The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-08
Hopeful Future.

ALI indications point to progressive arc
healthy material future for the Valley OF
Virginia, especially, and the country gener-
ally. The people are in better spirits than
we have known them to be for years past.
A feeling of confidence has taken hold oil
them, and they look forward with hope
and this is half the battle won. The pros
pect of settlement of the complications
growing out Of the State debt the assurance
that comes from every portion of the Com
monwealth that something MUST be done to
arrest the destruction of State credit, and
that something viW be done by the next
Legislature to effect this result, inspire
hope and confidence. Croakers and Jere-
miahs, who lament over the excitement and
commotlon which have followed the discus
sion of this vital question, and allese that
great harm has resulted therefrom, don't
know what they are talking about. 1t was
necessary to AROUSE the people to an under
standing of their condition, and the abso-
Lutte necessity OF some adjustment of the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES they would have
gradually drifted on to ruin under the guild
ance of the selfish and unprincipled politi-
clans. The State had no credit to impair
or lose. She has been defaulting in pay
ment of interest for the past seventeen
years, the debt has been growing larger,
the difficulties more formidable and the way
out OF them more intangible and inscrutable.
1t required bold and determined assault
upon this policy of ruin, and that the peo-
pie should be quickened to the study and
comprehension of their true condition.
They now understand all about it, and
their command has gone forth that settle
meHt, honorable and equitable all around,
must be made by the Legislature elected.
The exhaustive discussion OF this import
ant question, attended sometimes with acri-
mony and bitterness, develops two para
mount propositions. First, that final set
Element and adjustment must be effected of
the State Debt, SO as to stop default in in
terest and State dishonor, and second, that
the Public Schools must be sustained-two
propositions with which the future of the
commonwealth is intimately identified,
Capital will not come here, as a general
rule, so long as we are Indifferent to our
credit and financial condition, and intelli-
gent labor and muscular enterprise will not
come here unless our Public Schools are in
a healthy condition. In all the States North
and West, the Public Schools are the public
pride. The People cherish them, and would
not think Of transferring their citizenship to
State where they do not exist. The quiet
opposition to them in Virginia, which SEEM
ed to be spreading and growing more conf
dent, has suddenly been suppressed, if not
destroyed, SO far at least as any practical
harm could arise from it. With State credit
established, and the avenues to knowledge
opened to all classes and conditions of socie-
ty, there is nothing that can arrest the pro-
gress Of the State-the development of her
resources-her growth in material and po-
litical power. The people feel this, and
stimulated by the smiles of Providence in
the abundance of the garnered crops, they
look forward with CHEEKY hope and conf
1anna