The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-01-28

est farmer VI the street. ''Why, YOU fantastic
gomoralt' exclaimed Burns, -s't WAS not the
great coat, the scone bonnet, and the sander
boot hose that spoke to, bat the man that wis
in tlfenr. and the man, sir, for true worth,
would weigh down you and me and ten smore
such, every day." No nobler sentiment ever
went forth from the pen or lips Of the peasant
poet. It was the utterance Of an honest heart,
prompted by that superior perception which is
enabled to penetrate the rough surroundings
and discover the true gam in all its original
purity. Such a sentiment, however, ifadyanc-
ed III this year OF our Lord eighteen hundred
and seventy-fiye, would be regarded as 1.-THE
defunet offspring Of an Anticipated supersti-
tlon" Appearance is the altar upon which the
(higher and nobler impulses of humanity are
sacrificed, and of this truth we see demonstra-
lions every day. The brainless Top, whose
carcass, -bedecked in broadcloth and pinch back
jewelry, stands sentinel at the street corner,
looks down with contempt on the honest farm
er OF laborer as he passes by, and would no
more think of extending to him the hand of
friendship, than he would OF addressing billet
! doux to the moon. But take the same laboref
and array him in the latest fashion, place a dia-
mond ring upon his finger, and give him the
staggering air of a professional gambler, and
these blasted heads in the sheaf Of humanity
will crowd around him like ravens around car
rion. There arc thousands OF foolssin this land
to-day who would exchange every principle OF
integrity for swallow tailed coat, barter their
birthright for a champagne cocktail, taken in
the presence OF a company of bloods. Nor is
this the case ofindyauals alone-the evil is
/ national. So called men of the world, i'll this
latter part OF the nineteenth century, are either
unable OF unwilling to look beyond the mere
surface, and in their voluntary blindness or in
excusable stupidity, fail to recognize any in
trinsc worth unless clothed in, what they re-
gard, as purple and fine linen. In other words,
they judge q mans actions by their immediate
surroundings alone, and do not care to examine
into the motives OF circumstances conducting to
such action, nor do they consider that the saale
end may be reached by different ways. If the
object of their criticism fails to pursue the iden-
teal path marked out by their superior jadg-
| ment, it is taken for granted that he has been
/ allured from the strait and narrow way by the
lode stone of cupidity, or the absence of a cour-
age sufficient to encounter the obstacles Which
may be personal---very. departure from the fash
ion OF their peculiar coat, must be the introduc-
ton Of despot's robe or a return to..the garb of
Il superannuated generation; a failure to con-
| form to the exact code to which they pretend
to hold themselves amsnable, stigmatizes the
unfortunate Independent as wanting in COM
mon sense OF a fit object of scorn and cal-
umny. Such thing as all honest difference of
opinion is too absurd to be entertained for q
moment, for have they not pointed out the only
means of attaining the desired end? Their fer
tile brains have travelled over the route long be-
fore the dawn of investigation revealed the
| treacherous qtagmire OF dangerous precipices,
| to be sure, but that matters not for they have
established guide posts along the line, upon
each OF whichis written "Public Opinion, and
il these are followed, any roug1ness or indirec
| ton will be regarded as unavoidable, and
when the goal is attained, if then the error is
| discovered, why, Of course, it was your placeto
have known these things, aud not to have de-
pcslcd upon Wllat other people assumed to be
right.
|, In this Gland Of the free and lfonYe of the
brave" there exists 4 tyranny as absolute and
despotic as that over which Robcspierre, DAN
ton and Murat presided in the dark days OF '93
Public Opinion is the monarch around whose
throne this sslear people" grovel and crouch;
in whose smile they bask with delight, and be-
Meath whose frown they trcmble with fear
His mandates arc sent forth, and woe betide
those who refuse to respect them. Ostracism
points at them the finger Of condemnation and
calumny wields the axe which must sever them
from social recognition. There exist no higher
trbunal-no court Of appeals; the law that has
sentenced them is fixed-immutable and adj
mits of no amendment. 1t makes no difference
how the man has arrived at his CONVICTIONS
Perhaps they are the resule of a calm, clear,
impartial examination OF the facts OF the case,
but so long as those convictions are at variance
with the opinions Of the self styled Sapientes,
they are regarded as the decisions of diseased
imagination and the rebellous schemes of
reckless reprobate. The exercise of that fac
ulty which marks the dividing line between hui
mainly and the brute creation, is denied him,
right and wrong are unknown quantities in the
problem given and their values are never ascer-
tanned. The answer is set down, and that he
must accept without cavl or demonstration.-
The man is ignored, all the good deeds Of his
life, are cancelled and lie is made to feel the
weight of the sceptre whose shadow rests upon
him. Is it q WONDER then, that so many have
voluntarily assumed the badge of submission
There are some, however, who rise above it,
Men who realize the worth of that verse of
Owen Meredith,
"Iet any man show the world that he feels,
Afraid Of it's bark, and tw II fly at his heels
Let him faarlessly face it, tw IL leave him alone,
But tw II fawn-at his feet if he filings it bone"
and to such men we must look for that true in
dependence wlich.is the corner stone Of Repub-
licanisn. Men who have the genius to devise,
and the courage to execute in the face OF Il per-
petual howl Men who judge the future by the
past, and whose determination when once fixed
and certain, presses forward, regardless Of fear,
favor or affection, until the end is reached in
triumph. These are the true men. History
teaches us that every great reform, either polt-
ical or religious, has been brought about by the
determined action of a few cool heads, and it's
as true to-day as when Alfred revolutionized
the whole system Of English laws, and lifted
MY