Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-04-25
WEST NfRtfNlA,s CHOICE.

would occupy the commanding po-
sition in the galaxy of States to which
she has attained. AS is so common
with political parties when suddenly
elevated to power. the Republicans of
this State made no mistakes. Per-
sonal preferences were subor-
iinated to the public veal and
the utmost peace and harmony has
prevailed in the ranks of the party
Our Representatives in both houses
of Congress have labored with zeal
and energy to advance the best in
terests of all the people of the State,
and that their efforts have been
crowned with success will be clearly
manifest ere the present session closes.
Aston c. Dayton, selected as the
antagonist of the leader of the free
trade forces. has proven that he is no
Joke, as friends of Mr.. Wilsol were
wont to term him. On the contrary
he has maintained the dignity of his
position and as has been truly written,
''the man who vanquished Wilson
will have the ears of Republicans. +"
That he is able to express himself in
a manner to command the attention
of all is demonstrated IN the article
written for the Philadelphia Press, to
be found upon the first page of this
issue, which with the accompanying
editorial by Mr. Charles Emery Smith,
editor of the Press, should cause the
heart OF every true West Virginian
to thrill with pride.
It is not of Mr.. Dayton we would
write, but of the subject of his sketch.
1t was predicted Of Senator Elkins
at the time of his election that he
would honor the State which was so
fortunate as to secure his services,
but his most ardent admirers never
dreamed that he would in SO short
time attain such eminence. No
one imagined that before the close of
the first month of his service in the
Senate he would compel the obdurate
occupant of the White House aud
his Secretary of the Treasury to
change their policy, retrace their
steps, and make clear as the noon
day sun the tact that they were in
error as to the credit of the Nation
and the ability of the people to main
tain that credit. The effect of the
policy inaugurated by Senator Elkins
is fully portrayed by Mr. Dayton.
His clear, incisive knowledge of the
needs of the Nation was again mani
tested when he advocated the ,evying
of discriminating duties in favor of
American vessels. Again the peo-
pie were stunned as it were at the
very audacity of the proposition, but
when they once began to realize the
stupendous advantages which must
accrue to the Nation by such a policy
they quickly adopted it as one of the
cardinal principles Of the party. 1t
was the policy of the Republic during
its first forty years. It developed
our merchant marine and placed our
flag at the foremost OF proud vessels
on every sea. 1--WE protect, as has
been truly said, "our manufactures
on land-why not on the sea. We
build up our home Enthusiastically
not our shipping"
The first public expression upon
the subject was by the Massachusetts
Republican State Convention. which,
on the 27th of March, adopted the
following:
1--WE have always given Protection
to our shipbuilders. In late years
we have neglected to protect our ship
owners. We believe the time has
come to return to the policy of Wash
ington and Hamilton, which, by dis
eliminating duties in favor of Ameri-
can bottoms, secured 90 per cent OF
our carrying trade to American
ships, and which, if now restored,
would again revive our shipping and
cause American freights to be paid to
Americans. "
Readopted, verbatim, by Oregon
Republican State Convention, April
9; by New Jersey, April 16, and by
Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in SUBJ
stance, April %.
And when the National Convention
is held it will be one of the mainstays
OF the Protection plank of the plat
form.
Is it any wonder, therefore, that
from every section of the land come
urgent appeals to Senator Elkius to
allow his name to go before the st.
Louis Convention tor nomination to
the highest Office in the gift of the
American people? So far he has per-
sistently, with all the force at his
command, refused to entertain the
idea, but as the people come to know
more of his statesmanlike qualities
aid note the efforts of others to secure
a nomination, they are more and
more convinced that he who is the
peer OF any and yet refuses to allow
his name to go before the people is
the one above all others who is worthy
Of the honor.
THE LITTLE COUNTRY PAPER.
It's not the biggest paper
That I pounce upon the first;
Nor the one that has most in it