Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-09-07
WHO SHALL BE OUR REPRE-
SENTATITES?

ton. The enquiry should be, not "who |
wants to 60 to the Legislature, ?" but
"who, by reason of his ability and expert
ence, is best qualified to represent us with |
Having selected her men,
she should lay her commands on them, and
they cannot refuse. Fortunately, Au-
gusta has large number of men who would
her, with honor to themselves,
and advantage to the commonwealth.
In making a selection Of gentlemen to
take charge of the important business OF
the people, it would be well to have an eye
to those who have shown capacity to man
age their own affairs with judgement and
success. It can hardly be supposed, that
those who have proved incompetent to con-
duct their own business prudently, will be
better fitted9or the more important duties
of managing the affairs of the State.
The questions connected with taxation
and the public debt, are too important to
be confded to weak and inexperienced
hands. We want men of strong, vigorous
common sense, who can grapple with the
issues Of the day, and guide the State safe
ly, through her difficulties.
There is an idea among many people,
that craftsmanship comes by nature
While they will candidly admit that it re-
quires practice and study, and training to
enable man to shoe horse, or make
boot, or cut coat, or repair watch, no
information, or education, or training, Or
experience is necessary to enable man to
manage the complicated affairs Of the
State!
There are many aspirants for the legis-
lature who are ready to promise that it the
people will elect them, they will do this,
and that and the other! 1t would be we'll
for all such to learn that "brains' are
much more important than 'brass' in a
legislature. In all Legislature Assemblies
members are soon classified. In very
short time every man finds his measure
taken and his place assigned him. Talent
and experience will soon take the command
and the majority are mere followers. One
man of ability and experience can do more
to shape legislation than a dozen mex
perlenced and uniformed members. The
former originates, shapes and natures the
business of the House and the latter can
only say ''yea" or ''nay," when the vote is
taken.
Doubtless many of our readers have been
lay delegates to synods conferences, coun-
ellis and associations and we appeal to these
to know if their experience is not in accord
with what we have said?
But the difficulties under which mex
perienced and uninform men labour in a
secular legislature are far greater than in
an ecclesiastical Assembly, because the
question which arise are more numerous
and more complicated, and because some
acquaintance with parliamentary law is
necessary at every turn.
We have among us men in all avocations
who have served in the legislature, and as
supervisors, and in other public capacities,
which have given them familiarity with
public business. Let US look at this class
in making our selections.
There is one other popular error to which
we beg to call attention. Many people re-
gard their vote as favor to be bestowed
on fayorite. They say TX is good fell
low: [ like him, and will vote for him ~
This is great mistake. Aavote is a trust.
It is not favor to be bestowed, but a pub
lie duty to be performed. The voter acts
on behalf of the whole community, and he
should act for the best interests of the
community. He may confer favors out of
his private means, but he has no right to
do so at public expense. Every voter should
recognize the fact that in casting vote he
is discharging public duty, and he should
cast his vote for the men best qualified to
advance the public welfare.
There is to be no convention. The door
is wide open. Let us show by our choice
of men to represent US, that we are COM
petent for self government.
There seems to be a peculiar sensitive
ness among candidates about their position
on raising the taxes. 1t is quite painful
to observe the unanimous indefniteness on
this point. The gentleman who indignant
ly scorns forcible adjustment, as being
what it really is, reputation, yet declares
that he must not raise the taxes. He has
heard the oft-repeated cry of. ''You just
say raise the taxes and you'll be crushed"
and he is cautious. We will suggest a bet
ter course for the candidates., and that is
telling the downright and upright truth,
and telling the whole of it frankly. For,
mark you, this time the voters are not CO.
ing to be put off with generalities. The
most prominent of the Adjusters in this
county put his foot square down in speech
at the Court House recently, and the Debt
Payers should be unwilling to do less. He
said, eff we cannot repeal the Funding
Bill Jas if that would do any earthly good.
ED. am willing to levy tax to pay
the creditors" That sounds like practi-
cal talk. Now, let the Debt Payers say,
eff we can't get the creditors to make
satisfactory adjustment, and can't econo-
miZe sufficiently to meet the interest. we,
too, will levy the tax to pay the creditors"
The idea that the creditor is harder to
settle with because he is told you honestly
intend to pay him, comes from lack of
knowledge of the world. Take your in
divldual case for instance: you owe "a debt,
and haven't paid up the interest, and it
accumulates. You can pay four per cent.
regularly, but you can't pay six. Your
creditor wants his money noD, and prompt
ly. Four per cent. is better to him now
than six, which be can't get regularly and,
in this case, don't know when he can get
It, Even with the most fortunate class OF
creditors, the receivable coupon hold.rs,
whom no law can touch, they only get
little more than 4 per cent. now, and that
SO beset by casualties that if 4 per cent.
WAS promptly paid them from the