The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-20
The City Election.

A. citizen OF the city of Stannton, we feel |
rs deep a concern in the advancement of all its /
interests As any Que else can feel. Coming |
a,hons tl,is people nearly thirty years ago.
W len quite Il boy, we have been the recipient of
their kind indulgence and friendly counsel and
support ever since. Thsre is nothing that we
believed would promote the prosperity OF the
community, Jhat We wnultl not advocate
There is no sentiment that we have encoura-
sesl that we were not convinced, in our own
innd, would operate to their advantage. Diff
fering as we do with majority Of the citizens
vpon questions Of public policy affecting na-
rional affairs, we have never allowed this con-
sideration to influence its. evci, where it some
times might have been expected that we
should, in matters not directly connected with
national or State ISSUES. In our business and
social relations we never think of politics, but
endcavor TO confli.e our political Views closely
10 their legitimate channel, and never to in
iect them where they do not properly belong.
There Is no public or private enterprise con-
,ected with the growth and progress of Staun
ton and Augusta county, that has not found an
earnest and ardent advocate II rough these col
uinns. In all mere local matters we have cs-
ehrwed political bias. and devoted the paper
70 that line OF policy that we believed was for
p the good of all the people. We are mnch mis-
taken, if the citizelis generally will not bear
lis ont in this assertion.
q Stimulated and controlled by this spirit, we
have felt it to be our duty to sustain the pres
rnt city government, believing as we do that
there cannot be found within the limits of
Fl Staunton. the same number CT gentlemen bet.
ter qualified to administer the affairs of the
corporation; more deeply interested in eco
nomica government, or who would be more
seriously affected by bad government. In this
View, we are convinced that are sustained
Ivy thrce-fonrtlis of the substantial business
tnen and property owners ct this city. We
have no party Interest in the matter, for all
the officers Of the city government. except the
Mayor, are in direct antagonism to us in poll
tics. We know the gcntep.en, however,
With some of them we have grown up to man
hood. We have seen them struggling through
the environments OF poverty and adversely ,antl
'.v the force If industry, tact and application.
ov come the unproptin,ls surroundings of
the youth, until they have realized compe-
to ICY. This has been accomplished through
earne t effort and toll. and the public enter
prise tina: has marked their own lives, has at-
dsd to the wealth, and prosperity OF the city
lkewise.
1t is these gentlemen that few sorc-hcad
politicians, who care nothing for the su5stan-
tisl interest of the city, who arc centralized by
no consideration of public good, but animated
solely by a desire to subordinate every interest
of the city ia fine miserable. contemplate and
pestifcrons spirit of lurtizan bisotry, are seek
ing to tlecry and condemn.
=. Appealing to party preiuticcs, where party
has nothing to do, and exciting party feeling
by false appeals to passions, the pretlnminancc
sslf which must work incalcuable harm to tile
sjty. II has been determined by abous one
twelfth Of the voters of the corporation 20 hold
~ primary election, for the purpose of bringing
PARTY machinery to aid the instyators OF the
movement in gratifying their personal spites
and advancing them to public notice.
1t was in this interest that Col. J. II. Skim
men addressed abot,t two hundred of the citi-
Gems Of sstaunton OIL last Saturday, gotten to-
Ecther more from curiosity than from any
! sympathy with the purpose of the meeting
His speech was carefully prepared for partizan
effect, but with no reference to the gos,d OF the
city. lie arrafgned the city government, not
because it's members were not in sympathy
with the Conservative party. but because they
would not allow themselves to be controlled
ny few oes,b-stone politicians. With the cx-
Asption Of rf,. Mayor fhey are all conservatives
--I,ot only identified with what is called
the Conservative party in all national and
State elections. but Conservatives in the prop
CT acceptance OF the term. We will not crit-
cize the remarks of Col. Skinner az they de-
serve and as 1t might be expected. from par
tizan stand point, We Giod,ld. There was not,
however, one suggestion that fell from him
that had reference to any Improvement in the
administration of the city government. 1t was
party" ''pafy" all the time-the appeal that
has almost ruined tile State-that has robbed
the poor children of the Commonwealth of the
means of education, squandercd the llans earn
ings OF tho people, ard destroyed public credit.
And how does Col. SINNERS record, rs eiti-
= zen, compare will, the gentlemen, whom he so
'i,ijHstly and uiwisely assautcd? What pub
: lie enterprise has he ever engaged in that the
neoplc were benefited by? lilo has been Il
resident of Staunton for twenty-five years.
H. inherited a fortune. Look around and see
where his means have been l,setl to give en-
ploymcnt to labor, and add to the growth and
prosperity Of the city. Compare his conEec
ton with the public inter SITS OF Staunton, with
that Of Robt. G. Bickle, Jno. b. Evans. Benz
+. Dagby, Isaac Witt, Jno. W. Abby. NJ. Z.
funkouser. and others. whom it was his pleas.
ure to enveigii against. and seek to excite a
prejudice against. it they would not submit
themselves to his dictaton and that of the
originatorS OF this harmful movement. Mr.,
Skinner has his bonds, and he draws the inter
cat thereon. sitting quietly in his easy rese,.cc.
lie tolls not neither does he spin, and vet SOL 4
ons"u in all lis gsry xss scarcely more con
f"rtably surrounded. lie never created wealth
for the city like the gentleisen we have named
haze done. He has ncycr taken any interest
In any public enterprises whose operation en-
couragcd the t0ilers of society. He has never
turned his hand to aid in that bet,efaetion to
the city the Public Free Schools. We doubt.