The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-08
The Lesson Of Richmond.

strates that the principles Of the Republican
party and its recognized administration, are
not inconsistent with the peace and prosper
ity of the entire country. In fact they are
only illustrating their normal vigor and
a1aptibility to the wants of the nation, and
that with sectional animosities allayed and
race passions in obeyance, the popular
heart will respond to the living ideas and
principles of the party of which the admin
istration is the representative.
This spirit of Cancellation, however, so
sigrally displayed by the President, should
not be construed by the South nor the DEM
ocratic party, as ali abandonment of the
cannonized tcnets of Republican faith
nor should the impotence of ambition or
the stimulant of official lust lead the politi-
cal opponents of the President into insane
and selfish demands upon his generosity.
It should be remembered that the President
is Republican, fixed in the faith Of the
party Of his identity, that he is the accepted
| representative of that party, and that his
administration must harmonic with The in
terests as we'll as the principles Of his party,
at the same time it recognizes the duty to
so adjust national policy as to inspire the
respect and confidence of all classes of citi-
| zens, whether of the North or South. 1t
does not contravene Republican principles
to do justice to every portion of the Union,
nor is it in conflict with the mission Of that
party to cultivate fraternal spirit between
the sections, amercanize popular sentiment
and feeling and inspire devotion to our
common government. Should the Demo.
cratic party not presume upon the catholic
spirit which has been infused into the adj
ministration, and interpret it as conces-
sion impairing the political identity of the
President, and by means OF this delusion be-
come iEsolent and aggressive, much good
may result in harmonizing the sections, dis.
siEating partizan bitterness and instituting
an era of peace and prosperity never before
realized. If they simply accept the over
lures made as means OF augmenting and
crystalizing party strength, with view to
its final use in antagonizing the Presidents
own party, g blunder will have been com
mitted, and the good anticipated and de-
signed will never be realized.
What the people want is good government,
whether administered by Republican OF
Democrat, and when this may be secured by
either party, then the time will have arrived
when differences Of opinion can be tolerated
without motives being questioned.
The recent demonstration in Richmond
the cordial reception extended to the Presi
dent and members of his Cabinet, and the
catholic sentiment and feeling which marx
the public utterances OF these distinguished
Republicans, show that really there is moi
much difference between Republicans and
Democrats as to the paramount ends
of government-~the peace. prosperity and
happiness of the people. What is most
needed to bring about a better understand
| ing and more fraternal feeling between
the North and the South, is freer personal
intercourse, and the unstudied and unmeas
rule and govern human actions. Without
this, distrust and prejudice growing out Of
the great civil conflict, must to greater OF
| less extent exist in both sections. when
really there is now no cause or excuse for it,
The people of tile North and West are hu.
man just as the people of the South are
They are moved ami swayed by similar ill.,
fiuences. They each study and express them
selves from different standpoints and different
grounds OF reason, and therefore in construct
ing theories and arriving at conclusions, they
as widely diyerge. as the lines OF thought
are separated. But when they come to-
gether-meet face to face-feelins that they
are members of the same national brother
hood-:hc participants in the same national
heritagc-linked with the same national des
tiny-apd that their united energies and am
billions are essential to carrying forward our
common country in ,tey grand mission Of
human advancement and Misrepresentation
| it is that the true manhood of the sections
rises to its proper plane, and the inspiration
of American citizenship lifts it above the
passion and prejudices Of partizan conflict.
tary Sherman is Republican; Secretary
Thompson is a Republican {; Attorney Gen.
eral Deyens is Republican but will any
Virginian now say, what he would most
| likely have said twelve months ago, when
the fever of party excitement was rampant,
that either is an enemy of the South? They
are no less Republican now than they were
this time last year; the principles of the
party are no less dear to them thejr faith
in the adaptability Of those principles to the
wants OF the nation and the happiness and
progress of the people is no less sincere,
than when the fierce conflicts of contending
parties Hade the people of the State think
they were their enemies. But since then they
have seen the people OF the South-the heart
Of Virginia has been touched. and bidding
partizan animosities and ascerbities be still,
they have met as citizens Of common conn
try-looked at each other face to face-given
expression to their heart sentiments! How
changed! One "touch OF nature makes
the whole world akin,'' and now there is
scarcely heart that tllrobs upon Virginia's
soil that does not warm for these distin-
suished Northern Republicans. Kindness
begets kindness. and as its soothing inf1u-
ence moves oyer the emotions OF the soul,
the wells of charity and love and friendship
are opened, and new light and new hope
spring forth to spread the bow Of promise for
the nation, making clear the path to the
consummation of universal peace wherever
the jurisdiction Of the nations laws reaches
May the lesson of Richmond be not soon
forgotten, and the bitter gall of the scenes
of 1865 lost in the healing balm Of 1877.
Evading the Law
The Norfolk Ledger is pretty severe in
its remarks in reference to the violation of
the law creating the Moffett Register in that
city. 1t appears that only 1858 were return
ed as revenue to the State from 1913 dealers
where the registers had been placed. from
the 18th Of September to the 3lst Of October,
and that one house paid one-fifth of the