Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-03

elections, and as the ofice-holders have pos
session of the money-bags, this engine OF pow
er is in their hands.
Accounts from other parts of the State are
alarming In some counties candidates, pro-
Tossing to be Conservatives are advocating re-
pudation and kindred Radical principles
We regard these as wolves in sleeps clothing
They are seeking to sow the seeds OF dIssenslon
in the ranks of the Conservative party. They
should be discountenanced and set aside by the
people.
To ensure wise and satisfactory action by the
Convention, the people-the solid people-the
men of substauce-must attend the primary
meetings. and see that men of the right stamp
men who have substantial interest In the
county, are chosen as delegates to the Conven-
ton. The people have been too remiss in this
matter. They have too often stayed at home,
and let the whole matter be managed by set
of irresponsible tricksters about the villages
Men of this class attend because they have
some axe to grind-some private interest to
advance.
If the people choose to stand idly by, and
permit men who are unfit for the duties of leg
islation, or who 60 into the public service only
to gain promotion for themselves and their
friends, to be elected, they will find, when too
late, that they have committed an irreparable
blunder.
IF oppressive legislation is adopted-if the
public interests are betrayed-if the means OF
the State are squandered-if taxation is une
quail and oppressive, they have nobody to
blame, but themselves, for they will have
brought it all on themselves, by allowing,
through their own negligence and folly, incom-
petent or faithless men to be elected.
One of the best securities that the people
can have against improper legislation, is to Sc
lect representatives who will themselves suffer
by such legislation.
10 view of these weighty considerations, and
Of the many important issues at stake, we ear
ne8tly exhort our people, one and all to turn
out to man at the primary meetings to elect
delegates to the Convention. See that men of
substance are chosen-men who will faithfully
reflect your sentiments, and represent your In
terests.
You may earn few cents by staying at
home, but you may lose thousands of dollars
in increased taxation, and the dimunition Of
the value of your lands, occasioned thereby.
Most people do not properly estimate the
Importance of wise legislation in reference to
its bearing on the value Of their property
We need only refer to the abominable II per
cent law, as an evidence of this. When it was
passed. most people were disposed to say, [
have no interest in the subject do not want
to borrow any money-how then can it affect
me. But now that they see that it has in
duced every creditor to sue his debtor, or to
exact new bond, with higher rate Of inter-
est; now that they see that the value of lands
is depressed 333 per cent; that business is par
alyzed and that cry of distress comes up from
the whole country, they begin to perceive that
they did have an important interest in it. The
truth is no man stands alone in any communi-
ty. The interest of each Individual, is init
mately and inseparably interviewer with that OF
his neighbors. He cannot isolate himself if
he would, and II he attempts he will fail.
Let all good Conservatives then, come to the
rescue of Virginia, and make "a long pull a
| strong pull, and pull all together.