The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-01-09
"Our Civilization. y

We publish elsewhere the testimony
of several prominent citizens given be-
fore the Ways and Means Committee
the tariff. Among those APP
pearing before the Committee was Gen.
Jno. ID. Imboden, of Virginia In the
course of his remarks he declared against
free coal and free iron ore, and said that
it was with great reluctance that he
voted for Mr.. Cleveland in 1888. He did
not believe in Mr. Cleveand's views on
the tariff, yet he thought "our civiliza-
tom would be better conserved by
doing so, than by supporting Harrison.
In other words, Gen. Imboden voted to
endorse policy that he believed would
be disastrous to VirGinia's progress, and
voted to condemn what he thinks would
pro note Virginia's prosperity, because
the two policies or ideas were presented
under different party names. Does Gen.
Imboden really believe that our civil
cation" is endangered by the election of
Harrison, who represents the views Gen.
Imb oden entertains in regard to an i'm
port INT and paramount question of
government policy? Does he believe it
would initiate against ''our civilization"
to vote for what he believes to be in
pri nciple and policy, right, and against
that which he accepts as wrong, and
would work out harmful results to his
own State? Does Gen. Imboden him
self believe that ''our civiliZation' is
jeopardized by the election of Il presi-
dent who represents and maintains the
policies which have brought the country
to its present condition OF prosperity
and progress, and advanced all the great
interests of the nation, and especially
those of Virginia and the South?
To our mind, Gen. Imboden confessed
TO a want of moral courage. in stating
that he believed in Republican princi-
piles and policies, and vet reluctantly
voted for Cleveland and free trade.
Were the policy of his vote to be en-
force,l, he knows it would arrest the
progress of Virginia; revoutionize the
indus rial condition of the country. and
bring widespread ruin upon the people
1t would strike at the very base of the
industrial system of the nation, which
has b zen built up by the legislation of
the past quarter of Il century enacted
by the Republican party. whose suprein
acy. he said by his vote, threatened
''our civilization This giaring incon-
sisten ~ cannot be explained on any
other theory than that the General
voted in the fall OF 1883 against his con
victions; against the interests of his
State and country. and that the ballot
he deposited simply meant indefensible
prejudice instead OF sincere opinion.
1t il to the Republican party and its
policies Gen lmhoden looks TO protect
and promote his interests and those of
his ot tte He voted for Cleveland and
prayed that Harrison might be elected
that the people might be saved from
the folly and ruin of his own vote, and
that the policy of the Republican
party might be enforced, to the protec
tion of the labor and upbuilding of the
indus res of the nation. Our civiliZa-
ton cannot be conserved and its benefi-
cent influence enlarged through wrong
and error. TO accomplish its mission
it must be grounded in truth and right
look 10 the interests of the people and
the development and growth and gran
deur Of the nation. A policy a prin-
ciple that is not distinctly American and
tributary to the welfare of our own
country, is not the policy or the prinei-
pie to guard our civilization" And to
allow passion or prejudice to coutrol in
the support Of principle, is not good
politics or good citizenship.