The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-06-12
Shall We Live &

last week, 70 tnIuk OvcE tulS pIOPo0ltiVu-
1t is no idle question, but one that deeply
US, as peculiar people, for what
is the life ola people but eirdistinguish-
ing characteristics-their prominent ideas
Of living and playing part in this great
moving, active age?
From the formation of the present Gov.
eminent of the U. S., two distinct ideas
have controlled the two great sections
The North, owing to tie nature fits peo-
pie; the poverty Of its soil and the severi-
ty Of its climate has always been for pro-
tection-for consolidation, and for having
new fields opened. by the general Govern
ment, for the enterprise and daring Of its
surplus population. With their extension
over the fertile fields ofthe West,-an en-
pire given to the common Union by the
generous South-they carried their pecu-
liar ideas of life and Government. Every
neighborhood had its "piece Of Boston
Common" in the shape Of the "teacher"
and the ''lecturer," and that leaven was
used to permeate the whole mass-wheth-
er foreign or native born. Hence, on the
breaking utof the wal, I'VE found the North
and the West united on the question, not
Of Union, but of consolidating and cen
tralizing the General Government.
The people Of the South, blessed by
Providence with the most genial climate
and the most productive soil on earth, to
say nothing ola laboring class peculiarly
fitted for the task Of developing its won
drous agricultural resources, naturally be,
came home people. Rejoicing nth al
most fabulous increase Of his wealth, dis.
turbed by none of the struggles Of the out
side world, the Southener employed the
leisure afforded, by exemption from man
ual labor, in cultivating natural taste fol
politics and theoretically building up a
model Republic. Proud Of their heritage
and Of their past achievements they be
came, almost to a man, strict construction
lists of that Constitution their greatest
minds had given form and substance to
and were bitterly opposed to charging the
powers of the central head, or creature, al
they considered it, at Washington. Thus
this people, by force Of habit and educa
ton, became peculiar people, distinc
race, as opposed to the centralizipg idea
Of the North. The election Of Lincoln
pre-shadowing the triumph Of the North
ern idea, found the South, Independent o
the question of slavery, enthusiastically
united in resistance tothe full development
Of that idea, in the affairs Of the Nation
These separate and distinct ideas Of gov
eminent, coming in conflict, bothsupport
ed by brave and determined people, cul
minated in the bloodiest war Of recorded
time and, "woe's the day." it resulted il
the triumph Of the North. He who calls
it "nigger war"-a "foolish war" Oh
seeks for its cause in the little side issues
of a mighty contest Of ideas, insults the in
telligence of the whole American people
andshould be laughed to seorn, for attribu
ting to Giants the weak ambition and the
little motives Of Pigmies.
No people can point to prouder record
no race can exhibit so grand a struggle fol
an idea, or show a 1ore brilliant galaxy Of
heroes, who fought, suffered and died te
maintain their idea, of free Ccnstltt utional
Government. The survivors Of that glo
rious struggle-the comrade, the widow,
the orphan, have no cause to blush for
those "boys in grey" who now 'sleep the
sleep that knows no waking" But while
the living may dwell with mournful pride
on their deeds-while the heart swells at
the recollection Of their acts of devoted
daring-acts that will go sounding down
the corridors of time, forever, in song and
story-we must admit that the Northern
idea has practically gained the victory
And surely it becomes us, as sensible
people, to adopt this idea, to engraft SO
much of its theory of life upon ours, as will
enable us to live and move with the tide
which is soon to rush upon US. The VIC
tory of the North, the triumph Of the idea
of GENERALIZATION, settled questions far above
petty squabbles for Office, the dirty work
of parties, the mean tyrannies Of military
commanders, the continued supremacy Of
the Radical party or the fate Of four mil
lion negroes. Over the bloody path Of
war; over million slain ;,yamid desola-
ted and almost ruined people, that triumph
proclailns, that the people of the .. s. shall
be one people; this government one con-
solidated government, and that the people
Of the earth intend to make the seat Of
the Centralized American Empire, in that
magnificent country, popularity known as
''The South"
Hard as it is, this, people Of the South
is the issue you must meet. There is no
way to dodge tho place to hide your
selves no appeal from the fat Of an all.