Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-07-06
What the Two Parties Represent.

What the Two Parties Represent.
When General Clarbson delivered
his farewell address to the National
Republican Committee he used this
language -
I'VE are entering on q campaign
which is no holiday excursion. The
democrats have nominated their
strongest man, and while the situation
is desperate, every republican who is
really republican will do everything
in his power to win the fight in No
vember."
These are rather ominous words, says
the N. Y. Herald, and they show that
Clarkson at least understands the perils
of the situation. The. position of af-
fairs, so far as his own party is con-
cerned, is, he says, desperate. In other
words, he believes in the possibility
rather than the probability of republi-
can victory But if victory is even
possible it must be wrung from the
enemy in a fight which will require all
the courage and strategy that can be
summoned.
1t is to be a battle of political poll
cies. The personality of the two great
rivals. Cleveland and Harrison, is a
secondary consideration. The banner
of the one army will represent high
taxes, while that Of the other will re-
present the lowest taxation that is con-
sistent with the current expenses OF
the government.
The republicans have been telling us
all along that when everything else is
high the wages of the laboring man
become high also. While not accept
ing this bold assertion the democrats
have waited patiently to see if the
promised result would be Forthcoming.
The price of living has gone up, but
the price of labor has either remained
stationary or been painfully depressed
That is to say, the republican theory
seems to be seriously defective, and the
laborers throughout the country find
themselves a sad dilemma, for they pay
more for the necessaries Of life and get
less for their work. If they are dis
gruntled over the practical working of
the protective policy who can blame
them?
Mr.. Carnegie, for example, was a
poor man a few years ago. There is
no harm in that. He is now very
rich man, with a castle in Scotland and
palace in this country. There is no
harm in that either If man climbs
| from poverty to riches we may set it
down to his credit, provided-and there
we have to stop and think. The gov
eminent belongs to him in part, but in
equal part to every man who works in
his FORCES If he has more brains than
the man at the forge that is one thing;
but if the administration at Washing
ton, or the laws passed by Congress, OF
the public policy of this, that or the
other party so far favors him that he
piles up wealth, and SO far Expresses
his workmen that they can't make
both ends meet, that is an evil which
ought to be remedied without delay.
1t is wrong to the people, on whom
the government is supposed to rest, but
who are deprived OF their natural
rights.
Mr.. Carnegie has said very vehe-
mently that protection is just as benefi-
cial to the workman as to the capital
ist Ali right. But it so happens that
at this moment he is enjoying his i'm
mense wealth, while his laborers are
on the edge of a strike because he in
sists on cutting down their wages.
|
ries his battalion of laborers with him
to a higher plane of prosperity the
cavilIing critic is dumb The CONNER
cial ideal has been reached and there
is nothing left to be desired. But if he
ascends and they descend, if he has g
long bank account and they become
paupers, we naturally ask if we haven't
made mistake in calling this "a gov
eminent of the people, by the people
and for the people"
The democratic party stands fol
equal rights. 1t regards any discrim
ination in favor of any class for any
purpose whatever as a political crime
to be punished at the polls by the re
tirement of the party which is respon-
sible. The federal gOvernment should
have all the money it needs to conduct
it's business properly. No one is mig
gardly enough to begrudge it dollar
which can be satisfactorily expended
and which will buy a dollars worth OF
general welfare. There is no grum-
bling about that degree of taxation
which is needed for the accomplish
ment of this result. But beyond that
neither Congress nor the administra
ton has right to go.
The great issue to be decided by the
majority, therefore, has nothing to do
with Mr.. Harrison or Mr.. Cleveland as
individuals, but with the political ideas
which they represent. Ii you want a
rich class and a poor class, if you want
moneyed aristOcracy at one end and
a horde of stolid laborers at the other
end you will support the republican
ticket. If you want fair play all round,
economy at the White House and in
the halls of Congress and general pros
perity everywhere, then you want
what we believe the democrats as a
party are trying to attain.