Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-06-04
OUR BIG SHOW.

TINS task, Will unu ~ neS0SSo4 - "A1SN ~
back at the past and compares it with the
present era, to drape in mourning several hum
dred pages of his volume. This much pos
terity will require, that proper understand
ing may be had Of the causes which led to
change so fraught with evil consequences and
SO pregnant with unhappy results
The unborn generations that are to live, and
move, and act, on the theatre now inhabited
by us, will need some explanation of the sys-
tenn oflegerdemain and unparalleled rascallty,
which elevated to position, place and power
the unclean and unanointed horde that has
made den of thieves of the bright temple in
which our political fathers worShipPed will
naturally inquire how dishonesty completely.
usurped the place of integrity; how old things
passed away and all things became new, but
blurred with hideousncss, that has caused
angels to weep over the deep damnation OF
our taking off They will seek some plausi-
BILE solution for the utter humiliation OF vir-
tue, and the installation of corruption IN its
most lonthsome aud repugnant form, aud Will
wonder how vice seized the reins and doml-
mated with such unblushing effrontery. All
this NAV be mIIi1Pa plair hE. simnle obituary
OF republican liberty, which received its death
blow from the hands of the grand, high pres
sure. progressive, moral.idea party, which, for
some mysterious reason, not yet uniathomed,
was allowed to acquire ascendancy. And this
obituary notice should be followed by some
badge Of mourning-deep and profound-in
all the pages required to recount the reign of
radicalism-a reign that outstrips in its dia-
bolism any that has ever cursed free people.
Tho vices and corruptions of the repre-
sentative specimens of this party we have en-
deavored to exhibit to the public gaze, and
with DIR. Bond, "We think that in the present
age there is no grander power entrusted to
man than the combination of an eye to see
villiany, heart to burn with indignation at
it, and tongue or pen equal to the privilege
of stripping shams, tearing lion skins from
asses, scourginS rascality, and laughing n.y.
pocrisy and meanness out of decent society,""
and most heartily do we unite with him in
the invocation that tho Lord would raise up
prophets as fast as the devil turns out scamps.
Some may say what has this to do with
the big show, with which We have been prom
ised entertainment? We answer that it has
a direct bearing upon it. We have not bored
and Disguised our readers for the past month
with the public displays of vice aud immo-
rality in high places, without a purpose
that purpose its dethronement, its extirpation,
its humiliation. We have entered upon our
task with the fixed conviction that
"Vice is q monster of such hideous mein,
That to be hated, needs only to be see1."
The misfortune of the present age is that
men love notoriety, even if it comes through
infamy. The thirst for power has dethroned
virtue, driven patriotism to the wall, and oven
powered every emotion that IS not in perfect
cOnsOnance with open and avowod rascality.
What do the radical rulers of West Virginia
her Governor, her Legislators, her judges
care for the prosperity of the country or the
welfare and happiness Of the people? How
much and to what extent do they feel for the
walls of the suffering or the groans of the
over-burdened tax payer? They are after
position, the notoriety of position, the emolu-
ments of position, and for these they are will
ing to sacrifice the liberties, and the lives if
necessary, Of their subjects. They have al
ready ignored the chart of our republicanism,
and are not even willing to abide by a consti-
tuition of their own making. And why p
Because to do so would endanger their CON
tinuance in power; it would imperil their
hold upon position. The voice Of the people
is against them and that voice is stifed they
cover from an expression Of public sentiment,
for they know that would cousign them to
the shades Of irretrievable inlamy.
The animals which We have had on exhibit
ton in our columns from week to week-the
Mckevits, the Chaplines, the Warmers, the
Koonces, the Turner'S, the Faymans-are but
the depraved tools of these corrupt and un-
patriotic rulers, selected of course with spc-
cial reference to their fitness for the perform
ance Of their parts of the programme, aud
their admirable adaptation to the successful
execution of the work assigned them. We
have exposed them, and shall continue to ex-
pose them, so long as they continue in their
course of infamy and oppression, and when
ever VIC hear Of any particular meanness in
which they or any of their clan have been
participants, We shall hold them up to public
scoEn and contempt. The day may come
when some feeling Of remorse will creep over
their iron-clad consciEuees, and if such should
be the case, and there are indications of
genuine repentance, we may cease our expo
sitions, but we can never regard these parties
in any other light than the assassins of
liberty, who have sacrificed principle for the
loaYes and fishes of Office