The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-12
: Where the Fault Lies.

Where the Fault Lies.
The sympathy manifested by the Conserva-
tive Farty Of Virginia in the vewsexpressed by
Gov. Allen, of Ohio, in favor of an imitation of
the currency Of the country, Is the result OF
partizan indenitty rather then Of mature re-
Election. We do not believe that majority of
even the Conservative party Of Virginia honest
~ entertain such reckless notions Of public pol
icy as those expressed by Gov. Allen. We are
convinced that all who will give the question
of the currency deliberate thought will con-
clule that it is not the abundance of irredcem-
able money that secures permanent prosperity.
but the solid basis of the circulating medium
that imparts value to labor, and establishes a
safe ard reliable medium of exchange. Were
the government to initiate the currency to ten
times its present eNtravagant volume, we can
not see how the people of Virginia could COM
mand more Of it than they now have When
ever they have anything to sell, they generally
find plenty of cash purchasers to take it off
their hands, and such would be the case if they
raised twenty times what they now produce
What makes money scarce in Virginia is the i'm
substance of the little active labor we have,
and this condition of things is mainly attribu-
table to to the reckless partzan spirit and leg
isation Of the Conservative party. The history
t.f t!sat organization has been direct antago-
nism to the material growth of the State. It's
leaders have preached the race issue. have sound
cd the .nigger'' question to such an extent,
that respectable capitalists have become dis
gusted with people who seek as a means of
party success, to brand their fellowmen whose
convictions lead them to differ with them, as a
negro party, and unfit for association with gem
tlemen, and do not care to entrust those
means i'll q community where such spirit is
manifested. The legislation of the State, too,
in respect to the obligations of Virginia, Las
been of such character as to arouse the suspi-
cion Of outside parties as to the honorable pur-
pose of the Commonwealth towards its crcdi-
tors, and they reasonably conclude if the peo-
pie are prepared to tamper with and impair
their public obligations. private obligations
would rest upon a very fiimsy basis.
f. Where such a condition of things exists, cap.
it. and enterprise will not locate. There are
other Inviting fields for investments where
these bad influences do not exist, and instead
OF directing their attention to Virginia, they
pass her by and go to other sections ofthe Union
where they can enjoy their political opinions
without being villifi ed, and their capital will
rot be subject to the vicissitudes that naturally
follow such policy as the Conservative party
has adopted and carried out.
II money is scarce i'll Virginia, the Conserv-
alive party is to blame for it. Nature has Law
ishly dealt with us. We have everything, when
deycloped, which contributes to the wealth and
growth of a people. We have unbounded
mineral deposits, illimitable water-power, a
genial climate and prolific soil, adapted to all
the standard products of the country, aud with
such resources. it mnst be in the policy of the
party that rules in the State, the legislation
that controls it, that the evil lies. And we
may safely assume, that as it has been in the
i past, will it be in the future. We cannot ex-
pcct prosperity until the contracted spirit that
controls the Conservative :arty is bfoken-the
spirit of national determination and homogenei-
tvsubstituted FOR the narrow spites and partizal
hates that make up the political code OF those
in State authority. We must enter into the
spirit of the age-cultivate liberal views. po
lticaly socially and religiously, and cultivate
such condition of public sentiment, that every
man, let him come from where he may, who
desires to cast his fortunes with lis, will be at
perfect liberty, without the restraints OF local
and sectional prejudices, to worship under his
own vine and fg-trce. So he tills the soil,
opens the mines, or utllizes the water, and
oives us the benefit of his brain, his muscle and
means, it is all that we should consider. When
this is known to be the feeling that prevails,
we may reasonably look for the era of
progress and plenty to dawn upon us, and not
until then.
We should remember, too, that Virginia is
bat small. part OF this great country-that her
people do not rule the nation-and that to par
ficipate in the benefits of national growth and
wealth, we must lberalze our own minds,
and allow others to have the same freedom
Of opinion and conviction tina we claim for our
selves, and respect them in the exercise OF it,
When this is done, one great obstacle to the
Zines ot plenty will be removed and the start
ing point gained for an indefinite advancement
in al that contributes to the progress and hap
piness Of people.