Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-07
For the SPECTATOR.
oId-rime Democracy.

OId-Time Democracy.
Our Representatives in the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia would not, just at this juno
| ture, misappropriate the time for which the
are paid by their constituents, in a close an
: patriotic study of the State Constitution il
conjunction with fundamental Democrat
principles. The word Democracy signifie
the rule of the people, and therefore the viey
J of every true Democrat should be that ever.
public question be settled by the citizens inter
ested therein without let or hindrance, ant
that the will of the majority should prevail
The will of the majority may oftentimes sub
ject a,minority to real or imaginary hardships
but the science of government has not, as yet
suggested any better method of settling grea
| public questions. 1t was from the hardship
incident to system of graduated dependence
from the monarch down through the aristo
cracy and their retainers in various degrees
that the necessity of Democracy was mad
apparent. 1t was in the days when aristo
cratic principles of feudal society compelled
majorities to bow to the will of minorities
that such Democratic ideas as majority rule
equal rights to all and special privileges tt
none, home rule and local self-governnen
had their birth. These are cardinal Demo
cratic principles on which the Democrat,
party was founded, and the party to-day
loses its power and influence with the PEG
pie just in proportion to the extent of its de
parture from these old landmarks.
Home rule and local self-government are
principles embraced in every National Demo
cratic platform from the first to the last. In
lowing =
I'VE tender our profound and earnest
sympathy for those lovers of freedom who
are struggling for home rule and the great
cause OF local self-government in Ireland
The Democratic party believes in home rule
and the control of their own affairs by the
people of the vicinage."
Hence, in accord with this good Democratic
doctrine, which is as old as the Democratic
party. in order to settle the liquor license
question, which had grown to be one of very
vital importance in Virginia, Democratic
Legislature about ten years ago, in redemp
ton OF party platform pledge, enacted a law
proyid ing way for each town, locality OF
immunity in the State, to settle the question
through the medium of the ballot box. This
was the very best solution of the problem, and
strict y in accordance with the local self-goy.
eminent rule. But alas we are now hurled
back into confusion worse COMPOUNDED. by
the anomalous acts of 10 Democratic State
Senators voting for the repeal of the Local
Option law and still worse, they by an
amendment to the repeal bill voted to nullify
and set aside the Local Option election which
had already been held in Roanoke city some
months ago. They thereby declared by their
votes that the fundamental principle of q
republican form of government majority
rules Mould not prevail in Roanoke city
What might we expect them to do next!
Might they not with equal propriety attempt
to repeal the laws under which Hon. Charles
L. O. Ferrall was elected Governor last Novem.
Der, and by virtue of retroactive tail to the
bill, Dust the Governor from the Executive
Chair? The Governor would better keep on
good terms with these new creed Democrats
Good old-time Democrats have, however, one
consolation and that is, these gentlemen can't
repeal the Constitution, and this sacred docu
ment will protect us against the effects of any
and all &c post tdcto, or retroactive laws that
they may see fit to pass.
The writer has heard OF but two reasons
assigned for the repeal of the Local Option
Law. One is, that it is hurting the Demo
cratic party, and the other is that Local Op
ton elections stir up strife, luminosity &C., in
communities. Now to totally refute and an
initiate the first reason assigned. it is only
necessary to refer to the State election of 1885,
on platform pledging the party to a Local
Option law-take his majority and compare il
with the preceding State election of 1885
when the promised Local Option law was or
the statute book, and last, but not least, the
State election of 1898, when the Prohibition
party armed with the very ablest men in thai
party and Silver Lake Quartettes, &C., made 8
most determined effort to gain at least foot
! hold in the State, but old-time Democracy
rallied and being armed with the weapons Of
| right and Local Option club came off more
| than victor; not single Prohibitionist reach
| ed the government seat. A significant fact
, that while the Democracy more than held its
own in Virginia in that election it lost in
every other State voting at that time. Il
might not be amiss, just here, to mildly sug
gest that should this Legislature repeal the
| Local Option law, comparison of results Of
last election with next election in Virgins
may be interesting reading.
To argue that the loca[option law hurts the
Democratic party, is simply to contend thai
local self-government Democratic principle,
and Democratic doctrines are dangerous things
for the Democratic party to middle with L
would be just as logical and consistent to ar
que or contend that to eat wholesome anC
nutritious food would make us weak, starvt
| and die.
| Now. if the second reason is sound and car
obtain, then we should forthwith advocate
the abolition of all our municipal and othel
local elections for they too lead to bitter per
sonalitles, and engender hostile feelings be
tween neighbors, &c.
Strife and bitter animosites are not amons
the necessary consequences of localoptior
election. These troubles grow out OF an un
warranted spirit of intolerance. Some anti
| license folks are in the habit of calling mer
who engage in the liquor traffic, thieves thugs
robbers, &c, and some license folks are in the
habit of calling anti-license people, temper
ance cranks, fanatics pharisees, hypocrites
&c. All this kind of talk is wrong, for in thu
majority of instances it is false and in no in
stance does it strengthen the side on which i
| is used.
do not write this as a Prohbitionist, for
am not one, nor do write it in the interest O.
either liquor license or no liquor license, bu
l write it from the standpoint of an humid,
Democrat who believes in Democratic princi
pies everywhere, at all times and under all cir
| cumstances. G. J. HI.