Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-05-29
Unpalatable Truth.

8 not always palatable to be told the
ruth. But palatable or unpalatable the
ruth is that the material interests of
Virginia are sadly suffering from a
plethora of politics. It is within the
of living men when Virginia
was the first State in the Union in pop
ulation. wealth, and material prosperity.
Now, she is the tenth. In the competi-
ton for precedence one by one her sister
States have left her behind. Why is
this? Many circumstances canduce to
this state of things; but there are two
which are apparent to every condid OBJ
server. One of these is the prominence
our people give to politics the other is
the slight interest we take in developing
and utilizing our natural advantages and
resources. Our political philosophers
teach that devotion to material inter-
ests tends to utilitarianism. Well, If
that be so, then we are utilitarians.-
Other communities and other States give
the first place to their material advance
ment, and give more attention to per-
sonal than to public affairs. They de-
velop their resources; they diversity
their industries; they utilize their water
power; they build factories and furnaces;
they divide their large farms into small
ones, and plough deep, and rotate their
crops, and raise clover; they build barns
for their crops and sheds for their cattle,
keep the fences up and the weeds down,
save the manure, rest and recuperate
their lands, and, in general, devote
themselves earnestly and intelligently
to their agricultural, commercial, and
mechanical industries; and then they
bestow such reasonable time and atten-
ton as may be practicable upon matters
of public moment. We never shall re-
cover our lost ground in the race for pre-
cedence until we turn over new leaf
and give less attention to politics and
public matters, adopt an improved sys-
tenn of agriculture, diversity our indus
tries, and manifest deeper interest in
the Development of our magnificent min.
eral wealth. In the extent, diversity,
and richness of our mineral ores there is
no State comparable to ours. But what
do they avail us buried in the bowels Of
the earth? Virginia is at once the rich
est and the poorest at once the Oldest
and the youngest of the States. She is
the oldest in her colonization and heI
historic annals; she is the youngest in
catching the progressive spirit ofthe age.
She is the richest in her grand tradl-
tons; in the illustrious line of statesmen
she has given to the country and to i'm
mortal renown and in the unrivalled
resources of her soil, her forests, bel
streams, and her mountains. She is the
poorest in the methods of filling her soil
in the utilization of her mineral re-
sources, in her ability to pay the burden
some taxes and the oppressive public
debt, and in her wretched areas of i'm
poverished and neglected land. She is
the richest in her grand opportunities
but the poorest in her efforts to improve
them. There is much to excite the pride
and veneration of her children in the
memories and traditions ofthe past but
unless they catch the inspiration of pro
gress there is little to encourage ant
cheer them in the future"
The BRITISH ASSOCIATION CELE-
BRATIoN AT PETERSBURG, Wa
grand reception in honor of the dele
gates from English, Scotch, Irish and
Welsh societies of the Northern States
and Canada attending the international
British celebration took place Wednes
day morning. Mr.. D. B. Tenant de-
livered an address of welcome. Re
sponses were made by Messrs. Levi:
Thompson, of Philadelphia; w. Mer
rick, of Toronto; Alderman Mcclellan
of Hamilton; w. Tomlin, of Bridgeport
and many other Northern and Cana
dian presidents of societies.
The annual meeting of the British AS
ISOLATION took place at noon. David B
Tenant was elected president J. A
H. st. Andrew, vice president; Charles
Leonard, Treasurer Alexander Wilson
general Secretary, and J. j. Campbell
business Secretary. At four O'Clock J
w. Hebditch, the orator of the celebra
ton, delivered an address, which very
fairly stated the advantages under which
British residents in Virginia labor
with clear statement of the predomi
mating advantages. The procession o
delegates, headed by a band, was {
fine display. At night grand con
cert was given to the delegates in thu
Academy of Music.
On Thursday. the 5sth anniversary o
the birthday of Queen Victoria was Gel
ebrated by receptions, Episcopal churcf
services. DC. In the afternoon the Wis
iting Britishers were driven to all points
of historical interest in the vicinity O.
the city, including the crater" Uper
their return grand military parade
took place, and salute was fired il
honor of her Majesty A message wa:
received from President Hayes express.
ing the hope that peace would continue
between the two countries. At night 9
grand banquet took place, at which
Governor Kemper and other distin
guished visitors made brief addresses.
i On Friday, the visitors went on an
excursion to City Point, at the confu
ence of the James and Appomatto1
rivers, and in the evening farewell
meeting of an enthusiastic character
took place in Petersburg.
| FIFTEEN PERSONS TO BE HANGED
In Pennsylvania, Oh the 21st of June
fifteen Molly Maguires will be hanged
for murders committed by them. Thest
men were oath-bound assassins, who
were banded together for their atrociou'
work in secret society. Their doom i!
just, and 1T is to be hoped the fearful ex
ample will put an end to all such com
binations.