Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-23
A Bird 's-Eye View of the Situation.

In an article with the heading above, the
N. Y. Herald very truthfully and pointed
ly says that "the great bulk of oae citizens
care very little about politics. They are
hunting for opportunities to support their
families and to lay up penny for rainy
day. If the republicans can give Us these
opportunities then by all meaps let us have
a republican President; Or if the democrats
can afford them then let US vote the demo-
cratic ticket Send your party strifes and
chickering's to the pit; we want good wages,
pleIty to do and clear, bright prospect
ahead
If We are good judge Of the situation,
however, we are not getting these things.
There is good deal CT solicitude among
the people, and they are wrapped in dis
NAL thinkings." The iron msn-they con-
troll an immense interest-are very restless
and uneasy. The woollen manufacturers
another large interest-are bewailing
their lot and predicting something like dis
aster. Our farmers-we have more than
four million farm-owners in this country
are slipping behindhand and fiud it neces-
sary to PLASTER their property with a mort
gage.
Now, what is the matter? Well, sup,
pose you ask Mr.. Blaine. He ough5 to
know something about the republicans,
having been the most sinewy swordsman
of the party for many years.
He is as flat-footed as We have ever been
in his denunciation of the Mckinley bill.
AS good party man he ought to support
it, but be is bold enough to say that it will
ruin the republican party, because it will
make it harder for poor man to live.
But, permit us to add, it will make the
rich man richer, though it makes the wage
Garner poorer. The rich men support the
party-Quay has just boosted that he had
three hundred thousand dollars to by votes
with in Pennsylvania and can have as
much more for the asking-because it is
rich mans party; the aristocratic, not the
pc ople's party. 1t favors the classes s.and
damns the masses,
In all matters Of finance the present re-
publican leaders present ridiculous spec
tacle. They arc not business men, but
reckless spendthrifts. If they were to con-
duct their private affairs as they do those Of
che public, they wouldn't have money
enough left at the end of the session to buy
a ticket home. Their own cash they han
die shrewdly; the moneyssof the people they
spend like water.
They found handsome surplus in the
Treasury. The country was enjoying an
embarrassment of riches. Mr.. Cleveland
was compelled to call for genera. reduc-
ton of taxes because the government had
more money than it could profitably spend.
But those days are gone. Oar Washington
correspondent now says that Mr.. Harrison
may veto the River and Harbor bill, not be
cause it is swindle, but because he fears
a deficit. A wild craza for expenditure
has seized our Legislators, and they are like
" to leave US with hole in the ground to
be filled by further taxation.
Then we have the Federal Elections bill,
which would surround the polliDgibooths OF
New York with soldiers, on the ground that
we are thieves and scoundre.s. 1t will send
troops to South Carolina IN the hope of
forcing that State to go republican. 1t will
enable the republican heelers and bosses to
do all the counting on the plea that it
wants an honest vote. T6e truth is, it
wants republican vote, and doesn't care
a picayune whether it is honest or not.
1t is slightly homogeneous to allow Col
onel Dudley, his pockets stuffed with
to purchase Ohio in the inter
est of the republicans and to grow pale
with horror because Georgia is perhaps do
ing the same thing in the interest of the
democrats.
So far as principle, moral or political, is
it is all bosh. The sole object
is to keep the party in power. That is the
plain and unvarnished truth.
The Mckinley bill is an unmixed evil;
the thrust of sword into the vita]s of the
The Federal Elections bill is iufamy 10
it's most insolent shape, an insult to the
common sense aud honor of every loyal
and right-minded citizen.
However, we possess our souls with pa
thence. The people are waking up"
Superintendent Porter On Monday last,