The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-11-14
Friday, November IA. 1890.
A Plea for Conservatism.


There is much reason to fear that though
a large number of thoughtful persons in
che democratic party realize that no or
ganization has an absolute fee simple title
to the country, many Of the liSht-hcaded
leaders think differently; and, learning
nothing from past experiences of their
own, or the more recent experiences OF
the enemy, they propose to push the party
into an extreme position on the tariff as
we'll as on the silver and other economic
problems, and repeat the folics which
have hitherto brought nothing but disns-
ter This they propose. too, in spite OF
the fact that the masses have within only
three wears dealt the extremists of both
parties blow which one would suppose
sufficient to curb the cxubcrancc of the
most inflated blathcrskites in the land
Cleveland. stuffed with the confidence OF
conceit, thought the country belonged to
him and scorncd the protests OF the more
prudent leaders of his party. Mr.. Whitney
sat up nearly all night with him pleading
against the folly of his message. Mr..
Randall had previously put in IL vehement
protest: but. seeing that the man thought
he knew more than all the rest of his party
combined. left him in disgust. Brice
pointed out very clearly the fatality OF the
proposed step: and other democrats, hardly
less prominent, expressed their dread OF
results.
But the bull hit the locomotive square
in front, and we know the rest.
Vicious purtisnns like Reed and Cannon,
and even so conservative Il man us Mckin-
ley, thought they could do everything so
long as they kept the popular protective
policy prominent. They accordingly
framed tariff bill, which, though in the
main mcritorious, contained many ex-
trcmc provisions. WAS intensely and
meanly sectional, and. not content with
this, they divided the contents OF the
treasury among the Grand Army of the
Republic and cOncoctcd conspiracy to
DESTROY both the peace and prosperity of
onc-half of the Union. In their zeal and
hate they forgot that they were importing
an enormous amount of Northern capital,
and that the votes of the North are sure
to 20 with it's millionS-that the heart Of
the Northern people is invariably found
where their treasure is, which ought to be
true of the South if it isn't. Fortunately
for the country the adder was blinded by
the excess of venom, and in striking so
wildly it hit itself
Under these conditions IS it not time
that the conservatism of the democratic
party have hearing? The republicans
will still have majority of six and
executive chair remains in possession
of the enemy. The majority in the lower
house can accomplish little good and may
do IL deal of harm. 1t won't do for the
democrats to pass extreme measures in
one branch Of tine legislature to have them
voted down in the other or vetoed by the
president. BY their fruit the country will
know them; and the record they make
must yet be passed on by the people.
They have not reached the goal. The end
of the road is still afar off, and there is
ample opportunity and great danger that
they will become lost in wilderness of
vagary and false doctrine before they get
there.