Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-29
The Position Of Virginia from an Outside
Standpoint.
PH1LADELpH1A. Oct. 18th IA

Standpoint.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 18th, 1878.
MEssRs. EDIToRs.-In the Luxem-
bourg Gallery in Paris, hangs picture
Of a beautiful woman, holding lamp
high above her head, which not only
bathes her in soft and beautiful light,
but makes other objects around her
brighter, because ofits elevated position.
A beautiful picture full of life and grace
and beauty but yet only a picture,
which may be destroyed at any time by |
the hands of an irresponsible mob of the
commune and nothing be left Of it, but
the remembrance of its glorious beauty.
So in the days.gone by Virginia stood
glorious. The mother of many Of the
nations greatest men-grand in her
character for truth and honesty. And
high over her head, she too held bright
and piercing light; which cast its rays
afar, and said to all the world, "Here
doth Honor dwell" Her niche was
high in the Temple of Fame. But now
she may cry Ichabod, Ichabod, for:her
glory is departed.
irresponsible men have torn her
from her high position, by their
cowardly schemes for reputation under
the specious plea of ''scalimg the debt"
and squad politicians who are hungry
and starving for Office are leading and
encouraging them in the unholy and
ubiquitous crusade against innocent
creditors. If it were possible for the
spirits of the dead to walk the Earth,
cognizant of what was passing around
them. Would not the spirits of Patrick
Henry and Thomas Jefferson visit with
reproachful wrath the presence of these
hungry aspirants for office, who urge this
deed of infamy; and hold in the shadow
of their wings until the very marrow in
their bone was chilled until they would
abandon their dishonorabIe efforts to
ruin the credit of the grand old Com
monwealth. The great State of Virgin
ia could once come into these large
cities and command money almost on
her own terms. Where is she now?-
Stranded, wreck on the sands of the
financial Ocean. She cannot borrow a
dollar, and her treasury is empty. And
why? Scaling the debt is why. Re-
pudiation is why. And not only are
loans to the State refused, but indivi-
duals are looked upon with suspicion
Men of capital seeking for investments,
close their hearts and their pockets up
tight when Virginia securities are men
toned, and they will plainly tell you,
that men who would repudiate State
debt would repudiate private debts
THAT they will not put their money into
any private enterprise, because the same
party which could face the world, and
say that debt is not a debt, could also
with equal facility pass some law or
combination of villian1es which would
cheat them out of all the money which
ithey might advance in good faith
Within the last three months the writer
of this article has been often mortified
by all classes of people, on account ofthe
shameful position which Virginia occu-
pies in the financial world. One man
had quarter of a million of dollars to
invest, but he would not trust either
Railroad or County bonds from that
State as it would lower their standing
among business men. A large timber
contractor wanted no contracts down
there as he could not depend upon the
people of repudiating State. And SO
it goes, bankers, brokers, private CAPT
talists and contractors, in banks, in
hotels, on the corners, every where the
same story goes. 1t really seems as
though the black spirit of the Pestilence
had cast it. shadow over our once
beautiful land making all men fear her.
Capital is abundant and anxious for IN
vestment, but not in Virginia until the
people by an overwhelming majority at
the polls, shall declare that all schemes
of reputation by scaling the debt or
otherwise, are stamped out forever, and
by casting out of their politics all honor
able dspirdnts who are now leading Vir-
GINA to ruin. Then will come a day for
Virginia such as she has never SEEM
Then shall her Valleys and her hills
resound with the hum of industry, and
her cities and villages laugh with the
fairness of good times, for her mills will
be opened, and her great arteries of
commerce will be completed. Men will
trust in her once more, and will flock TO
her in crowds of skilled labor. The waste
places shall blossom as the rose and all
the world shall see her beacon light
shining high above her head once more
clear and beautiful as in the olden time
with nothing to trouble her save sorrow
for these days other bitter adversely and
shame.
Twas glad to hear that General John
Echols had come out as a candidate for
Congress, and is in opposition to all re-
of the war, he served Virginia like a
brave and daring son. For her he suf-
fered, and with her he fell like good
soldier. And now as citizen he comes
to the front again to fight for her honor
and glory with different weapons but
with valor undated, and zeal still firm
in the cause of the good old State.
HONESTY.
"SEMI-OFFICIAL Wharf.-The Rus
sian journals declare that their country
will not &c to war with England about
India, but if England makes war upon
Afghanistan there will be as many Rus
sian officers in the Afghan service as