The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-12-02
The Cantennial.

The response now given TO Ghe pfopOsuOn OF
the Centennial celebration, from one extreme
of the country tothe other, shows an active AVA
kening CT popular fealty to the constitution and
the government of the Urited States Twelve
months ago the suggestion was met throughout
the South from the Conservative and Democrat
ic press With ridlcllle and denunciation, and the
idea of the Southern States participating in it,
was secuted as inconsistent with Southern
manhood and allegiance. The Richmond Dis
patch was particularly inimcal to the thought,
and when it made anlsion to the Centennial,
it was to throw around it a responsiveness that
was calculated torevolt the sellsbilities of the
Southern people. Even that Journal has ex-
perienced a change in the sentiment it enter
talns, and now earnestly desires to see it
succeed.n"3 9@ ''via 9f'a 81.
We are apprehensiye that it is not from any
growing reverence for the Constitution OF the
country, or the government that directs the
affairs Of this great nation, Which has in1luen
ced the utteranccs Of the leading democratic
papers South of the Potomac. It is found that
the hearts Of the people Of Virginia, at least,
respond to the patriotic suggestion to conf
nlenlorate the Declaration OF lf76, and that it
would be dangerous, as "a party policy, to at
tempt to interpose any obstacles tosthe recog-
nition of the occasion chat. crowns the Hun
dredth Anniversary of American Ildepen-'
deilce rhe great mass Of the people of this
Commonwealth are loyal at heart to the gov
ernlnent as it is. When left free to their own
reflections, and permitted to reason with
themselves, they recognize the facts OF history,
assent to the logic Of events, and accept the
legislation of the country as embracing the
principles of Republican institutions, which
should have free and unobstiucted operation.
1t is only when the malicious spirit III partizan
prejudice and sectional luminosity, has been
stirred up by designing demagegues, and the
passionsiof the people inflamed by appeals to
race issues and distinctions, that there has
been atty outgiying not in accord with the
plightea faith OF the peopleitto the determine
tions of 1865. Virginia to-day is Republican
State, If the voters of the Commonwealth
wonld honestly express their opinions at the
ballot box, and their impulses and sympathies
find vent, unembarrassed by the miserable po-
litcal time-servers, who seek to elevate
themselves to Office upon the excited feelings
and perverted Judgment of the people, whom
they succeed in deluding and misleading.
Surely the history of this country for the
past hundred years, is pregnant with causes to
arouse the patriotic fervor OF the people, and
stimulate them to q celebration such as the
world.l,as never witnessed. There never has
been such a system of political and religious
freedom devised and the experience of the
hundred wears which will close on the t4th OF
July nextis but arecord OF the triunlphs OF
civilization-t development OF mans intel
lections and the spread OF gospel truths, throf
the instrumentality of the free INSTITUTIONS
which reflect the principle upon winch our
government is founded. The trials through
which the country has, passed-the shocks
which our government has receiVed-haye but
served to strengthen the character OF our DO
litical system, and demonstrate to. the world
that man is capable Of self-goyernment.
I The prominent part enacted by Virginia in
the Inauguration OF this system, renders 1t Pc
cularly appropriate that she should participate
in the, Centennial Celebration in all the forms
that it is possible for her to observe. And 1T
is gratifying to realize that leven'the opponents
Of the ienlbittercd and malicious policy OF the
Conservative party of the State, are compelled
to recognize the propriety OF such particlpancY,
and yield their criminal prejudices7 to the
demands of the honest sentiment OF the people.
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