The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-09
srx.ron DANrEL on THE STUMP.

Senator Daniel made an elaborate
.neech 70 the voters Of King George
county on Thursday last which is worth
a passing notice:
| According to the published reports OF
| the speech the Senator concluded by say
| ing that Virginia had been represented III
the Senate by very great men and wh'ie
no might NOT have made a brilliant re-
| cord there, he had been faithiui anu
honest representative OF the peop'e ana
| ~. in the coming election, the people
| should choose to retire him TO prNa's
| life. he would leave the Senate Chainoer
| as pure as ne entered T.
The people Of Virginia have not the
slightest doubt upon this last point NOT
| need Senator Daniel disturb his mind IN
tho slightest degree regarding his re-
| turn to tho Senate. lie Is wrong 10
say that he has faithfully served the
| people Of Virginia. Il by that he means
| that he has "I.ept the faith" but he has
| faithfully served Virgnia's evil genius
until he has established over her people
| Will return him to the United States Sem
ate just SO surely as effect always fol-
| lows cause 1t il q SAD reflection for
lover of Virginia but it is an unGeniable
| fact.
We 40 not hold Senator Daniel entirely
| responsible for the utterly demofalized
state Of public opinion that prevails in
| Virginia. There are widespread and
! deep-seated causes for it that have had
| a large share in producing II. The war
worked q total revolution in social con-
! ditions here, and after reducing pres
| porous people to the most grinding pow
| erty. il kept them in q situation Tor
| which they were entirely united by
previous experiences. to which they have
never yet become fitted, and in q condl-
| ton therefore. that has made 1t most
| difficult for them TO work out of Their
! unfortunate state. In addition TO TINS
| our currency laws under the National
Bank act have been OF a character TO
deny to the people proper media OF ex-
change with which to conduct their at
fairs so that the people of Virginia
found themselves struck down from af-
fuence to poverty and then prohibited
natural means Of elevating themselves
from their impoverished state. These
conditions we're the fruitful soil TO be
cultivated by a public man who would
cure q sick people with stimulants IN
stead of treating the disease at its roots.
We do not mean to intimate that SEN
ator Daniel knew the remedies he Of
fered the people were no more than pois-
onous stimuanfs. but that Is what they
were, all the same. They were mere
stimulants and stimuIants of the most
poisonous and venomous kind.
We repeat then that we do not hold
Senator Daniel entirely responsible Tor
The dreadful state of public opinion that
prevails in VIRGINIA. But we do hold
him responsible for a large share Of IT.
With his splendid talents for declama-
ton, If he had worked as industriously
to bring our people to a reaiization or
the great truths that money cannot be
made by the governments ipse dixit ana
that II they would prosper they must
labor in season and out OF season and
religiously respect whatever any person
has once acquired, he could have &C
complished much in the way OF correct
ing the demoralizing influence OF their
poverty upon the people of the State. IN
stead of adopting this cause. he chose
the opposite one OF picturing to the people
their wrongs and their distress IN the
strongest colors and of arguing 10 theH
that the cure for their ills was In a de-
based money and he thereby excited IN
stead of restraining the evil influences
at work amongst the people and thus
made himself TO that extent responsible
for what now exists in the State We
have the kindest feelings in the world
for Senator Daniel, even affection for
him. but we must say in all candor that
in our opinion he has done Virginia an
injury, which many years cannot ef-
face.
3 In making a resume of what the Demo-
cratic party has done for Virginia, Sen
ator Daniel said at King George Court
house that it had published and circulated
a handbook on Virginia's agricultural re-
souces inviting immigration to the State
Vain is it for Virginia 10 do this when
she is at the same time publishing 10 the
world that she proposes to pay every
dollar of debt due with fifty cents and
that she will direct hostile acts against
any progressive movement that may be
started. When immigrants seek a new
home they want one where life. liberty
and prosperity are perfectly secure and
where contracts are kept inst as they are
made. 1t is useless for Virginia to adj
vertise her resources when all the world
/. saying that her people are hopelessly
committed to cheap money and anti-pro-
gress.