Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-07
COMMUNICATED
Experience i'm Politics.

That there has never been period 10 the
history of the country at large, and of Virginia
in particular, when the public veal more i'm,
peratively demanded the best efforts of the bes,
people, is proposition which 20 we'll Informed
man will have the hardhood to deny. The
only practical question is who are the best PEG.
pie to make the laws and to administer them;
to guide and direct private and general inter.
ests; the commonwealth aud the county, at a
as little hesitation 10 the assertion that erperl.
encc in politics is the prime necessity of the
period, especially for Virginia and her long
States Of the South. 10 the old Furnishing
ante belIum days the Southern country made a
point Of sending to Congress and to the Legis-
!ature the best men from all professions, and of
keeping them there as long as they continued to
subserVe the general interests better than others,
however willing those others might be to save
the State by thrustlng themselves, all inexpe.
rlenced, into public affairs There was then
seldom seen the supreme folly of electng a
man to the legislative body and then turning
him out as be was becoming familiar with par
amentary rules and practice, aud taking his
just rank and lufuence among his fellow legis-
lators and governors, thereby making himself
OF the utmost use to his constituents, aud rem
derlng his services to them almost Invaluable
But pow at the time when the States of the
South most need the utmost efforts of their
most experienced w-makers the wretched
practice Is seen to prevail of changing their
delegates to the State aud National Legislature
about as often as an election superveDes. We
trust that Virginia will set the example of
speedily reversing this perpicous system.
What sensible man, other than partisan, can
doubt tor moment that, at the next session
OF Congress, the representative from this dis
trlct modest as gallant though be be, will have
intellectually more weight in that body than if
he were taking bis seat for the first time, and
that luis services will be more valuable to his
people and to his country than could possibly
have been those of bis competitor before the
convention, bad he been chosen and elected,
or those OF the other candidate, the late enter.
prisiog commander of irregular horse. So we
risk nothing 10 predicting that our neiphbors
of Prince William will find it to their interest
to have secured in the legislature the ripe ex-
perlence and trained ability of Judge Sinclair.
Nor will our old town and the whole Senatorial
district be less fortunate 10 MIR. Claughton,
whose great business requirements and discip-
lined legal mind will, as is always the case, at
once challenge and obtain respect and position
Not whit less in politics than in other profes.
sions does experience tell. The wooder is hat
the people don't always think 80. 1t is sub
iect of just congratulation to the Conservative
people OF Virginia that their State nominations
this fall have been so good. All We have to
say is, elect your men, and while they continue
faithful and vigant coD6de 10 their disciplined
effort rather than in all the aspirations of raw
inexperieuce. There is hope too for Virginia
when we see seated in Congress such men as
Hunton aud Goode, Tucker and Douglass. 1t
looks like return to the oldeu times when the
could safely repose 10 the ability
of her sons. r.