Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-01-08
ing him the capitalist, and the dispenser
of grateful charities.

of grateful charities.
More than that: Such efforts are the
beginning Of Communism, which is the
end of liberty. The ignorant cannot
take by violence the learning of the
educated nor can the poor take by force
and long enjoy the property of the
wealthy. Property lies in the founda-
tion of true civilization, and the latter
cannot live without it. Force cannot
permanently destroy property, though
it may in the effort, destroy its own
liberties. But property must and will
survive. though it call upon despotlsm
to save it.
I cannot look with any favor or any
hope on any of those ultra parties which
have from time to time struggled for a
foothold in the country, and grasped at
TIE machinery of Government to hoist
themselves into power. I d not mean
to say that their friends 80 regard them.
but do mean to say that they are dead
lv to the peace, if not the safety of the
Republic. I would not take away from
labor any protection it has; nor would
I refuse it any protection it ought to
have. But would give it no favor that
I deny to capital. The humblest cabin
in the mountain fastness should have
the same protection that is given to the
lordliest mansion of the rich; but no
more. Each is, in the eye of the Law.
a castle, and either may be inhabited
by the knightlest knight. Surely l
would not, when the poor man has by
noble effort lifted himself from the cab
in to the palace, regard him the less be-
cause he has added so much to his own
usefulness and to the power Of the
State.
| There is and ought to be no strife be
tween the poor and the rich. Labor
makes wealth. then lives upon it. And
the effort to cause antagonism is fraught
! with evil to both. This is true in po
litics. 1t always has and always will
end in the ruin of free government.
There is no room for such parties in
| Virgini". A more gentle rule never
held sway in any country. Our statute
| book does not contain single law that
presses harshly upon the lowly and
poor. On the other hand it is full of
laws for their good. We have poor laws,
to protect the wages of the laborer from
levy. We have hospitals, asylums for
the deaf. the dumb, the blind and the
insane, whose blessings are open to all
whom Gods finger has touched; but
only to the poor without pay. We have
free schools, whose teachings the poor
enjoy without price-where the hum
blest can learn how to walk in those
paths of distinction which are closed to
none who are able to fill the high places
in the State. There is no use for such
parties in Virginia.
But we ought not to forget that behind
law there must be force. If men were
good and wise they would be law un-
to themselves. Government must take
the place of lack of goodness and wis
dom that both may flourish. But gov
ernment, whilst it might have the beau
tiful form of law, would he useless, if
not worse, without power The problem
is. where that power shall be, and how
organized. In Despotism, it is main
ly in the shape of standing army; in
a Republic, it ought to be in civil Off
GERS and citizen soldiery.
| The Importance of this latter cannot
be overrated. Coming from among the
people, they learn the lessons of obedi-
ence, and carry them back to their owa
homes and firesides and make them felt
in every walk of life. Covered by the
standard and insignia of the State, they
feel how the whole happiness and peace
of society rest upon its arm. Loving
their families none the less, they love
the State more, and lock upon it as the
mother of their peace and joy"
Let us have this citizen soldiery every
where, to be seen on fitting days and
times. 1t is not show of military pow
er like that of a standing army. 1t is
the ever present and careful guard of the
States interest and honor; it Is the ever
standing sentinel upon its batrlements,
watching not for pay, but for love, and
proving how the safety and glory of the
good Commonwealth can be entrusted
to its own people
With such an ancestry, such a history,
and such government, what hinders
Virginia? The same genial sky over
hangs her; the same grand rivers flow
through hefterritory; the same BARRIERS,
where the ships of the world may ride !;
the same variety and fertility of soil,
from the sea to the mountains, as when
she won the name of the mother of states
men and States. know that the hand
of violence rent her in twain, and that
the ravages of a four years terrible war
have left cruel marks 1 know that
many of her best and bravest fell, and
that poverty now abounds where once
fiourished refinement and wealth.
know that in the fairest and most fruit
full regions, seasons of drouth have
parched up the Labor ofthe husbandman,
or destroying foods have swept it away.
Rut believe there still exists that 10y
atty to honor and that devotion to law,
which enabled her people to bear these
things without shrinking. I believe
that her people are still earnest and true.
What, then, hinders Virginia? For
years she struggled in the war, and then
in the tolls Of reconstruction. The war
| ia and hpr lot xxy;t 1oI
eral Government are again fixed under
the Constitution and the laws; and
none have been, or will be hraver to
stand up to them. What, then, hinders
Virginia? :?
| 1he excitement which aroused and
troubled the people in the late canvass
answers; for nothing was heard on eve
ry hustings and court house green but
the sole absorbing question of the State
/ debt. What of it? States have been in
debt befbre, and have been heneat, and
have survived. Is It a lust debt, and
has the State received Consideration for
lit:, have heVer. heard it claimed thst
fit was unjust and without consideration
1t was made before the war, and II now
represented by public improvements
without which Virginia would be in a
slough of despond: with which, she is
ready to enter into rivalry with the
strongest of her sister States. She gave
her bond for it at 8 tine when her were
would be taken, and her credit pass in
any market in the world, And upor
y that word and credit means were 90
which were spent in opening up her vas
: resources. -
Why, then, should we, NOS paw it
The honor of Stata is above price. I
cannot be measured by money. Tht
character of a Commonwealth marks
her place among nations, and is tn,
guide OF the individual growth and des
tiny of her citizens. The law IS school
master, and it will determine whethe
the ci iZen is to be vicious or virtuous
A generation or so of bad Legislation
may change people from a highmind
7 ed and honorable race into depraved an
e dishonest men. Nothirgso, soon accom-
e plishes this unhappy end as disregard
e of solemn compacts. Upon their sane
e ltity the whole framework of Societ,
y rests. from the sacred bond that ties tn
family, to the strong and subtle cor
S which binds in harmony otherwise jar
Z ring elements in the unity of govern