Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-09-25
They are howa1er.

next campaign. They are, however,
in no sense changed in their views On
the silver question. They remember
past history they know that at the
dictation of the banks, Gen. Grant dis
pressed a resumption OF
specie pay ment during bis incumbency.
This made money dear. A terrible
panic followed, silver had been practl-
cally demonetized, by the most criml
nal piece of legislation ever enacted.
Grants term ended, Hayes was seated
and an effort made to give silver its
old legal tender qualification by means
of the Bland-Allison bill. But the
Bondhoders stepped in and under the
pressure of their influence the weak
back of Hayes bent and he vetoed the
bill. Silver WAS then under all the ad-
verse legislation aimed at it worth in
the open market 924 cents. 1t would
have gone to par at once had the Dill
become law. There never had been
a moment when silver if as we'll treat
cd as gold has not kept parity with it.
From the days of Moses to the end OF
time silver has been and will be money
metal. Paper trash may be crammed
into the pockets of a gullible people,
but paper is not money and never
can be. 1t is simply a promise to pay.
When therefore those who followed
Mr.. Bryan loyalty, because they knew
they were right. are now damned over
his shoulders they rebel, they are not
going to be handled by lot OF self
appointed gold bug officers lately de-
serted from their own camp, as the
Republican party. handles "niggers " on
election day. No financial Solomon,
nor nauseated Republican is going to
be allowed to dictate a platform and
choose a candidate for them. They
are not going to step up at the crack
of party whip. in the hand OF an 1895
deserter, or snlker. The platform OF
1904, and the candidate OF 1904 must
both recognize that party loyalty and
party fealty have yet place In the
Democratic party. There may have
been good reason for the going away
of those who now undertake to belittle
those who held to the party IN 1896
and 1900. We hope it was more than
their paltry dollars, which forced them
into such company, we trust there was
at least little principle behind the
action. We recognize superior wis.,
dom in them from the fact that those
whom they supported brought about
war, and pestilence, and looting and
degradation in Office. They brought
also prospriety whatever that may
mean. They gave us the Philippines
and Theodore Roosevelt.
Why we ask if the Republican party
was such a glorious organization in
1896 ana brought so many blessings is
it 80 loathesome now? Are our de-
parted friends disappointed. were they
gold bricked. have they had trick
played on them? Has their new mis-
tress proved untrue? What is. it we
ask these gentlemen, that has gone
wrong between them and their new
found friends that they come scurrying
back to their old haunts amongst us
Populists, and Anarchists and such
cattle2 Are they sick of their new
society," Have they heen kicked out.
or are they leaving because they want
to? We suspect that they feel that
disgust which Sir John Falstaff felt
after be had been tumbled into
clothes basket amongst foul linen and
dumped into the Thames when he said
to those about him.
"Go fetch me quart of sack and
put a toast In it. Have lived to be
carried in a basket like barrow OF
butchers offal. and to be thrown into
the Thames? Well: if be served such
another trick, iii have my brains
taken out, and buttered and give them
to dog for new years gift.