Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-12-31
Stautttu1r Spettator.
Tuesday, December 81, 1872.
The Work Before US in 1873.


with its cares, Its joys and sorrows totters into
the irrecoverable past and, ere the fallen mon.
arch has breathed his last, the world will be
shouting "all hail" to the young and "happy
new year" as be proudly steps upon the va
cant throne, eager for the encounter with the
unseen, but not dreaded future. Such has ever
been the way Of life, and of man, since ethe
morning stars sang together" to the first glori.
Gus music Of the spheres, and especially is il
so In this electric age, when even time is toe
slow Tor its eager, over-reaching spirit, and
mans ambition is only limited by the minds
capacity to conceive.
On the past year we Of the South, especial
ly of Virginia, and orr loved Valley, can look
back with pride, upon duties nobly performed,
as ne enjoy the fruits Of that material prosper.
lty, and increased power for doing good, which
energy, push and Conscientious devotion to
the work of building up ones country. ALWAYS
pring. In every sense we are better for it and
better off, in spite of hostile legislation, the
orouth, heavy taxation, and political defeat
In Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, and
Arkansas, 1t is true, the demon dance Of
plunderers still goes on, over the PROSTATE laws
and rights OF the people, but time at length
sets all things even, and, hard as the present
is on our loved sisters, of the Sunny South, the
right will triumph in the end, and the evil
doors meet the elevated fate they Deserve
Patience, then, and shuttle the cards. 1t is a
long lane that has no turning, and, purified by
the fiery furnace of privation and suffering ::
ennobled by patience under affection, our people
will yet win in this new game for supremacy
and power.
Let US, then. look cheerfuly forward to the
WORK for the new year of 1873, and see that the
state suffers no detriment from our actions, but
that January, 1874 shall see her still higher
up the ladder of prosperity and Independence,
as she shouts. as Of old, to her sisters, "folow
mel There is work for all to do and upon our
Legislature rests mighty responsibility, and
woe be unto its members if they fail the Old
Mother now. in this her hour of trial. The
tate, the life, the very honor of Virginia is in
their hands and the people will be no longer
trlhed with. The Constitution must be, as
nearly as possible, restored to accordance With
virginia ideas and forms; expenses must be
heavily reduced the cumbrous court system
must be simpi6ed and curtailed the thousand
and one useless petty Offices abolished: educa-
slon attended to literally; better management
OF the Penltentiary inaugurated; new Asylum
Tor the insane, now In jails, built, and one for
the daily increasing numbers of drunkards, and,
last but not least the financial honor of the State
must be preserved, at ali hazards. IF there ia
not enough talent in the Legislature to settle
the question and frame new compromise with
the creditors, such as will secure them and give
the people time to meet their obligations, let
it be employed outside and let US be forever
done with the disgraceful makeshifs of the
past. To the plain Virginia mind the question
is simple; I'VE owe SO much and we have so
much to pay it with; our undeveloped resources
and natural increase in wealth and population,
will, in few years, enable US to pay al We owe.
Nov, you gentlemen that We owe, are as much
Interested 10 our future prosperity and ability
to pay as ne are. So, come and consult our
law makers and settle upon what is best to be
done, honorably, and so as not to kill, at once,
the goose that lays the golden eggs, and we will
do the rest" Without any tom foolery about
finance, funding bills &C., this is what the mass
of the people of Virginia think, and what they
Ei,l stand up to, if there is brains enough in
our Legislature and among our creditors, to
work out safe and simple way to do justice
to all parties. 1t is hard on ell, bat hardest on
ar-wrecked old Virginia, still, with proper eff
fort on our part to pay, and decent forbearance
on part of our creditors, it can be done and the
State saved. It is nc time for eloqnence and
talk. Business sense is what we want now to
put us right.
Coming home there is much before US, Of no
mean importance. Our county should lose no
time in carrying out the suggestions Of the ST.
pervisors, in regard to Matchmaking all of our
roads, and it should unite with Stauntcn in
publishing pamphlet, On the inducements We
can offer to the tide of immigration soon to
pour in upon US. Much can be done in this
way, and tbs expense would not be great
Staunton should have City Surveyor and at
once adopt general system Of grades, for the
whole city, and go to work upon well matured
plan for accommodating q population of 20, 600,
in the near future. The streets and houses
should be numbered streets in new additions
made wider and trees should be planted along
all but business streets A public Laundry Is
needed: a paper milf, more Touring mills, cotton
and woolen factories, &c., and all capital invest
ed ia manufactures exempted from taxation for
10 years. No time should be lost in increasing
the water supply and every preparation made
TO reap all the benefits possible from the early
completion Of the G. L 0. & V. r. Rs. Look
where you will over the richest County and
Valley on Cod green earth and there is work
and plenty for all His creatures. Gi7d up you
loins, then, anew for the struggle and strike,
with no uncertain blows, for the prosperity,
honor and wealth Of the Old Dominion, in the
coming 1873.
Leaving out mileage and pay Of employees,
the 10 day holiday frolic of the Va. Legisl.-
ture, lS6 members-only cost the State $14,-
SOB, to which add pay OF speakers of Senate
and House $40 per day each; $3.50, and you
have STATES. But, then, CUR selEsacrifcing
patriots had a jolly good time and We should
not grumble, iii: would have paid the interest
on near 100000 Of the State debt.
On Christmas morning, daring service in the
NeWberrV RapEist church af Wi[liomcnort Do