Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1896-06-26
JOSEPH BUTTON,
Chair. 10th Dist. Com.
TWO CRITICAL EXPERIMENTS.

TWO CRUCIAL EAPERIMEN1o
This hundred-year republic is about
: to be made the scene of new experiments
by democracy. Having adjusted and con-
trolled kings, barons and missionaries in
the old world by law, it is now about to
try the adjustment of the natural law OF
values by legislative law in the new world.
This is undertaken in the name of the Dem
ocratic party.
It is also, on the same ground, about to
undertake new experiment in taxation.
The people having six years ago thrown OFT
the yoke of a prohibitory tariff tax by
phenomenal majority, it is now to be essay
ed through various influences to make
them hold still and have the yoke replaced.
This revival of feudalism is undertaken in
the name of the Republican party.
The success Of both of these experiments
is based on the supposed strength of our
republic No other civilized country up
to this date has run financial schedule OF
its own, independent of the rest of the world,
1t is held, and it may be possible, that our
country's strength, resources and general
vitality cit 81 S.5at that it will escape the
punishment that has fallen on other nations
who have essayed the same thing. No Other
country up to this date has built tariff
or other wall around itself and barred out
other nations from trade without sinking
low in the scale of civilization, as low fol
instance as China. 1t is held that so grea,
are the resources OF our country inside the
wall, that our people can not only live OIL
each other with profit, but even more pro
fit, prosperity and comfort than by trading
with the world at large.
The result of the experiments will be
looked to by the world at large with ankle
ty. And while awaiting the beginning OF
the experiments, it is well enough to look
into the status of the political parties that
are preparing to make them. One, the he
publican, has made up its programme ana
is before the people. 1t has courageously
put forth hard money. gold standard
platform, without evasion OIL the symptom
OF ''straddle'' and, rather inc0nsistently,
put soft money waverer on it. 1t has
squarely recognized the fact that the hand
on the clock of public affairs points to this
as the hour for full, complete, once-for-
ali settlement of the fight between the gold
and Silver standards in the United States.
Its position will bring to it powerful allies
IN the capitalists and the manufacturers OF
the country. Whatever may be said OF
that convention, how much of it's action
may be attributed to policy and how much
TO patriotism. it yet did the only thing
there was left for it to do, on which 1t
could rest a ghost of a hope of winning.
The day of straddles was over, the silver
field had been preempted, there was nothing
Ing but plain gold left it, and the conven-
ton took 1t plain.
The other party, the Democratic. which
is TO meet IN a few days, has it's course
pretty well mapped out in advance. 1t
seems at last t o have got together on
determination to try the free silver. 1t has
been slow in coming to it. Its situation
Tor the last few months has been peculiar.
AS far as the leaders of it's sentiment were
concerned they leaned to what IS called
"sound money" They have steered party
sentiment now towards Carlisle, now to-
wards Bayard, but never towards free
Silver man. During all this swinging back
and forth there was always great silent
element in the party waiting for Cleveland
70 speak. But Cleveland gave no sign, and
The rank and file Of the party breaking loose
from the leaders swung over to free silver.
MI. Cleveland spoke then, but it was too late.
While the sound money men had been
waiting and hesitating, the free silver men
mad been educating the people. 1t is said
In some quarters that Mr.. Whitney, who
Is to 20 to Chicago. and MI. German. whe
1t is said will accompany him. will put
something in motion there that will prevent
the adoption Of free silver. They may
have control OF some great power at Chi
cago, but it will never bring the conven-
ton to abandon free silver. 1t may make
split in the party, but it will not stop the
silver rush. Whatever else may happen,
the platform of the convention will be free