The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-11-13
The Wing says. that the people Of Virgin

...............Noy. F:g, 1873
The Wing says that the people Of Virgin
= have exercised "petienee under oppression. .
Val 10 no nc een withhold his admiration
FROM tae, people Of Virginia for the foftitude |
with which they lave borne misfortune, Incl
dent to the warsand unwise State legislation,
we are unable to see where they have been |
oppyessed,' other than by ths internal cir
eumstanees resulting from private and public
earelessness. From the very day Of the sur
,eudar there has been kindly disposition
manifested by the Federal government to-
wards the peoplcof Virginia, undergraduates
this been the case during the entire admins
trstien Of Gen. Grant. Previous to tbs war
theme was larger Individual and State incebt-
edness in Virginia than any other State In
tho Union. We we're rich in professional
politicians, and poor in practical statesman
ship. With natural resources unsurpassed 10
the broad limits of the Union, material de-
vslepmen. was. something that did not en-
cage the attention of our public men. It
Was simply an fucessant scramblo after office
and consemptibIe system Of petty log-rol'
ling for neighhos hood improvements, to the
e1sksinn, Of any comprehensive idea Of pub
lie good. In this way the substance Of the
people was frittezed away, and huge pub
lie debt incurred The lessea incident to
the war. Of course, added to this unfavcrable
condition Of affairs, and the Legislation, and
the spirit running through ii, since then,
nave only thickened our environments, until
to-day there is not State N the Union
which has to face heavier public and private
monastery obligations. Our public debt is
annually increasing at the rate OF one mil
Hon Of dollars, unpaid interests, while the
vseple are deluded and deceived with the
nominal tax on realty Of SO cents in the 500.
The Conservative party dared not face the
people With the true condition of things
Instead of levyiag tax sufficient to pay the
interest on the debt, meet current expenses,
build up the public schools, and create
sinking fund, they allowed the interest to go
unpaid, the schools to lauguish in sickly,
diving condition, end the Treasury to be ex-
haassed. in order to blind the people to e
true understanding Of their condition, and
thercby accomplish party benefit The
politicians in the last canvass trlu'nphnnsiy
roisatad to sya heavy rate at taxation in 9th
Or States, and the SO cents in the Sl00 in
Virginia, to show how wisely the ConserFa
tive pa.ty had managed public aHairs. They
did not alludc, however, to the unpaid inter,
,ess, the increasing public debt tae waste Of
,he Stata's assets, the disgracefui condition Of
orr publis schools, our unaeveloped resources
Ali thesa things were driven from public
contemplation ard study, by the den,agcguo's
cry Of ''uegso supremacy" the white mans
party, sealaxag and carpet Dagger, and Che
people we've impossible enough to allow the
deception
Tha election is ever We cannot now be
charged with party 6nesss CT selfish purposes
in bringing This laulcutable state of things
to popular attention; and asking that it be
considered free from passion and prejudice.
The Conservative party will be compelled to
NEST the situation. There is no evasion Of
it. The taxes of the people will have to be
doubled. This cannot be avoided. The in
4srest CD the public debt will have to be paid
or our obligations repudisted The schools
sxill bsvs to be supported or suppressed We
ssy these things will have to be faced and
disposed of. and there ia no other way under
the heavens to do it, but to either pay or re-
pudiass.
While the spirit manifested during the
soot.st just closed. is we'll calculated to de
stroy all kindly feeling for Virginia on the
part Of the government and the people OF
she country, yet we are disposed 20 let it be
buried with the dead paat-to forget the mis-
representations and ISLANDERS and denuDcia-
Aisns that have bean directed against thoae
who honestly opposed this fatal policy and
do al ne c2n to help build up the State and
relieve The people. Born and raised on Vir-
ginia's soil, with every pulaation CT our heart
10 earnest and rdentsympathy With her des-
ainy--re.oiciag ID her prosperity, and mourn
ing with her adversely. wo would be untrue
70 the highest emotions Of our nature, did
xs not lend our aid in determined and
strong effort to lift her from the pitiable CON
aition into which she has been forced. We
care not of what party or what faction they
may BE-, we will sincerely stand shoulder to
shoulder with the men who will come upon
she theatre of public affairs. with mind and
heart fully enlisted in Virginia's welfare,
and genius and patriotism sufficient tn devise
policy that will redeem aud di'enthrall ths
old Mother of US all from the deep distress
chat presses upon her bosom. In this grand
purpose we shall know no party, shall forget
personal wrongs, Misrepresentation and s'an-
dsrs, and anxiousy and earnestly, and fear
lessly march forward in the path that leads
e. her future prosperity and dignity among