The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-04-07
TO OUR PATRONS AND FRIENDS.

With this Issue commences the second
year of our proprietorship and direction of
the VALLEY yIRGINIAN. --} lts
When a year ago, we assumed control Of
the paper we did so with many misglvings.
Our predecessors had Lot found it a pro6ta-
Bile investment, the subscription list was
small-the patronage in the way of adver
Using and job work By no meaus encouras-
ing--and the affairs Of the Office in a condi-
tion which demanded reconstruction -
We had no experience in the editorial man.
asement of paper. We we're young and
without that education and training which is
SO necessary for the successful direction Of
public journal But we had strong arms
and stout hearts. We knew how to work,
and we determined to spare no effort to
achieve success. Hope beckoned Us onward,
and necessity seconded the invitation to siren
uous effort. r L
The first year Of our editorial lite has pass
ed, and we arc now able, with hearts filled
with gratitude to the Great Dispenser of
events, and TO generous public, to announce,
that our labors have been crowned with sue
cess far beyond our most sanguine expecta-
tons
Within the year, our su5scri ption list has
increased rapidly, and is now twice as large
as when We issued our first number Our
advertising patronage aud job work have
grown in corresponding ratio. We lave
kept clear of debt. We have furnished cur
Office with ample supplies Of material and
we think VIC may confidently affirm, that We
have placed the VALLEY YIRo1NIAS on a
firm and substantial basis. .63...s.l..
We have cndeayored to cultivate friendly
relations with our cotcmporaries, here and
elsewhere. We entertain for them the kind
est feelings. snd shall always rejoice in their
success. We do not look upon them as ri
walls, but as allies, who are cooperating with
us IN the great work of dlffusing correct in
formation among the people. Virtue and in
teigence are the corner stones Of free in-
stitutions. The press is ore Of the most
powerful agents i'll intoxicating sound NOR
ais, and diffusing useful knowledge. It is
the national school master. The more news
papcrs-and the more widely they are circu-
lated the better The minds of men are so
various that they must be approached and
appealed to in various ways and by variou.
means. What may exercise powerful In
fuence en- some, will produce little effect On
others. 1t is, therefore, for the public in
terest, that there should be number of pa.
pers, presenting important subjects in various
lights, so as to reach the minds and hearts CT
the greatest number. 'i'
= In commencing cur second Volume we beg
leave to tender to our patrons our heart felt
thanks for thei: generous support. We
have doubtless committed many errors, and
left many things undone which We ought to
have done. But We can say, with perfect
truth that We nave not Intentionally done
wrong to any QUE nor have we sought to
wound the feelings of any one.
For the future We can only say that We
will use our best efforts to deserve the conf
depce Of our friends We shall try to make
our paper the vehicle Of sound neral ard po-
liticaI principles. we shall maintain man.
ly and independent position, trucking to no
partizan influences, and pandering to no per-
sonal preferences Weshall keep the pub
lie welfare steadily in view, and if we fall
into errors they will be errors Of the head
not of the heart