The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-11-16

convention mon, came to the rescue, elected
the nominees by an over xhelmning majority,
and saved these gentlemen the painful neces-
sity of arraigning US before the bar of the
Conservative party as political culprit. If
our course, thus frankly and openly pursued
before the Convention was "repreAensiJze, /"
then the conduct Of the Spectator, oJie, the
Convention, and before the election, was erc-
cradle
With that Partially for "riding both sides
of the sapling" so native to the Spectator,
tor fear OF losing some of its dread and but
ter,' 1T tries to curry favor with the friends
OF the regular nominees as we'll as the indie
pendent candidates. We assume that there
can be no possible excuse for the action Of
the independent candidates. While VIC resncct
in their personal and private character.
Messrs Shelton and Harnsberser, as much as
we do any two gentlemen in the State of Vir.
glnia, we consider that they committed a
grave error in permitting their names to be
used to weaken the regular nominees. after
they had participated in the primary meetings
and the nominating Convention. It is no
part OF the duty of a Conservative journal to
susar-coat any such action. The SPECTATOR
may hope by this course, to concliate the ia
n
vor OF the friends of all the Candidates. It
may succeed, but if it does, we will confess
to the absence with us of all KNOWLEDGE Of
human nature, and especially of the people
Of Augusta county
We could not, however, expect anything bet
ter from that journal. lndeoision and timidity
are the ruling elements ofits policy 1t exhib-
tied ltsclfin its true character in the last con-
test IN the county over the subscription for the
Y, Is. Il, Not one line did it write favorino
affirmative action by the county on that
question, although at that time it was gener.
ally believed the denial of subscription would
seal the fate Of that great enterprise for wears
to come. The measure was known to be un.
popular, and for fear Of exciting the disfavor
OF some of its patrons, it maintained logged
silence, not vensuring to aid through its col
umns, an improvement, which is destined to
add millions to the wealth of the county, and
especially prove beneficial to this city. after
however, the necessary amount had been sub
scrlbed, BY other counties and private indi-
yiduals, it takes occasion to declare its exsta-
cy, and employ its columns to herald the
event as great good to our people /!
We have never seen the time or the
occasion, when We would suppress our
honest belief affecting any public question
tor fear OF coming in conflict with the cur
rent of popular prejudice. There is some
thing in human nature, which responds to
eaudor and directness, whether the sentiment
advanced is acceptable or not. No journalist
can please every one, yet it is his duty to dis
cuss freely all measures and enterprises, which
bear upon the interest of community, the
County and State. An honest constituency
will approve the spirit which moves to action,
although they may condemn the policy which
is the legitimate sequence.
2he spectator may balance on its stills for
a While, Ind hatter itself that it can palm of
on the people stupidity for dignity, but it
will fnd in the end that its props will be
knocked from under it, and mother earth will
receive, ali spread out, about IT'S pounds
ayoirdupois, OF human flesh.