Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1907-08-16
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THE PARTY OF CONNER
CIALISM.

n statement In 0nOlDef cOiuiln Oh
this paper, showing that the three
most illiterate districts in the
United States are overwhelmingly
Republican, may or may not be sig
nificant. Just why this is so is not
explained. 1t is we'll known fact,
on the other hand, that education has
reached its highest percentage in
some states Overwhelmingly Republi-
can. There are circumstances and
environments surrounding each case
which should be taken into consider
atisn before Il just verdict can be
reached on the question of the rela-
tive importance upon intellectual
attainment by the two great polti-
zeal parties. We do not recall haV-
ing seen comparison of this kind
made. 1t is fact, however, and
= we'll known fast, that the Rcpub-
lican party is Il party OF commercial
tiSm, pure and simple. Their slogan
and war cry is now. and has been for
years, "A full dinner pail. The chief
claim, put forth i'm every cam
party of prosperity and 'prosperi-
ty," as applied by the leaders. had
reference solely To commercialiSm-
the increase of material wealth. nj
growth and development came to-
the country in the other and higher
blessings as result of material pros
perity il was accidental and second
AIRY i'm the minds of the platform
makers, and not aS "A direct and deSir-
ed end sought 10 be reached. I'm all
recent campaigns an appeal, strong
and convincing and successful was
made 10 the stomach. This cannot Ice
denied, or the Statemet pronounced all
eXaggeration. 1t has been, and is to-
day, the boast or that party, that
tho unprecedented prosperity OF this
coutry is due directly TO their wise
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and illogical as
The leaders must know the claim To
be. But the claim appeals 10 the
strongest natural instincts OF the ami
nal in the r2ce, and hence is made
with success. When Il great leader,
made political speeches with IA text
of scripture rs his subject, and taught
that Il man was worth more than
money, and that temporal prosperity
was of far less importance than intel
lcetual and moral growth, he WAS
hooted and snereed nj, and called a
preacher, and the country warned
against his teachings. The CONNER
cial obScures and hides every other
consideration, rs rule, when il
comes 10 dealing with questions of
government. The same thought and
Trend runs through the consideration
Of all social problems and is apparent
in the dealings of the party with the
great corporations and trusts. How
will the passage of this law affect
the revenues and commerce of the
nation has been the first and only
question asked by the greatleaderS of
The administration for yearS-an inn
pOrtant and vital question, TO be sure.
but not paramount. Commercial pros
perity and not righteousness exalteth
a nation, is the motto.
Significant is the fact, us bearing
out the truth OF this contention, that
ie most popular President this coun-
try has had for decades is unpoppu-
lar only when he opposes the greed
and graft of Goddess and souless cor
portions, whose sole aim is the piling
up of millions of illgotten gains
men and corporations who claim that
it is the province of the government
TO protect and foster them.
New England commercialism is
New Englands boast and glory and
chief consideration, when ii comes
TO politics, and the idea has grown
unto the social fabGc, even until the
marriage relation iteslf has become
TO be looked upon in wide circles, !
purely as a matter of busineess-ofl
dollars and cents-Or their equivalent |
So far has this idea of commercial !
ism gone unHl such thing rs moral !
sentiment and even patriotism, in
national politics is dead. There is |
much that is good and great and re-
ligious inNew England, but we speak |
of New England and national pol !
itics, in its general features, and this !
school of politics has sent its grad
yates and propagandistS into every
department OF the social and business
life of the nation so far as its influ- !
ence can reach.
What surprise, then, if in Repub-
lican districts where this doctrine of
commercialism, embodied in the idea
of full dinner pail, full stom-
ach-and temporal prosperity is |
constantly held up as the chief object !
OF political and governmental
achievement, the higher attain !
ments should be singularly lacking? |
SHOULD THE PRICE BE