Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-18
Sensible Views of Henry WattersOn.

HE OPPOSES THE FOLLY OF PUTTING ASIDE
TARIFF REFORM TO MAKE THE FREF
COINAGE OF SILVER THE ISSUE.
The views we entertain and have hereto
fore expressed are 30 we'll and ably set forth
by Henry Watterson in his paper, the
Louisville Courier Journal, that we copy
them and hope our readers will "read, pom.
der, and inwardly digest" them, for they
deserve to be we'll considered. He says:-
sin the midst of the rejoicing which fol
lowed the November elections and the dem
ocratic ground-swell they brought US, one
dissonant note was beard" says Mr.. Wat
terson, lone discouraging word was spoken,
and to this effect, that the victory was too
great to last, and that before the Presden
tial campaign of 1892 we could be relied on
to psrpetrate some folly setting it all at
naught. Four months have passed away
aud already signs are not wanting that
point to the verif cation of this sinister
prophecy.
"The road before was, and it is still,
plain, straight and open. There stands
across it the flinsy and rotten fabric of the
republican record, an obstruction so light
that it would seem that the hands Of child
over. Back of it our promise and our duty
await us.
"The people are wiser than the political ns.
Given information to see, they rarely go
astray, and, however thee may be mlsied
by fieeting chimeras of discomfort, they are
very apt in the long run to get at the truth.
ain one sense at least they are disintsr-
ested-they nourish no sentiments growing
out of individual disappointment Or expecta-
lions, and have no private axes to grind.
TWO POINTS OF DISTURBANCE.
"They are beyond tho reach of merely
personal Influences, and therefore they are
better able to take wholesome and ssnsi-
BILE view of g state of case after it has been
fully presented to them. Hence it is that
those of our friends who have been for
three months of uncommon heavy work and
strain, boxed up in the capital at Washing
ton, will find not little instruction as sell
as relief by contact with their constituents.
We are much N staken if the free air of
Gods country does not prove an efeotuai
antidote to the fetid atmosphere of the Con.
gressional corridors. Otherwise the outlook
would not be very radiant.
s'TUo points of distu bance are being ad.
vanced to mar our counsel. One of these
relate to the denomination of MIR. Cleve-
land, the other to the adoption of some as
yet underlined but altered policy as to silver
coinage.
"Touching the first of these, the reflsc
ton ought to lessen the anxiety of those op-
posed to it-that it depends largely, if not
wholly, upon the action Of the democrats of
New York.
"If New York comes to the next National
Democratic Convention resisting the nomi-
nasion of MIR. Cleveland or seriously dyid-
ed upon it his nomination would be suici.
dial.
"Ih that event the party will DE compsl-
ep to quit New York altogether and to seek
for nominee elsewhere /; for nothing could
be mere absurd than the suggestion of set
ting aside Mr.. Cleveland and substituting
Governor Hill or any other New Yorker in
his place.
"When we leave New York, ia thu in
tervsl, however, the ex President should
be treated with the respectful consideration
alike commanded by his public services and
the obligation we owe to the single dem
ocratic President we have had in thirty
years.
MUST STICK TO TARIFF REFIRM
"Touching silver this ia to be said All
IF us in the West and South are bimetali,ts is,
sll of us are friends of the double enemies
CT he single standard, sll of us balieve that
ne expanding needs of the country require
AID that country will assimilate still lar
ger circulating medium and look largely 20
silver as the basis of the currency which is
to succeed the retiring national bank notes,
but as to conclusions, this is the extent of
it.
sin the matter of legislative detail, as the
best final means of Ieeching these ends,
there is no agreement, because there has
been no adequate d DISCUSSION and there is no
general knowledge.
"Twenty. five years of class distinction of
the government havc dnIe their perfect
work. Excessive and unjust tax alton is The
original, the fruitful source of our ills.
owe have expended zen years in getting
together on this paramount issue; at last
we are together We stand upon high, up
on solid ground. Victory, if not within our
grasp, is yet within our sight.
els it p ssible that any sane democrat,
any where, can believe it good or wise to
abandon this position of advantage, reach
edsafter so much travel and outlay, and to
advance through morass of uncertainty
upon the life pits aud masked batteries of
an enemy, who laughs IN his sleeve as he
waits to welcome us with bloody hands TO
hospitable graves.
"Think ing democrats will never consent
to this, nor will they be diverted by any
specious arguments born of the fears of
those among Us who are moved by an uu-
wholesome terror Of the Alliance.
"The democratic party is all that stands
between the people and anarchy on the one
hand and Oligarchism On the other. 1t has
always shown itself equal to the eTeI-
gencY."
1T MEANS DEMOCRACY -COmmissione1
Kolb of Alabama, the most prominent
alliance leader in that State, was in Nash.
vile, Tenn, last week, and thus publicly