The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-01-23
ETlL.E TILE MATTER.


SETiLE THE MATTER,
We never have been aad are not now, dis
posed to criticise harshly the Legislature of
the State. We are aware that it is great deal
easier tor us to sit at our t,bie and indulge
III fault-foding aud point out defects than t
" MD b for us to stand in the place of leg
islator and so fashion cur course az to disarm
criticism. We awa,s feel inclined to assign
motives OF honesty and purpose to subserve
the true interest Of the people, to those en-
trusted with enacting laws for our govern
ment. More especially has this been the
case slnce the late war. Itleft the people of
Virginia IN deplorabe condition, with pr!-
vate and public 'ebss angling over them tru-
~ dlsheartening. L was difficult matter to
adjust disposition to pay with the ability to
pay. The FIRST We had, the latter we had
not But it seems that every step We have
taken has had the effect to plunge us deeper
into the rnire, aud n ure the road to relief
The difficulties commenced with the stay law
an they have been accumu,atiug. until we
End or last estate worse than the frst AL
most every erpeaieut We have tried has
failed. Now let us come square up to the
work-grapp!e with the facts. and meet the
issues of the hour with .uuine manhood and
traditional courage The debt of Virginia
has to be paid-our private obligations have
30 be met--if we wish to maintain our char
acter IS Firginians. Let this truth be taken
hold Of, aid dealt with as becomes the rep
reseptatiyes ola great State whose imperial
future demands a present struggle. The
more this question is coquetted With, the more
it will become complicated. With the p,r-
pose in the mind tina. we must NEE. our OBJ
agations, let each representative 20 earnestly
to work to bring about the censummation in
the best possible method. Subterfuges aud
expedients will do 60 good. Look the truth
squarey in the face, aad do thc best that can
be done under the circumstances. The pee
pie expect something definite. They are
weary cfsuspeasa. It is annoying If not de-
snoralizing. The members are on the theatre
where all tbs Ii owleage possible to be obtain
ed is at their commaaa Let them use it to
the best of their judgments, without fear,and
with sense of conscious right
In spite of tie unsettled and indefinite
character of the legislation for the past sev-
en- years, the State has prtspered. The re-
Operative energies of the people have over
come what looked like impossibiIities, It one
time. It only shows that difficulties vanish
as sc approach them with q firm will. And
We are steadily MISUNDERSTANDING our
eondiiio each day. We venture the prcdic-
ton that ten years hence, will find the taxa
bic resources of the State double what they
now are. As our public Improvements pro-
gress, new values will be developed-new
sources Of enterprise and prosperity unfold
themselves, and so cents in the 500 will pay
the reasonable expenses of the State govera-
meut aud the interest on the public debt
Courage, and an honest purpose 10 d. right.
will Danish the lowering clouds from our e.
nancia horizon, and bring firth the blight
and beamiog face of q New Virg;aia, without
blemish upon her fair name. or an act that
will bring the crimson blush OF shame upon
the cheeks of one Of her sons A brave
heart, erect head and stiff upper Lip, will
carry US through trlumphansiy. Courage,
then, and on to the fray.