The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-06
Political and Social characteristics.

A remark Of Coldriga, says the Rich
mond Wing, that the land-owning class is
always the stationary class in politics, is
most true. This country may be cited as
a striking illustration Of it. The land
owner derives his fixed notions from the
circumstances by which he is surrounded.
He lives day after day, month after month,
year after year, amid the same unchang-
ing scenes. He is on the same farm. sees
the same trees, the same regular success
sion of seasons and crops, the same neigh
bors Year after year he sees the same
sights and hears the same sounds. Like
those animals that take their color from
the objects on which they live, the agri-
cultural class seem to derive their charac-
ter for 6xity from the stable, permanent
and unchanging objects around them
Much of the firm, earnest, unshifting
political character of the Southern peo-
pie is due, doubtless, to this. The great
bulk of them live in the country, and
cultivate their lands-lands that have, in
many instances, descended from father to
son for several generations. This class
constitutes the predominant class in the
Southern States. We have few large cities,
and townsreople are almost lost in the
general aggregate Of population.
It is different at the North. The coun-
try is there fast losing its rural charac
ter. Cities, towns and villages are spring
ing up in every direction. Agriculture
is not the main pursuit Commerce, man
uiactures and all the varied forms Of in
dustry are pursued. Men herd together
The events of to-day obliterate those OF
yesterday. There is a constant whirl.-
Men and things are ever in notion
Travel, change, variety present never
ending fuctuation. The solitary man
loses his separate, atomic influence. In
diyidualism is lost, except in the case OF
few prominent individuals, who do for
the tumultuous masses the thinking that
| they have not the time to do for them
selves These individuals and the masses
act and react upon each other While
the former think for the latter, they de-
rive from the rushing, human tide most OF
their Inspirations. 1t imparts to then,
something Of its own energy and rapid
| ty of motion. 1t makes them think
quickly and warmly. They tire of stabil
ity and sameness, and live only in perpet-
ual change.
In such whirl of men and things rea-
son and virtue are crowded out. Expe
diency and kind of quick, selfish bust
ness instinct usurp theie places. They
control these whirling masses in their
business. their pleasures, and their poll
tics. Their only religion is success, their
only guiding principles those expedients
that will secure it. In the hot contagion
Of motion and change, old standards are
disregarded, and alterations are made re
spectacle by numbers. Everything in
this country depends upon public opinion,
1
and the unstable public opinion of the
North tears down old systems and builds
up new ones in an inconceivably short
time. The man who assails the Constitu
ton ceases to be odious and becomes a
patriot because the crowd follows him.
! They think, feel and act in unison, and
that makes everything they do seem right.
Is it not better to be stationary, submit
to old restraints, and conform to venerated
standards! It is not batter to be govern
ed by reason and virtue; by pride. Or
habit evenly anything that is Stable
and respectable, especially when bequcath-
ed us by our fathers, than to discard them
all and plunge headlong into sea Of ex-
pediency, and move only as passion, pelt
Or caprice shall direct us?
Yet, We would not have our people be
too as.onary. We would not have them
deny themselves the benefit Of a wise
progress. There are improvements in
every department. Of life, and discoveries
in every department. OF science and in
dustry which they should avail themsel-
YES of. Our fathers had neither rail
roads, steamboats, nor telegraph lines.-
That is no reason why we should deny
ourselves their benefits. Nor should we
refuse to introduce those political and le-
gal reforms which have, in the lapse OF
time and in the change Of circumstances,
become necessary-as, for instance: the re-
peal OF the usury laws. We are a part
of the world and must properly fill our re-
| lation to it. To refuse to move when it
moves is as foolish as to attempt to move
when it stands still.
JAMES RIVER AND KANAwaA Ca
NAL.-We have the happiness of announ-
cling that this extensive (and expensivs)
gutter is in the way, it is hoped, Of an
effectual cut off from the public crib.
Parties are ready to lease the nuisance,
pay rent for it, and pay the annual inter-
est. 1t costs the trlfle Of eighty thous-