Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-10-16

'neJ cOno WlJnOuI warning. In
dangers OF disregardlng sOInt
financial principles have been dis
tinetly tOretOld and reiterated, an,
looking over the last twenty-five
years as a representative OF Della
wal in the United States Senat,
and as a citizen discussing else
where public measures and policies,
| cannot discern any failure Oh my
part TO speak with absolute plsIn'
ness IN opposition to the acts OF
legislation and financial and com
mercisl policies which ara responsl
BILE for the present perilOus ant
distressing conditions.
ain such q crisis language OF re
proacb, Of elimination and recliml
nation wOuld be useless, or worse
and unworthy, but each man, upon
bis own responsibility, must ask
and answer the question wheihel
men, colIecti yely or individually
can, With justice or sslf.respect
abandon a Just and vital principle
in the hour of lts exigency and
Just when the necessity OF its
maintenance is greatest and fly
from the field when the assault is
neIcest and courage is most needed
TO defend the right. Whether the
rircipIe is imbedded In the tex
of the Written charter OF our gov
eminent or Is found in statutes in
tended to give eject to the con
stitution, the measure of duty and
fidelity Is equal, and in these sea
soDs of excitement, alarm and
passionate unreason, which sIe al
most inevitable In the history OF
any nation, a patriotic, sincere aud
sslf.respsoting man will hear aud
heed the summons and will feel
the real trial of his soul to support
in the honor of their distress, the
truths he has deliberately weighe d
aud ayOwe1 it 10 I've his duty TO
sustain for the welflre OF the cOnn.
try to which his ftith aud allegl.
nee have been Dlighted.
"When, therefore a citizen pro
fessIug hims elf to be a democrat
is called upon by many, or by few
to yield his convictions aud assent
to the doctrine that Congress has
the power or can rightfully ex
erciss 1t by its legislative dat to
create values and regardless OF
their intrinsic or commercial val
lie, to invest one or other Of the
earth metals with an arbitrary
power as money and override and
alter at legislative will or caprice
the ratio of the exchaDgeabIliiy of
such metals, regardless OF the ian.
pairment OF the obligation of con
racts, his answer should be that
such a claim OF power IS not con
slstent with government OF
limited powers, as defined by Oui
constitution, but contains the
qulntessence oftyranny ,dlshonesty
aud absolntism and is destruc i've
of that morality which is essential
to the peace aud stability Of civil.
zed soclety. II is in plain wOrds,
a proposition 10 destroy the III
stltution of property and break
down every legal defense for itS
projection.
"This one question aud Its an.
swer sufficiently justify tue prOmp
and absolute refusal ola cOnsti!u.
tional democrat to support in any
degree the nominees ofthe Chicago
convention (MesSrs. Bryan and
SewalD aud the prepOsterous
claims of legislative powers con
tainsd in their platform, md r
which the credit of the na'ion
and the peace and order OF society
would insvIlahly perish.
Son the other hand we have the
republican organization, 0hose
measures aud whose leaders have
steadily created the dangers that
threatened the country aud have
made possible such . ticket and
such propositions as were present
ed at Chieago. While compelled to
recoil from the policy OF coDpul,
sorry purchase and coinage of silver
as an unlimited legal tender, yet
it 10 mistakenly proposed to employ
aad intensity the profound powers
of public taxation to prohibit com.
merce with other countries, and
thereby prevent revenne frOu
coming into the public treasury
to lay taxes which shall prevent
tue payment aud collection Of
other taxes necessary for the sup
port OF the government, whos'
powers are exerted directly and
personally, upon each individual