Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-15

an eye single only to the good of the whole peo-
| pie, the development and advancement, the
4 glory and dignity, of the State. Il have NO
| private political purpose to subserve, and no
| party behests to obey. am free from all zen.
| tangling alliances, and untrammelled by any
political pledges Always firm and consistent
Unionst, expect to live and die one. Beyond
this the chief tenets of my political faith the
maintenance of the public faith, State aud ma
tlonal, untarnished honesty and economy In
the administration of public affairs the equali-
zation and reduction of tariffs and taxation to
the lowest degree consistent with the mainten-
ance OF the public credit; free education for all;
fostering care, encouragement, and elevation
OF labor; and, until fully, finally, and permanent
ly accomplished, universal amnesty and impar-
tial suffrage. These are fundamental principles
IN my political creed, and it matters not what
you call them, whether Republican, Democratic,
or Liberal, SO far as applicable they will be faith
fully adhered to in my administration of the
affairs OF the State Those who agree with them
Will naturally sustain and uphold the administra-
tlon, while those who disagree with them may
oppose 1t. | can see no other reasonable grounds
for any division among our people at this time
With all due respect to the opinions of others,
1t appears to me that any attempt at this time
todiyide, distract, and vex our people with ques-
tons OF mere party politics-any effort to gal
vanize into life defunct political organisms with
their attendant ills of sectional hate and an
lmoslty--any attempt tor partisan purposes to
reopen the terrible wounds inflicted by the late
war, now healing, deserve to be frowned down
with indignation. Have we not enough to do
to resuscltate and reinvigorate our own crippled
and desolated Commonwealth? Have we more
brain. more energy, than will suffice for this
mighty task Are we not admonished by all
the love We bear her, by our veneration of her
past and our hopes for her future, to stand side
by side and shoulder to shoulder earnest and,
ABOVE all, united IN a common effort and com
mon purpose to reorganlze and Tehabilitate the
State, and to start her out once more on 1.-THE
high road to glory, glittering like the morning
star, full OF lite and joy What we need in
virginia, what the nation needs to-day, is the
lnauguraii)n aud cultivation of broad and
catholic national spirit, unsuled by local pre-
Judlce or selfish and sectional interest.
We must not forget that we are to- day part
and parcel of the American nation. Our de-
TIMES are inseparably linked with its destinies |
LIS growth will be our growth. Its advancement
our advancement, Its glory our glory | con-
tess to strong and Conscientious beefin what
Is popularity styled manifest Destiny" 1t is |
manifest to me that the future destiny of this
nation points unerringly to the gradual expan-
SION OF Its limits until the entire continent shall
have been embraced within its boundaries -
And believe that upon this same continent |
there is to be formed and moulded new, dis |
t!nctlye wel-defned, and grand American ma
tionaity.
1t Is true that our country is peopled by all
the numerous offshoots of the Caucasian race
differing widely in language, habits and edu-
cation, but time and concurring circumstances
will gradually melt together and mould these
diverse elements into one united, harmonious
and homogeneous people, surprising all Of the |
great peoples that have preceded them in their
mental, moral, and physical development, and
in the greatness and grandeur of their achieve
ments. You and [ must act our several parts
in the fulillment of this manifest destiny, and
whether it shall be well or lily done will depend
upon the individual action of each.
Let us each and all remember that
1--WE can make our lives sublime;
And, departing. leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints that perhaps another,
Sailing DER life solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall, perhaps, take heart again.