts and the desired work is ac
cOmpliShed this session the administration Will
have passed tariff bill and settled the ques
ton in the interest of the people of this coun-
try and against the furious protests of the peo-
pie of foreign countries. 1t will have shown
the effects of a strong foreign policy in the set
tlement of the difficulties with Canada and in
Behring Sea. 1t will have thrilled the heart of
every American citizen who loves the Stars and
Stripes by inauguratlng practical scheme for
%l,a
tension of American commerce.. 1t will have
gone as far as prudence and fairness will allow
in caring for the veterans of the war. 1t will
have saved this government millions upon mil
lions of dollars by safeguards thrown around
the collection of its customs revenues. 1t will
have given the currency of the country great
1y needed expansion and at the same time
guarded against the financial disasters that
would have surely resulted from making the
mints of the United States dumping ground
for the silver of the whole world, and lastly, If
the Federal Elections bill is passed, as we hope
and feel satisfied it will be, the Republican
party will have shown itself competent to grap-
pie successfully with the greatest problem be-
fore the American people to-day namely, to
enforce the right of every American citizen to
vote and to establish throughout this land, not
as alleged by the Democratic leaders, by the
the law, the most fundamental compact OF the
Republic majority rule.
The record OF an administration conducted
with such great care and discrimination SO far
as the selection to important offices are con-
cernei, carried on with disinterested fairness,
totally devoid of ostentatious personality, in
both houses of Congress and strengthened by
the most brilliant legislation of any admins
traton since the first term of General Grant, is
likely to prove so attractive to the masses
of Republicans throughout the country that,
should the President desire it, the logical result
should hardly be less than denomination for a
second term.
We question, very much, the eXpe-
diency, the party policy and the states
manship of the Elections bill. We be
lieve the party would fare better. would
more surely commend itself to the con
! fidence of the business interests and the
conservative citizens of the country if it
would drop this measure and leave the
| Southern people to work out solution
of the interests involved in their own
way, and by influences now operating
to the gradual and effective correction
of the wrongs that have been commit
| ted. The Press, and those who think
with it, look at the question presented
by the Elections bill, solely from a
political standpoint. That is not states
manship. 1t does not comport with the
policy of the Republican party. Its
legislation has generally been practi-
cal-adapted to the conditions which
exist and aiming to subserve the pub
lie welfare. The Democratic party can
justly lay claim to a monopoly of Wis
ionary notions and abstract rehnings as
to legislation and issues related to the
concerns OF the people. 1t is practical
about nothing. To it ought to be rele-
gated all legislation that does not COM
| port with public interests, and which
does not comprehend the practical bear
ing of public questions. The Republi-
can party has made a different record,
and its safety in the future depends
upon it's adherence to the lines upon
which it has heretofore operated. There
can be no practical good result from a
measure such as that under considera-
ton in Congress about elections in the
! South. We feel very sure that more
harm than benefit will grow out of the
enactment of such a law both to the
North and South, and in it's political
effect will initiate against the party
that consumnates it.
Nor is there any necessity for the lib
eral epithets applied by the Press, to the
free coinage of silver, and those who
favor it. The result of the law that has
just passed Congress and has been
signed by the President, will lead event
ually to free coinage. The next Con
gress will take another advance step in
that direction With the law just
enacted, the people will be contented
| for a while It's influence and effect
will be in the right direction, and the
masses of the people are in sympathy
with that trend.
The people are no less in sympathy
with Mr. Blaine's views of reciprocal
trade relations with the South Ameri-
can States. Whether they shall be
adopted or not in the form he presents
them, we think it quite likely they will
! be substantially contained in a tariff
bill that will be passed, and constitute
the policy of the government.
With the notifications we have sug-
gested, the legislative record of the party
will commend itself to the general
approval of the voters of the country, and
upon it the next canvass may be sue
cessly conducted. 1t is too early, how
ever, to designate the man who shall
bear the Republican standard. We are
not inclined to the belief now that
President Harrison will be that man.
There may be events and conditions
which will enter into the nomination
not now thought of, and they may be of
such nature as to make it advisable to