Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-11-13
$tauntott Spectator.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1877.

The Virginian gnat has again been
buzzing around the SPECTATOR, but
the noise that it makes is worse than its
bite. We would not take the time or
trouble to notice the petty malignity
and personal malice which have always
characterized the filings (they do not de-
serve the more dignified and responsible
name of attacks) of the Virgsnaon at
the SPECTATOR, but we desire the V"-
oiraio,s to distinctly understand that the
SPECTATOR is now, as it has always
been. responsible for the trut'fatI''ess
if not for the brilliancy, Of whatever IS
nublished in its Editorial columns. The
SPECTATOR does not desire to rival the
Vroiyid,a in it's use of "billingsgate"
and will make no attempt to oppose
the Virginian with its own peculiar
weapon.
The SPECTATOR is under obligations
to the Varginiom for its kind suggestion
as to guardianship from the Circuit
Court of this county. The SPECTATOR
feels sure that the Virginiam knows
whereof it speaks for it has not been so
MANY years since it sought land OBJ
tained) the favor and patronage OF the
United States District Court at Harrl-
sonburg, by piece of political somer-
saulting such as has seldom been W.T.
messed in the annals of journalism IN
this country. The motives of this top
sy-turvying were doubtless only such
as would suggest themselves to mas
sive intellect, which lis guided solely by
the philosophy of facts" and the "loglc
Of events"
The SPECTATOR, unlike the Virgin
ian, does not profess to possess all the
brains in the community, and is always
glad to avail itself of the able and we'll
expressed views of those who agree with
it upon questions of public policy.
The Virginidn charges the SPECTA-
TOR with having mo opinion OF its
own" The SPECTATOR is well salts
fed that the community are fully aware
of the opinion it entertains of the pir'
giniam and does not propose to cumber
its columns with any further notice OF
the meanness and littleness of such
chronic fiippancy as affiicts the Virgin
ian.
To see the Naryinian boasting of the
amount of brains it possesses reminds
one of the remark made about very
pompous looking man, of whom it was
said that he stood a 'self-convicted hyp-
ocrite." "Why So" asked gentle
man. Because" replied bis friend,
sit is utterly impossible for any man to
be as smart as that man looks to be. y
On the same theory the genius who
presides over the Editorial cauldron of
the Tirginiaqa must be hssus nature, for
it is utterly impossible for any man to
have the amount of brains he thinks he
has.
SOUND SENTIMENT IN IRGINIA.-
The conservative and leading men OF
Virginia are dealing heavy blows at the
reputation policy. Peachy R. Grattan,
Esq, venerable lawyer of Richmond,
shows in a recent discussion that the
public debt of Virginia was fairly created
by a Legislature fairly elected to repre-
sent the people; that for every dollar
of the bonds issued by the State dol
lar was received dollar for dollar in
good money; that the money for which
these bonds were given was expended
by the people of Virginia. through theil
Legislatures, upon such public works
and in such measures and proportions
as they deemed expedient, without thu
control or interference of the holders O
these bonds for these works $50, 500,
1O9.59 being the sum expended. Mex
Mr.. Grattan shows what proportion!
went to the various works, and then h
says, "Thus at least four-ffths of thu
money borrowed by the State has beer
expended on public works now in op
Grafton and now within the presen
State of Virginia" Mr.. Grattan makes
IN able statement of the assets of thu
State and her ability by uniform taxa
ton, to meet all her liabilities. He con-
cludes by saying that he does not belong
to the creditor class of the people, anc
his sympathies are not with them, anc
that he does not belong to the debtor
class, not buying anything which h
had not the money to pay for, but tina
his sympathies are with the impover
ished people of his State. Yet he utter
the noble sentiment, worthy to be writ
ten in letters of gold, that "howeve
proper and becoming it is in men tt
sympathize with their fellows in thei
distress, sympathy is not the highes
virtue of States or statesmen. Jatstic'
is.the only foundation of aoise legislation
as it is the essential element Of all soarat
moralty." To do justice and love mer
cy is the divine rule" It is to be hopet
that these sentiments will universally
prevail in Virginia, and in other State
similarly situated-that is in States hav
ing, like her, only an honest debt, 70
which value was received.
The Washington Critic thinks tn
grand display given to President Haye
at Richmond will be regarded on tn
other side of the Atlantic even NOR
than on this, as significant of the restor
ed harmony of the States. When tn
Oldest, the youngest, and the most en-
lightened ofthe Southern States receive
the President of the United States,
Norther n man and a republican, at he
capital, Richmond, which was also tn
capital of the Southern Confederacy,'
with unwonted dem onstrations of en-
thusiasm, and perhaps the largest pop
ular assemblage that ever met in tina
place, the fact will be universally re
garded as evidence that the breach mad
by the civil war is rapidly healing. Thu
expression of Virginia's cordial hospi
tality is all the more significant if WI
reflect that it proceeds from a race o
paOp1o which in the whole history n