The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-11-27
Fol- the Valley Virginian.

Reader, if you are a farmer, You know soms-
thing about the nature Of sheep. How harmless
and docile, and how completely whole flock ID
controlled by the caprices Of two or three lead
ers No matter if the stone wall is four or FIVE
feet high that divides one field or one farm from
enother, let one scale the wall, and before the
animal is fairly over another is by its side, then
another, and whew before you can say Jack
Robinson the whole flock has exchanged pas
lures.
The world is full of human beings, who pa 4.
current as men, who are led about, day after
day, year after year, and generation after gen
GRAFTON by o few leaders, with no more definite
idea why they suffer themselves to be thus led
than the flock of sheep above described.
They are democrats, conservatives, wings, re-
publicans, because their fathers, grand fathers,
relatives, and acknowledged leaders belonged to
their party. Naked they came int the world
and as naked they passed out OF the world, with
out making the. least effort to be 6 clothed in
their right mind" It is low estimate to say
that nine-tentbs Of the bawling, noisy. swearing.
aad misunderstanding politicians belong to this
class OF ''brilliant" intelects. Why they advo-
cate banks or denounce banks, protection or free
trade, Federal supremacy OR State rights, are
questions that never received second thought,
or moments investigation They advocate and
oppose because they have been a brought up y to
believe SO and so, and in this way gross errors,
and false theories are nursed, Rugged, and pro-
uulgated, when little investigation, little
study devoted to political economy, together with
desire to be Influenced by right, justice and
good sense would eradicats error, establish truth,
- and tbs truth would set them FREE
Probably the world never contained, ct least
its history cannot point to more sincere, more
patriotic, more brilliant iellect, more exalted
statesman, than HENRY CLAY. Now that he has
passed away, there is not man Of any political
standing. of any self respect. that would dare,
at this time, to call into question the integrity
and craftsmanship of that great champion of
American protection aud industry, Truth and
impartial history hassforever silenced the croak
ings of lying and villianous politicians; yet.
while q candidate for the Presidency in 1874,
thousands and tens Of thousands opposed and
voted against him from sincere belief that he
was not only politically false and unreliable but
an unmitigated scoundrel and q murderer. Now
not one cut of q thousand that opposed Mr.. Clay,
ever investigated tiled to be placed on the
side of truth aadjusice, but on the contrary pin
ned their faith, and cast their votes as dictated
by a set Of the most corrupt, ignorant and de
based politicians that ever cursed this or any !.
other country.
Hence, we say, 6. BE MAN !'' Have a MIND
Of your own because your father or your grand
father thought go and so; or your neighbor
thinks 50 and SO, or that stump speaker argues SO
andso, and bitter and ,senseless partisan press
says so and SO, don't accept it as law, truth and
GOSPEL, when proper investigation, and practical
common sense called into action, would assist
ycu to act the part Of on intelligent man, and an
intelligent voter, intelligent and useful citizen.
DAVID CROCHET, JR.