The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-11-27
For the Valley vlrginian.
IS i Regain 20 Think,


Itoccurred TO me how much better it would be
if we had less 60 stump speaking in our political
canvas, and more reading and thinhiag. For
instance, ifshs money that has been expended by
both political parties in Augusta county. and the
Valley, for political speakers, rent of halls, fuel
and lights had been given to anintelligent press,
Tor printing and circulating political arguments,
statistics, free school improvements, and other
questions of interest to the people, e. it would
have accomplished more good, and would have
furnished more reliable information than from
public discussion from rival candidates, and saw
ed great deal Of bit er viitying, and question
able assertions, and ill feeling of neighbors
against neighbors. Then again, it would be
source OF revenue to support the press. There
few States in the Union where the press is SO
poorly paid, and so ii,ile appreciated as in Vir
ginia; what little public patronage there is, it is
given to The Richmond publishers. An work
and no play makes jack duh boy y all work
and no pay makes the editors and printers OF
the country towns. O slav1sh, dull. and proitess
business. There Is no labor SO tiresome, and no
art SO deserving OF liberal patronage as pub
fishing a newspaper in country town; it IS a
tax on the muscle and brain every hour and every
day in the year, 6 Sunday not. excepted.
The country press and free schools are exclu-
sis ely the pl operty of The masses: the two lev
ers, and the ouly levers that CAN or viii elevate
State or country, to wealth, happiness, and re
spectability, and the sooner the peopleapprecate
this fact, and give each 9 liberal and united sup
port, the sooner prosperity and contentment, will
abound.
1t would be far better if the country press
would entirely omit copying the bitter, mali
cious. FALSE and reckless editorials from the lead
ing venom and trash, give the public wholesome
,rut agricultural and mechanical instruction
and interest ting and spicy literature, Incidents
and anecdotes. Better issue blank, pure white
sheets, than feed the public mind with political
depravity and sectional hate. There should be
81. long pull a strong pull, and pull atogeth
err" on the part Of the country press, conservative
| and republican, to educate the people raise
| them above party iptrigues, and from the infu-
ence Of party leaders who have but one idea, one
| rule of action and that is, ''rule or'ruin;" an
ambition that would 'ireg n in hell, rather than
be servant in heaven and as destitute of politi
cal integrity as q Modoe is Of. civilization.
STATE OFFICES TO BE FILLED BY THE
LEGISLATURE The following is a list Of the
principal offices to be filled By the General
| Assembly which convenes on the lst OF jan
uary next:
Secretary of the Commonwealth-Salarv
$1,000; Auditor of Public Accounts, So ,000
Second Auditor, $1,000; Treasurer, SO 900
/ Superintendent of Public Instruction $1,000
Superintendent Of Public Printing 81 500
| Superintendent of Public Buildings, ST.
| 900.
In this connection statement Of the number
of clerks employed in each department vii
be read with interest;
In the Ececutiue Departmental Assistant
clerk, 81 500; copying clerk, $1,000; super.
| intendent weights and measures, $500 aid
de-camp to the Governor, $1,000
| In Office Of Au1itor Of Pubic accounts
CLERK of accounts, So 900; two FIRST clerks
each 81 500 ; two second clerks, each 1900
three third clerks each $1,000; two fourth
! clerks, each 81 600.
In Office Of Second .anditor, First clerk
$1,000; secoud clerk, $1,000 /; third clerks
each, 81 200
/ r. lreasmer's o6ice.-First clerk, 81 ,6O(
second clerk, 81 800; third clerk, $1,000
Each branch of the General Assembly elect
sergeant-at-arms, clerk, aud door-kcepers
Candidates fer some Of the principal office
and for nearly all of the subordinate place
are already numerous aud active. The hea'
of each department appoints his own CLERKS
The present capitol officers are all popula
and efficient, but this does not prevent othe
worthy people from pressing their claim
and desiring to supplant them.-Dlspafclt.