Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-02-16
"Don't Give up the Ship"

Don't Give up the Ship"
The Mobile (Ala.) Register says that, I'm
the battles of war, Or politics, or life, men who
fight without hope cannot hope to win. Nor
is the divine inspiration which drives noble
souls on to struggle in storm and adversely, to
be quenched by one or hundred reverses. The
great soul rises from defeat, and great cause
broken and forced to earth, gathers up Its frag-
ments, like shattered battallons, to reform and
renew the battle of freedom which man cannot
afford to lose and live Those who despair OF
the final triumph Of the Democratic party and
of the cause of constitutional liberty which 1t
bears on the points of its spears, it seems to u.s.
are at sea without chart or compass, on an AIM
less VOYAGE. The motto of such should be that
which is written over the portals of He'll:
''Abandon hope, all ye aOho enter here!'
For our part We can see nothing in the signs
of the times to push men to this despalrlng ex-
tremity These on the contrary indicate that
the Jacobin power has reached its eliminating
point, and has in it abundant elements ofrapid
decline and disintegration. Corrupt and in
competent the leaders Of this party have lals-
ed storm they cannot guide, and all political
experience is at fault if it is not their doom to
be swept away by it. A powerful and united
Democratic party is calmly watching events and
stands ready to seize what it seems must be the
inevitable opportunity to strike its enemy stag
gering under administrative difficulties, torn
by intestine squabbles for place, and angered
BY bitter recriminations Situated as the Jacobln
party is, it would be miracle if it should pass
through the four years term of Gen. Grant
with its organization unbroken. Meantime,
the great public is looking on, groaning under
taxation, alarmed at the daily increase of the
national debt, and either dreading or hoping
for collapse of the paper finances Every
million of debt-increase augments the ranks of
the regulators. Radical policy and necessity
command the increase TO go on, and the re-
pudiators will grow accordingly. Reputation
is death to the party that is responsible for the
debt, and that death seems imminent, when
the party seems utterly incapable of managing
it. Here is hope enough to keep the friends
of freedom out of the portals Of despair
Aud yet this is but one of the rocks aud shoals
that lie thickly in the path Of the Jacobn party.
The spoils question, wherein a hundred are
the tenure-of Office question, threatening an
open and bitter rupture between the President
and Congress, and, of course, division Of the
party in Congress; the gold payment bond ques-
ton; the question of the assumed power of
Congress to fix the quail ication Of voters in all
the States, are but few of the dangers which
threaten the Jacobin party, and give the
Iooked-for opportunity tothe Democracy. There
is no need or room for despair. Responsible
for none Of the public evils Of the land, the
and it patiently waits for the gaps to sure occur
In the enemy's line of battle, to break through
and overthrow him. Why not, then, stand by
our arms, and watt if only in the hope of vic
tory, when that victory will bear the fruits of
Southern liberation from carpet bag tyranny
and soalawag treachery."
During the contest in the Senate on Tuesday,
over the universal suffrage amendment to the
Constitution, Mr. Vickers, Of Maryland, sub
mitted al amendment looking to the restoration
to the exercise Of the elective franchise, Of all
those now disfranchised by reason of participa-
ton in the rebellion. The proposition aoas re-
jected, the vote standing q ayes to 80 nays.
1t will be seen that the majority of the con-
trolling party in the Senateis not disposed to
concede amnesty for political ofenses to the dis
qualified citizens of the South.
There is COW, says the Lynchburg Nesos, no
shadow of reasonable calculation that the mere
concession Of negro suffrage will induce Con-
gress to extend amnesty to political offenders
in the South and there are many circumstances
which justify the conviction that Congress is
unwilling and afraid to remove disabilities ex
eept on the condition of party service.
Since the Radicals have determined to with
hold amnesty except on the condition Of party
service, it only remains for all classes Of Vir~
ginians to quietly await the result, uncorrup!ed,
unawed by the demoralizing circumstances and
influences of these evil times. Our advice to
the people, now as always, is, aoait IN patience
and faith the deliverance to be wrought out
eventually from these present troubles. Vote
for nothing and sustain nothing that does not
meet with the fullest approval Of your conscience
and sense of honor.
In rejecting, says the Enquirer and Ecanain-
er, upon the splendid position of Virginia upon
the continent of America-its varied soil, un
rivalled climate, extensive plains, inexhaustible
mines, noble rivers and lofty mountain ranges,
we have not failed to be profoundly impressed
with the fact that the Great Valley, and the
Eastern slope Of the Blue Ridge from Harpers
Ferry to the Caroline line, is the wine district
of the United States.
Under his own vine and fig tree every man
may not smoke the pipe Of peace, as he would
and the heart must overflow with anguish when
we consider what we are and recall what we
have been; bat that Providence has in store
for US abundant blessings we cannot doubt; all
that is necessary to make US great people is
manly patience, and an intelligent application
of our best energies to the development of the
untold resources of our country.
THE KING EXPRESS ROBBERY We learn
from the Norfolk Virginian, that this affair has
been sifted out at last. King robbed himself.
with the assistance Of an accomplice by the
name of Potts Most of the money has been
recovered, and was in possession of King, Potts
and their mistresses Maude DeLarue and Mol