Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-10-03
Ex-G0V. W. (. CAMER0N'S LET
TER.
From the Valley Virginian ]

We publish elsewhere letter
from Ex.Gov. W. K. Cameron, Civ
ing his reasons tor dissolving his
connection with the Republican
party. We do this as an act of
fairness to Coy. Cameron, in that
it is right he should have a hearing
before the people for so important
step, and not because we agree
with all bis statements or the facts
he presents to justify his course.
Gov. Cameron is a sincere man a
gentleman of clear views of public
questions, and nice discrimination
as to the proprieties Of public and
personal matters. We can we'll
appreciate the disgust he feels in
view of the management of the
Republican party in Virginia.
That has been sufficiently offensive
to estrange almost any right-thlnk-
ing man, and were the conditions
in Virginia those which relate to
the party throughout the country,
the same feeling might readily be
entertained as TO the party gener
ally. But such is not the case.
Whilst President Harrison's ad.
ministration, IN some respects, has
not been such as to command the
approval and confidence of the
party generally, or to incite ADM.
ration for the motive and manner of
administering the power entrusted
with it, yet there are broader and
higher considerations involved,
which relate to the business inter
ests of the people and the welfare
of the country that cannot be over.
looked. Whatever errors the ad
mlnistration or Congress may CON-
nit, the principles of the party
cannot be held responsible tor them.
1t is to the policies growing out of
those principles that the country
owes its present phenomenal pros
perlty, and however much men
may misapply and misunderstood
those principles, it is no justl6ca.
ton for the abandonment of the
principles themselves. The mar
velous accumulation of wealth un-
der our present industrial system
within the past thirty years, not
withstanding the wastes and dew
astatlon of a destructive war,
bears testimony to the wisdom and
practical benefits of our economic
laws, enacted by the Republican
party. Within that time the Uni
ted States have created ten times
the wealth that France had done
in two hundred years. We are
progressing in material interests
more rapidly than all the govern
ments of the eastern continent.
Oar industries are multiply ing /;
energies have been stimulated /;
labor remunerated and plenty
assured to all classes that will
work for it, without a precedent in
the history of peoples. These
things ought not to be ignored be.
cause men entrusted with a little
brief authority do not appreciate
the confidence reposed IN them, or
fully comprehend the mission and
aims OF the party with which they
are identified.
We have no apology to offer for
a Republican Congress for violating
Its pledges to the people. 1t was
the duty of this Congress to repeal
the tobacco tax and enact the
Blair Educational bill, or some
similar measure. In not doing 80,
it was false to its promises, and
when the elections bill was formu-
lated, designed to apply to the
Southern States, 1t was an indica
ton of unklndness, to say the least,
that was rot calculated to hold the
confidence of Southern men, who
haze at heart the peace, progress
and prospt rity of their section. 1t
was giving stone where fish had
been promised, and was total mis-
understanding or disregard OF the
conditions which exist where the
law WAS intended to be effective.
We do not believe the American
people Will endorse this record,
and unless there are paramount
question 9 and interests to engage
the attention of the people, affect
ing the material welfare of the
country, it will be a struggle of
doubtful result when appeal ID
made to the ballot box.
We, however, can find no reason
in all this to justify remuneration
of the National Republican party.
It stands for the best interests OF
the country, in Its cardinal p Incl.
Piles, and when infdelity to those
IS demonstrated, the
people will take care to right the
reproYe or repudlate the
men and reassert the fundamental
tenets which have been so preg |
lant of good to the nation and adj
7anced all the interests of the |
to degree of prosperity |
never before realized by any other
government under the sun. 1t is
lpon cardinal lines that we main.
ain our allegiance to the Republic.
AN marty. In anita of the ahhraviat.