Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-19
The Duty Of the Day.

Now that the election is over, its re-
suits known and its lessons learned, we
hope that all the people, but especially
those of Virginia, will devote less time
to party politics, and more to such mea-
sures as, at least seem likely to promote
the growth of industry and economy,
and thereby be conducive to the best
interests of themselves and their State.
The habits and customs, and mode of
living now generally prevalent through
out the borders of the State are entirely
too luxurious for people who, according
to their own Legislature, cannot stand
higher tax than fifty cents on the hum
dred dollars worth of real estate, and
who are talking about forcihly readjust-
ing their State debt; and Of course too
expensive for people who are not maxi
ing money, as unfortunately is the case
at present with the vast majority of Vir-
ginians. The cost of living should be
reduced to the lowest possible extent
compatible with comfort, and every cent
that can be saved conveniently be put
away, for though the currency has been
established firmly on q gold basis, and
resumption Of specie payment assured
on the first of next year, money will
not be more plentiful until it has been
either made or saved, and the expert
ence of all is to the effect that the acou-
mQlation Of it depends as much, if not
more, upon the latter than the formmen
method. But too much reliance should
not be placed upon economy alone,
for without industry, in the ma.
jority of cases, it will have no material
upon which to operate, as nothing can
be saved from nought. Therefore let all
60 to work at anything they can find to
do, even if such work be not as lucra-
tive as formerly, for they must recollect
that the fall in the price of living has
been even greater than in that of labor,
and by all means let them never relin :
quish employment at one place until
they have secured it at another. Anoth-
ercOnditiOn almost essentially requisite
to the prosperity of the State is the ut
ter and entire abandonment of the per-
nici6us habit OF croaking about and de-
crying home affairs, SO generally indulg-
ed ia now by Virginians. The old State,
or rather what is left of her, is in a tight
place to be sure, but there is convincing
evidence to prove that she is better of
to-day than she was this time last year,
and the indications of her future i'm
provenlent are certainly favorably, and
a comparison of her financial condition
with the other States of the Union
shows that several of them are by no
means her superiors. Those Virglnians
then who can see neither present nor
prospective good in their own State have
scales on their eyes which, for their own
benefit at least, they should peel off at
once, for the habit to which we allude
and which.is engsndered by their blind
ness is calculated to produce the very
condition of which they complain. Let
US all then go to work at once, save all
we can, stop croaking and complaining,
and look on the bright side Of things,
and we shall soon be surprised at the
progress we are all, and Individually,
making toward the achievement of the
prosperity we once enjoyed. We have
never lost faith in Virginia character,
and as long as that faith remains intact
we shall never despair of her future well
fare. 1t may be delayed, but it will
come in the end, and the best means to
hasten that end is the adoption Of the
course we suggest.-Aler. Gazette,