The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-03-27
The Great Frturc.

1EO Uscdt EEtUECs
The dependency and doubt that now |
Cypress our people are. naturally, the con-
sequence Of hope deferred which maketh
the heart sick" But then there can be
too much even ola good thing and certain
~ we have had enough Of this. TIE
schemes OF our enemies and their oppres-
sions are devilish, but brave, cheerful
spirit, a determination to work cut of our
troubles, and conquer in the end, will soon
change the face Of affairs. 1t is actually
sinful for men, with brains to conceive and
hands to execute, to be grumbling and
growing over what can not be helped. 1t
is a duty to look upon the bright side; to
meet the situation and play our part in
the great future, as worthy sons Of a g!o-
rious ancestry.
Look for moment at the past Of this
people, and prepare to meet the future as
becomes the descendants Of such race.
What race so grand in the conception Of
its ideas SO bold and daring in executing
them? Witness Sir Walter Raleigh cross
ing the Atlantic in a frail bark Ga feat that
puts to shame the late boosted Yacht match
Of the upstart Bennett and other yankees
Witness Snottswoodand his hardy knights
of the Golden Horse Shoe penetrating
the vast wilderness Of West Augusta; wit
ness Washington, the boy engineer, max
ing his way. foot sore and weary, over
trackless mountains, and see the grand eli
max of his career at Yorktown; pointing
a world to Tseedoml Witness Virginia
giving away vast territories, for the com
mon good, with as little thought Of self, as
the Lord of the Manor" gives his ten
ants holiday. Remember the selfsacri-
ficing devotion of Virginia to Union
that now seeks to crush her, in her hour
of desolation. Remember the wonderful
lamount Of talent this one State has pro
duced and developed. Think Of the late
war for Justice and Right, the .heroism
and endurance ofour soldiers the patriotic
devotion Of our women. Look back raise
yourselves, if you can, to the grand stand
point Of the intellectual strength and man.
hoodofthe Fathers oftle Republic. Dwell
| proudly on what has been accomplished
Think of how little this race has done fol
itself-how much for Others Then come
down to the stern facts Of the present. and
prepare to play your parts like men, in the
grand future still in store for us.
That age has passed away, but we mus
retain its noble, generous spirit. Ou1
peculiar institutions, our ancient forms O.
law and every sacred rightare subject to the
will of conqueror There is no dishonol
on the proud name handed down to us, by
an ancestry that gave Freedom and name
to the powers which now control the Gov
ernmentof the United States. We fought
a good fight, butan overriding Providence
decreed we should be oppressed for a time
Still there is a way out Of our troubles
it is to aeork; to use every means the enc
mics of the country have given us to de
, feat them. Look the future squarely in
the face. This is consolidated Govern
ment now, materialism reigns supreme
, new ideas new forms of government take
the place Of the old, and the world moves
with railroad speed and calls it progress. .
We must move and play our parts we'll in
} this new game Of life, or we are surely lost
Be up and doing, ard our future no man
can conceive or venture to predict !
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