The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-12

have been just as guilty as if he had succeeded
in selling, and the penalty of the law, and thu
consequent moiety to the informer, could ir
in right and justice, have been imposed upor
him. 1t is not pleasant for gentleman to be
suspected Of a crime, and haunted from place
to place by a detective, when respectful inquiry
would leave the parties to pursue their legiti.
mate business free from molestation. 1t is nat.
ural that man intending no wrong, and con-
scious OF possessing proper authority, should
feel aggravated at this kind Of persecution, and
while it is unfortunate that temper should be ex-
hibited by any party to even a controverted
point, it must be remembered that sample
merchants are human beings as well as police
men, and cannot claim immunity from the
possibility of irritation and resentment under
such circumstances as are connected with the
case of Rahm.
1t has been stated, on the streets, we under
stand, that the senior editor of the VIRGINIAN,
had promised to retract the statements made in
the last issue of this paper in reference to this
case. It is proper to say that he made no such
promise. We did, of our own suggestion, say
that if we had done any of the parties injustice,
we should feel it due to ourself, to the paper,
| to such person and the community to volunta-
rily correct any wrong impression we had
made. If the facts in our possession, upon
which the criticisms were made and from which
the deductions were Crawn, had proved errone
Gus, then the necessity in our mind, would
have arisen and the duty presented itself for
us to do ourself the justice to modify what we
said in accordance with the corrected informa-
ton. But no such changed condition Of things
exists. The truth of everything said is fully
substantiated by the statements of respectable
and reliable gentlemen as published, and adj
ditional evidence is at hand to still further cor
roborate what they assert.
We will further state that we are not in the
habit of retracting, and certainly not when we
believe we are right. We seek to do no man
injustice, and will not, if we know it, do an
unjust act. Public men must remember that
they are public property-that their official
acts are proper subjects for public scrutiny and
criticism, and that no officer can Justly claim
immunity from this responsibility. AS jour-
nalist we claim the right, and shall exercise it,
of condemning what we believe to be wrong,
and shall not evade or shrink from any respon-
sibiIty that may attach to this privilege, let it
come in whatever shape it may.
MEETING OF THE ROANOKE ALUMNI A..
soCIATIoN.-A meeting Of the Reunion Alum
nj Association, of Roanoke College, was held in
this place on Tuesday evening last Rev. j.
I. Miller was called to the chair, and DR.. A.
r. Koipar nj of
Page, appointed, Secretaries.
Rev. L. A. Fox stated that the sickness ct
| his wife rendered it necessary for him to re-
turn home before the night meeting. This
made it necessary to postpone the discussion
to next year. 1t was then decided to have the
addresses on Tuesday night instead Of We'd
nesday night, as before announced.
| Prof J. D. Dreher presented, on behalf OF
the Alumni Committee, report favoring the
calling OF a general reunion at the college next
Commencement. The Valley Association en-
dorsed this action Of the Alumni, and appoint
ed committee of two-Rev j. I. Miller and
W. E. Craig, Esq, to cooperate with the
Central Committee, at Salem in arranging for
a general reunion, at the College in June, 1876.
aThe Association requested Rev. DIR. Bittle to
write series of articles OH the objects and ad-
vantages of the reunions, and publish the same
in the Roanoke Cozlegian. That paper was
heartily endorsed by the Association, and re-
commended to general patronage.
Winchester was selected as the place of the
next meeting, to be held on the 10th of Au-
gust, 1876. Orator elected, Rev. Il. c. Hol-
land, Of Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Question-''Is the popular system Of cdu
cation sound one?' Speakers-Rev. ]. I.
Miller and L. A. Fox, OF Augusta county DR..
j. H. Neff, of Harrisonburg, and Mr.. S. E.
Hatcher, of Loudoun county. Messrs. VIM.
II. Baker and j. E. Cooper, of Winchester,
were appointed a committee to make arrange
ments for the next meeting.
After several discussions and number Of
short speeches by various members, the Asso-
citation adjourned.
POCKET Book SToLEN.-Mr. A. S. Hook, re-
siding in the vicinity of Port Republic Rock