The Valley Virginian

Labor Interests and Democracy

It is a part of the tactics of the Democratic party to charge the Republicans with the prostration of business which prevails throughout the manufacturing districts of the country.

There might be some show of reason in this, were the suspension of industries confined to the United States. But this is not so. The same condition exists in England, France and Germany. The London Financier, gives a gloomy account of the iron interests in England. and mentions the failure of the Cleveland iron-making concern, with liabilities amounting to $5,000,000. Other large iron establishments are greatly embarrassed, and a degree of gloom is resting upon the manufacturing interests never before experienced.

We mention these facts to show that the suspension of manufacturing industries have nothing to do with government administration policy, but are the result of periodical revulsions in trade which have marked the history of every country since the organization of civilized society. The control of the popular branch of Congress by the Democrats has added to the distress which rested upon our people. The policy that body adopted, of cutting down necessary appropriations, which will hereafter have to be met by deficiency bills, has thrown out of employment, it is estimated, one hundred thousand laborers and artisans, and brought to want at least three hundred thousand men, women and children. There never has been a more cruel and heartless spirit manifested by any class of men than the present democratic Congress. It has been for no concern for the government or the people, but directly antagonizing the substantial interests of the country, and all for partizan purposes. The reckless demagogues who control that party, would subordinate all the great interests of labor, to the fell spirit of selfish partizanism, which controls, them, and laugh at the suffering and distress of the working classes, if thereby they can be advanced to power.

"Whom the Gods would Destroy, they first make Mad."

The nomination of Gen. Wade Hampton, as the Democratic candidate for Governor of South Carolina, is very suggestive. It will be received by union men everywhere, and especially in the North and West, as an indication that the old issues of 1861 are to be fought over again, and the question presented to the arbitrament of the people at the ballot box whether this Government is a Nation, or a Confederation of States. The effect throughout the North and West is to consolidate the sentiment of the country, irrespective of party nomenclature, with the assurance that every Northern and Western State will cast its electoral vote for Hayes. and Wheeler. Already has this momentous issue absorbed, in importance, all others, and ere the canvass closes, the lines will be severely drawn between the antagonizing ideas of National Supremacy and State Sovereignty. In Indiana, the people are throwing aside the Greenback question, and the appeal of Benj. F. Butler for more money, is answered by the declaration that the Constitution and laws must be enforced. Gen. Harrison. the Republican candidate for Governor in that State, is electrifying the people, and tearing the mask from the plotters against the integrity and paramount supremacy of National authority. A united South for Tilden is crystallizing the national sentiment of the North for Hayes. The people are becoming aroused to the great interests involved, and are fully determined that the administration of this government shall not be entrusted to the Wade Hamptons of the South.

"Whom the Gods would Destroy, they first make mad." Modern Democracy, represented by such frauds in the North as Tilden, and such extremists as Hampton in the South, will receive an overwhelming rebuke in November next.

While the canvass for the St. Louis nomination was going on, the New York Express, which led the opposition to Mr. Tilden, but now supports him. said, among other things to the same purport:

"We have no complaint to make against Mr. Tilden on the simple ground that he is a railroad lawyer, or because his 'specialty' is railroad cases, nor that in this 'specialty' he has accumulated great wealth. Beyond these facts is the current belief-not confined to personal or political enemies either-that some portion, at least. of his large wealth was secured in a way that will make him an unsuccessful candidate for President. It is not alone Republicans who say this, and who mean to make the most of it, but Democrats in all parts of the country-"

We surrender a considerable portion of our paper this week. to publications showing what kind of material a Democratic "Reformer" is made up of, If Mr. Tilden is the best specimen of a 'Reformer our Democratic friends can produce, we do not think it would be wise to entrust to them the reformation of the Government.

Among the disastrous results of this false economy of the Democrats in Congress is the crippling of the District of Columbia-schools. It turns out that the appropriation for school purposes is so far inadequate that the term must be cut down to eight months' duration. In their blind haste to lop off the edges of necessary appropriations, the Democrats have hampered innumerable important interests. Their orators are now parading figures to show what retrenchments have been effected, but in order that this boast should be made the needful operations of the Government have been crippled and school children are turned into the streets.

This was Gov. Morgan's platform in 1862 not as framed for him by a convention, but by himself in a letter to Gov. Curtin : "I am for continuing this war to the end without qualification or condition, with all the force we have in the field, with all we can raise by voluntary enlistment, and after that, if need be, by a conscription embracing all classes and descriptions of persons of proper age."