Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-09-14
The tendency of Public Opinion.


place in the public sentiment OF the country
within the last twelve months. 1t has exhibit
ed itself in the editorials of the press, in the
speeches of leading public men, and IN the pro-
ceedings of primary meetings of the people,
For many years past partizan and seotional ieei,
inrs have controlled the opinions and actions oi
the whole community. When men were pre-
sented as candidates for high pubic St"'iouS,
the enquiries "are they honest? are they capa'
bic are they faithful to the constitution nave
been overlooked, snd the only questions asNeu
we're. to what party do they belongs or from
what section do they Gomez The demofalizing
and degrading influences OF this unfortunate
condition of things have been visible in the mai
administration ofpublic affairs, the inoompetency
and corruption of public men, the increased eS-
penditures of the government, and IN the angry
sectional strifes which have been engendered
between the North and the South. As long as
the spirit of party reigned supreme in the iand,
public men felt perfect security against oil res
possibility. Ifyou called them to account for
their misdeeds, they forthwith raised the cry
that it was an attack on the party, and their tol-
lowers were invoked to come to the rescue III
madness of partizan zeal the people too often O.
beved this summons, and the most faithless were
sustained and sheltered beneath the shadow OF
the flag of Democracy.
So in regard to the questions affecting the dr.
ferent parts of the Union, no enquiry has been
made in regard to their intrinsic merits, but SIM
ply how far can they be used to excite popular
prejudice and promote the interests OF party
Knowing the sensitiveness of Southern people
on the subject of slavery, the Democracy have
proclaimed themselves the peculiar champions
of that institution, and have denounced all as enc
mics to it who viii not pay homage TO their par
ty. This has led to the formation OF the Blach
Republican party which has assumed the posi-
ton of antagonism to the extension OF slavery
By unceasing efforts to advance their respective
interests, these parties have ipfamed the public
mind within the last FIVE years to such degree
as to endanger the safety of the Union. botf
have been essentially fanatical and sectional
both have contributed their share to weaker
the ties of brotherhood between the two sections
of the Union; and both have merited the repro
baton of all sound conservative men.
For time it seemed as if the nation was CIV
en- over to madness. The voice Of reason was
drowned amid the roar of partizan strife. Eve
~ man outside of the Democratic party was de
nounced by it as an abolitionist. Harrison, Clay
Taylor, all natives of Virginia and as faithful Il
the rights of the South as guaranteed oy the
Constitution as any man within her borders, Welt
ruthlessly assailed as unworthy of trust, willis
Van Buren, Cass, Douglas and Buchanan were
applauded asthe most reliable friends of slavery
In the North the same degree Ofintemperanet
prevailed. Every man from the Southern States
was held up to public exeoration as an oppres
sor and a slave.drver. Amid the din OF sec
tional contest the great interests OF the country
were lost sight of; American industry languish
ed tor want fproper protection; commerce wa
paralyzsd; the finances became deranged; tn
public revenues diminished, and the governmen
reduced to bankruptcy by reckless extravaganza
was compelled to resort TO loans to pay its cur
rent expenses. All these things occurred willis
the intriguing sectional politicians were deaten
ing ou- ears with the cry of "Kansas," "Kan
sas!"
Fortunately the people in all parts OF the
country seem to be awakening to q Sense OF theli
folly Extremists in both sections OF the IN
ion seem to be abandoning their Interpretations
A sounder, mere rational and conservative sen
timent is beginning to prevail. The hunbug o
slavery agitation has, in great measure, explo
ded. We see the press of the South and the
public men of the South exhibiting more JUS
appreciation of the value of the Union; and the
Black Republicans of the North are fast aban
doniDe their extreme doctrines of hostility to
slavery, and the admission of no more slave
States.
The reyulsion of last year has caused the peo-
pie to take more practical view OF things
They begin to see that whilst they have been
disputing about vague distractions the country
has been going to ruin and the Democracy has
been plundering the treasury and running the
nation into debt at the rate of sirty millions
year, These facts have opened the eyes Of the
people. We see in all quarters movements to
secure redress of grievances. We see the peo-
pie sacrificing minor Offences of opinion, and
coming together in fraternal spirit, to secure
the overthrow of the party in power.
We hail these movements with cordial salts
faction. We are not to be deferred by the sense
less cry of hostility to Southern institutions,
from extending the right hand Of fellowship to
all patriotic men who will unite with US in GUST
ing the Democracy from power. 1t is now set
tied, as every sensible man always knewit would
be settled, that Kansas is to be free State, and
the slavery issue is practically extinct. Other
issues are now the vital ones. The reduction Of
the expenditures of the government, the revis-
ion of the tariff so as to make the income equal
to the fair cost of administration, the reform Of
abuses, the punishment of faithless and corrupt
officials, the substitution of honest and compe-
tent men for those who are deficient in both
these particulars, the rebuke of the impudent and
shameless assumption on the part of the execu-
tive to tax the Clerks in the departments to
raise an electioneering fund to corrupt the voters
these aud others like these are the living issues
which will control the next Presidential election.
We are ready to cooperate with those who will
go with US on these issues. We care not what
their abstract opinions may be or what their an
tecedents may have been. We are willing to let
by-gones be by cones. We look forwards, not
backwards; to the future, not the past.
We reneat then we hail the mnvements in