Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-09-15
Democrats ara Ready.

Some glee seems to be infuSing itself
into the Republicans because the issues
of the present campaign are not as
clearly defined as the Democrats would
like, and because there seems to be some
hesitancy on the part of the Democrats
to place their party in line for OF
against certain issues which are tie
outcome of the war. If they see any
thing in this to cause rejoicing they are
welcome to it. But on the new issues
of the war the Democrats are as clear
in their views and have as we'll defined
ideas as the Republicans; and on some
other issues which have been the more
indirect outgrowth of the war, they are
far more outspoken and clear in. their
views. These are the charges of cor
rupt deals, favorite contracts, waste of
public funds, Incompetence in the con-
duct of the war, and many others. In
addition to this the Democratic party
has principles it has never abandoned,
and which it has always maintained
and will maintain as strongly now as
ever, and which are greater. thin Ex-
pansion or Imperialism. These are
love of personal liberty, the CAUSE of
the people against Capitalization, pa
ternalism and corporate encroachment.
The currency and freedom of trade,
which last is the imperial right of this
nation to expand its trade, the
right to go over the world
and establish commercial relations
with all peoples and in all lands,
and invite them to come and trade with
US. On these, and especially the last,
has the party shown an undivided
front. 1t knows now as it has known
always that no country can reach its
full stature, until it has gone beyond it's
own narrow confines, until it's sails are
on all the seas, its merchants are in all
climes, until it is known of all nations,
and respected by them, not because of
the power of its navy, lor its army.
which represent brute force, but be-
cause of the power of its empire on land
and sea created by commerce and held
by the bonds of trade. bonds stronger
than bands of steel, but which lay more
lightly upon the people whose hands it
binds than golden bands upon the arms
of a maiden. These, amongst others,
have been cardinal principles of this
party of the people, and no little issues
arising from our little war can befog
them nor cause those who have been
fighting the greater battle of freedom,
freedom for our own distressed people,
to forget those who have long been the
object of their affection and cause them
to worship false gods, make them for
get the sufferings seen at our own fire.
sides, for the imaginary sufferings of
some miserable reconoentrados. who
have no claims on us and who are not
worthy of our care.
1t would well suit the Republicans
could they hide these great issues in
the iungles of Cuba, and make us for
get our grinding taxes, and the terrible
suffering and depression we have en-
dured for ten years and are still Fendur-
ing as the result of corporate greed
and Republican misrule. but sooner will
our tongues cieave 10 the roof of our
mouths, and our hands forget their
cunning. Let the campaign come, the
Democracy is ready and willing and
anxious to meet it on all issues They
are stronger in right than before Han
ma bought the people, or the corpora
tions took their second hold on the
throat of the nation.