The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-12
For the VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
Col. John S. Mosby.

When the passions and prejudices OF the mo
| ment shall have passed away, and when present
politics shall have become history, few only Of
the figures which now appear upon the scenes
will be preserved for the praise censure of DOS.
| terity. In the annals of Virginia none will be
handed down to future generations clothed with
| more interest than the famous partisan leader,
and later, the much-reviled patriot, Col John a.
Mosby.
The noble service he rendered his State in time
OF war attested his devotion, but, in peace, by a
loftier sacrifice, he has shown his answering
fealty. Cutting loose from party limits he fore.
saw the benefits that would accrue to his section
by accepting the overtures of pacifcation, and by
yielding to the pressure of the inevitable.
The policy now inaugurated by President Hayes
has for ten years been the idea of this far-see-
ing statesman. Alone, unaided, misunderstood,
he has battled with the scorn and upbraidings Of
his own people, and commended with the doubts of
the Republican party to which he had allied him.
self. We read with quickened pulse in history Of
that brave Swiss who received into his body,
spears enough OF the enemy to make an opening
for his charging comrades which led to victory
Make way for liberty! p he cried.
Then with arms extended wide.
AS if his dearest friend to clasp,
Ten spears he swept within his grasp.
make way for liberty" he cried.
Their keen points metifrom side to side.
He bowed amongst them like tree,
And thus made way for liberty. IS
Arnold Winkelied laid down the life of his
body, but we have one among US who has sacri-
feed fame. the smiles of friends, and all save
honor, upon the altar Of his country. 1t is harder
to live the lfe than to die the death of martyr.
but Fortune will avenge herself, and Time. that
at last makes all things even, oft consecrates a
noble life and perpetuates its memory, when the
circumstances that surround it have long passed
into oblivion. Who, but the banished Dante has
made Florence famous and who but the perse-
cuted Tasso has lent interest to the Court OF Fer
rara.
But we do not propose to write the "hic jacet''
OF doom above the name of our distinguished CO.
temporary Yet in the full flush OF mature man.
hood, we hope to see him fill out career OF USE
fulness that has had so eventful progress.
We trust the administration will not ignore his
services to the Republican party, or fail to notice
that virIuous selfabnegation which made him o
very poor man, while very powerful controller
of public patronage in Virginia Few, like him,
could have resisted the seductions of place and
money, and fewer still could, like him, have
waived all personal prejudice, and melted out with
such impartial hand the benefits of his dearly
bought influences with Gen. Grant
We urge him now for office; we urge him as a
worthy candidate for the vacancy upon the bench
of the Supreme Court. Virginia and the South
ought to be represented there.
In Col Mosby she will be represented by a man
that blends section and party; a man that has the
knowledge OF the written law and the wisdom of
the unwritten; and man whose purity OF public
and private life entitle him to be the peer of any
who has graced that august tribunal. ~.