National Republican., 1873-09-26
FROM WINCHESTER.
Hard Times and Empty Pocket-beoks-Thc
Tax man and tho Conservative Doctors-
Where Greeley Got His vote-InJusiice OF
Conservative Management.

Hard Times Rnd Empty Pocket-beoks-The
Tax man and tho Conservative Dectors-
Where Greeley Got His vote-InJus'ice Of
Conservative Management.
[From an occasional correspondent
wIscHEsrxR, Va, Sept -, 1879.
After the gaictes Of summer our town Is
rapidly returning to Its usual quiet. The
numerous strangers who have been sojourn-
ing here during the summer months arc daily
departing for their city homes. Many warm
friendships and social ties have been formed,
the sundering Of which, along with the times
generally being so out OF joint, produce
rather sombre thoughts and feelings. The
dislocation of the times took place years ago,
and although we have supcrabundancc Of
political physicians, no relief has yet been af-
forded old Virginia. Instead Of putting us
on the mend, the treatment has increased the
malady. The principal complaint Is the
scarcity Of money; there seems to be def
cheney Of the circulating medium, and "grccn-
backs" once quite plentiful, arc now so
scarce that only privileged few can obtain
GLIMPSE OF A ''v" on AN "x,"
to say nothing of being so fortunate as TO
possess one. Il Is so long since have seen a
genuine note have almost forgotten the ap-
pearance Of one. A friend Of mine has one
and has promised to show II to me. l have
several counterfeit bills which prize as
highly as one docs the photograph OF q long
departed friend. l take pleasure In regard
ing these reflections OF those soft and dlmsy
objects with which my pockctbook was once
so familiar. How gratifying II was to read
| the glorious promise so beautifully recorded
thereon, that II the bearer would come unto
| the President he should receive five, ten or
twenty dollars, as the case might be. Now,
alas my pocketbook has been so long with
/ out Its natural food that IL looks like beg
gar In famine, so lank and wrinklcd docs II
appear. Il has not been opened since last
| June, when | made the last search In hopes
of discovering some stray and forgotten bill
| In Its empty rcccsses. Frnitlcss search. All
| the pockets had previously been Invested Of
their contents by the incxorablc tax gatherer.
Seriously, Mr.. Editor, the tax man and the
aforementioned Conservative doctors (whose
creature and agent he is) arc alone RESPONSE
| bic for the depleted condition Of my pocket
book. Ever since the advent of the Con-
servativc party 10 power In this State there
has been continuously increasing wall about
the hard times and doubts expressed as to the
rccuperation OF the State. In fact, we arc
confident Of nothing save tho periodic visits
of the tax man. We would guarantee each
and every one Of them grand funeral II Il
i would be any induccment for them to die.
| lie always comes with such bland smirk 10
sec II you ''can fix them little taxes to-day, \
and he grccts your Unsurpassed sighs aud
open groans at seeing your hard.carncd dol.
lars vanish into the capaclous folds Of that
ravenous wallet with congratulation that
you do not live somewhere selsc-Wcst Nir.
sinia, for instance, where he says the taxes
are SO much higher, &c.
WHY ARE SOME MEN so GIVEN ro..LYIS0?
Now, that Is just where we want to bc-in
West Virginia. There the taxes arc much
lower, and arc expended In public enterprises
which rebound TO the material wealth of the
State, instead Of, like here, in paying an In.
dolent and inefficient Legislature, whose only
notable efforts have been TO crush out the
energy of the State and destroy her public
credit.
In truth, we arc In most uncomfortable
position. The Conservative party rely on
the Valley counties to carry the State. Not
withstanding the large majoritics given for
Greeley In the last campaign by the Valley,
the State was carried by General Grant by
beaten $50 votes plus the Valleys majOri-
tics for Greeley, viz: 3, l27. In other words,
the Republicans carried Eastern Virginia by
l0,007 votes. These figures show where
Conservatism would be were II not for the
Shenandoah valley. Again: we pay most OF
the taxes; our lands are assessed much
higher than In other parts Of the Statc-fre-
I
cash value. A heavy school tax Is annually
collected, and only small proportion ex-
pended here; because of the poverty Of some
| Of the tide-water counties, we are deprived
of schools for a portion Of the year for their
benefit our'money, so much needed for edu-
cational purposes ut home, sent to a distant
portion Of the State. Again; the cost Of ad-
minlstering criminal Justice Is very slight
with us, whilst In many
| COUNTIrs RAsT OF THE uI he RIDur
1t is enormous. Instead Of letting each
county pay its own We arc compelled to bear
q portion of their expenses. Now, as have
shown, we are expected to do al the voting,
pay most OF the taxes, mot one dollar OF
which is expended west OF the Rldge,) and
yet have only one third representation in the
State government. We are not represented
In the legislative, and VIC are not proud Of
that.
The Valley is utterly dlsgusted with Con-
scrvatism, or more properly standstillism,
and is ripe for q change. The Conservative
canvassers awaken no enthusiasm whatever;
the party offers no future to the State. They
merely say, II you don't vote for us tho
negroes will rule and ruin you, forgetting
their oft.repcatcd advice to them TO abandon
the Republican party because they would
never be allowed any control or offices.
They merely offer to keep us where we arc,
In our present Impoverished condition. All
that is necessary to Insure the election OF
Col. II, W.. Hughes Is to cncrgetically can.
vass the Valley, and expose III, speclous
promises and supercilious demagoguery OF
the late political leaders. Unfortunately
there are officials here who should take an
interest In the success OF the Republican
ticket, but whether from taste or Incidence,
or both, never attend any meetings nor assist
in organizing. We have been enduring and
I nat tatntf fTr lima nI l..
hopes that 1t will achieve Its perfect work
next November In the election Of the Re-
publican ticket. N.
LET THE EUPHoSIous ousRHEToRICIAs Of the
Richmond Enquirer now hang his head In
shame. He has been outdone even In the
especial province OF Journalism wherein he
has attained such deserved prominence. To
speak palmer, our morning contemporary,
when 1t cxerts itself In the line of allegory,
can double discount the Enquirer writer.
For instance, in alluding to the letter which
old man Wise Is said to have written to Gen.
Kemper 1t relieves itself as follows;
"And Mr.. wlse's reply would be even more
Interesting. II should by all means be given 10
the public. Everybody would be delighted to
hear how this virginia Jupiter from the summit
OF Olympus would talk to an inferior deity ap-
pealing for aid In the midst OF his distress.
Would he hurl down pillless thunderbots In re-
sponse on the devoted heads OF Gen. Kempers
opponents, and especially immediate the negro
race Or would he bestow the power OF en-
chantment, enabling the General TO seduce the
negroes to his loving embrace ?"
THE recent discovery OF a human skeleton In
San Francisco underneath layer OF shells seye-
raj feet thick Is causing quite sensation among
the scientists Of that city. II was found In one
OF the Indian mounds which are met with along