Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-05-02

of that much of the value of our
coal, the effect of which is, to
cheaper the labor of the miner.
We have in our state 1000, 900
of acres Of the best timber in the
world, worth in money many
millions of dollars.
AS if not content in the de-
struction of our iocks, and the
of the value of our
coal, to the extent of almost
countless millions, our timber
and lumber must now meet a
practically free competition in
our own markets, which also re-
duces its value on an average of
81 per thousand feet.
This reduction and exemption
of the tariff on coal, timber and
wool, has entered into and in
creased the great deficit in the
government revenues, on ac-
count of which we are borrow
ing money, and paying inter
est thereon today.
We have heard much of late
about finance and the future f.
nancial policies of the great po-
litical parties, now contending
for recognition by the people,
and for supremacy in the con-
troll of the government.
Judging the future by the
past, the Democratic party will
have no fixed policy, on that OF
any other question.
At the close of the great civil
war, which drenched the lands
with our best blood, we owed a
war debt Of $2,S45, 000,0 900. A
great portion of the Democratic
party advised its reputation;
but the Republican party, hold
ing sacred the obligations of the
government, which it had up
held, devised and maintained a
financial system which has been
the wonder and admiration of
the world.
Up to August, 1898, there had
been paid, of the bonded indebt-
edness, of the United States. in
principal and interest, $4,075,-
207, 945, besides the current ex-
penses of the government,
amounting to Sc, 953, 800, 8S1.
In the future as in the past,
the Republican party can be re-
lied upon for a sound financial
system. "The Republican party
does not favor either a single
gold standard, or silver mono
metallism. 1t stands for hone st
money, a currency of gold, sill
yer and paper, with which to
our exchange, which
shall be as sound as the govern
ment, and as untarnished as its
honor. 1t favors bimetallism,
and demands the use of both
gold and silver ,as lawful money,
in such ratio as will secure and
maintain the PARTIES of values
of the two metals, so that the
purchasing and debt paying
power of the dollar shall be at
all times equal, whether that
dollar be gold, silver or paper. ;"
In a few weeks the represen-
tatives of the Republican party
will assemble to nominate the
next President of the United
States. We demand of them
the selection of a statesman for
that high office, in no way con-
trolled by a combination to hold
up the government.
While we all have our person
al preferences, it matters little
whether that great honor shall
come to a distinguished son of
our own commonwealth preemi-
nent in fitness, and who has
served his people favorably and
well both in public and private
life; or whether it shall go to
that matchless orator and peer
less statesman the able repre-
sentative from the state of
Maine; or whether it shall be
given to that typical American,
the great exponent of protec-
ton, the advocate and defender
of American markets, American
labor, and American homes.
who, it is said, "was a soldier
of the republic, a boy volunteer,
knighted by his country's COM
mission for conspicuous gallan-
try in the service of the Union,
whose alma mater was the tent
ed field, who graduated in a
class of heroes, and whose diplo-
ma bears the signature of Abra-
ham Lincoln, the author of that
proclamation, which made mil
lions free"
In a short time the great polit-
ical contest for national con-
troll will be on. It's determina-
ton in favor of the one side
means continual financial agita-
ton and business depression;
and will bring in its train, of
attendant evils, additional
national debt, and industrial re-
PROGRESSION.
Success in favor of the other
side means the exercise, by every
American citizen, of the full
rights, guaranteed to him by our
constitution, wherever the stars
and stripes may wave. Itmeans
more rapid advancement in our
Industrial development; better
better home markets !;
and, in short, almost everything
that goes to make up a happy
md prosperous nation.