The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-28
VALLEY VIRGIN[AN,
Staunton, Virginia,
The Ideas Of 1876.

The Ideas Of 1875.
The country is fast becoming acquainted with
tile fact That ideas and fa.laces are TWO differ
ent parts of the intellecsts;tl realm. The peo-
ple sre seing educated s,lto the conviction that
mere visionary schemes, devoid OF sub
stnntia, ;,s;nciple, and calculated only to dis
t,,rb essential interest and unseetle Values arc
not adapted to u government so intimately as
sol lated with and springin.g from the popular
volition, and governing its practicaf relations
in life. They are coming to the conclusion that
there must be ideas corresponding with the ex-
pcriencc of nations, and SUSTAINED by the prsee-
Steal economy OF politics. as the base OF govern
aent, to give to it stability and inspire con-
titfeucc.
naleors ticaN craftsmanship, that was COM
ntcHslcd,t to the acceptance of. the people by
metaphysical refining and florid imagery,
worked eat its result in the organization OF ar
mites the conflict CT arms, the dcsoatiens of war,
,lp sombrc drapery of brokem families, and the
S,r:aaw of national emblemas. From the days
Of Madison, till 1860, the popular Intelligence
Was confused ard bain led in the whirl OF pas
sion aud the perversion Of thought incident to
the speciows theories that appealed to human
pride, and assumed a perfection OF popular in
street not in consonance with the actual intel
nect,,al progress and moral development OF the
constituent elements. Prejudices and hatreds
found cengenal soil and vigorous growth, where
sentiment was encouraged that had not as its
foundation, principle based upon philosophic-
al ideas, and harmonzing with the logical
teaching Of common sense. The suffering ana
deso,ation which have followed the adherence
20 Impractical theories by means of false teach
ohaye bpeught the people to understand that
there na,lse be something tangibly practical IN
government to be useful, and socially progress
i've.
1t is witt, no assumption of prophetic wis
dom, that we undertake to predict that the
next national contest will rest upon two prdc-
ticaz IDEAS, addressing themselves to the &C
ceptancc of the people because OF their direct
bearing upon material interests and intel
aectual progress, rs we'll as the development III
their full yigor of the true principles OF our sys-
tern OF government.
These two ideas consist in a currency based
upon established values, and popular educa-
tor.
The Republican, party, in every State in the
7Tn,on. where lit has incorporated its belief in
formal resolutions, has prominently presented
these two thoughts. The resolutions OF
the New York Democracy declare that the
A.public free school system OF the state OF NE"
York, which strengthens and illuminates our
republican form of government, mustah s'aii
fe preserved, unawed and untranlaeled oF
conditions, sect, creed, race or nationality
Prominent i'll the resolutions OF the hepao-
licans of Ohio, upon which they have 7''s1
emerged from a heated and cAasperated coll
rest with the laurels of victory, was sehtlhlen'
of similar strength and 'drectness i'll relation
to this important and vital question.
gbe President of the United States has re-
re,,f1y announced in sententious sentences, the
Same cardinal doctrine. and predicts that the
forces of intelligence AND PATRIOTISM on one
side, and ignorance, superstition and pre3"dice
on the other, will be marshalled against each
other to contest the control of the national gov
eminent and the destiny OF OR free ahseltu-
lions. The .earnestness and drectncss WIFI
which this declaration was made, OH the occa-
sion of the assembling OF the veterans he had
1ed to victory in the sanguinary engagements OF
slie war, oaly shows how deeply his sympaCflles
are wath the people, and illustrates the devo-
tion to the popular interests and the true IDEA
of our government, which has ever distinguish
cd his public career. No announcement ol Ills
life did his head and heart more credit than the
preonant uttera.ces at DesAlolnes. Ihey VIII
stand oft in HISTORY as the all-sufficient an
sver to Che calumnies of his enemies, Whlch
would gird him aroMnd with bayGnets, ana ell
circle his brow with the emblems OF despotic
authority. From his first official comm uilica-
ton to- the country, he has studiousiy aiWeo
to conform to the will Of Tie people, and re-
cogmizing that as the supreme authority IN our
system of government, he exhibits his earnest
socitude FOR the perpetuity of our institutions
by presenting as a primal consideration the ed
ucation. of the masses at the public schools, as
the sure palladiuM Of American liberty.
The Republican party will enter upon the
Presidential contest of 1876 with the two ideas
we have suggested, regulating and controlling
all others. They touch the sources OF our fIl-
ture growth and greatness as free rationale
ty based upon the virtue, honor and intelli-
gence of the people. No government can COM
Mand the respect of the civilized world, that
does not scrupulously protect its own credit
and obligations, nor can free Institutions eS-
ist where the constituent elements are nos est-
ucated to an appreciation and understanding
CT the principles upon which they rest
With these two thoughts, so blended with
the prosperity and progress of the people, and
with sincere sympathy for strugglir,s patriot
ism everywhere, that aims to model alt er oar
political system, the Republican party will still
retain the confidence of the nation, and again
be invested with the sacred dutyof guarding its
honor and its destiny.
An article in the Richmond, Virginia Patron,
which appears as seni-cditorial, but we think
was written in Augusta county, arraigns the
VIRGINIAN foran ''attack upon the Changers"
in connection with augusta politics." Moth
ing could be farther from the truth than the as
sertion contained in said article, as to this pa
per. We have said nothing about the organa-
cation of the Changers during this canvass