The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-07
Assault hy Implication.


the last Spectator, makes very wise and
practical suggestion in regard to nianufac-
tured fertilizers, in urging that law be
passed by the Legislature 10 require their
inspection before thrown upon the market.
We have long been of opinion that the in
discriminate use OF these fertilizers was do.
ing much harm to the lands of the Valley,
and If more care and discretion were not
observed, the result would eventually be
disastrous to the farming interests. We
heartily commend the suggestion of Mr..
Geeding in this respect.
There is, however, one part of his commu-
nication that it would be improper to pass
unnoticed, which does not commend itself
to the Judgment or the sense of right OF any
man, although we are very well satisfied no
Injustice was designed by the writer. In
the very first paragraph, referring to the
frauds practiced in manufactured fertilizers,
and the detection thereof in other States,
he expresses the belief that they s'are ex-
tensively practiced here" and ''that whilst
we have some honest men engaged in this
business, we have reason to believe that
majority OF them are taking the farmers
money without rendering an equivalent
He says that he does not ''intend these
structures for honest men, but for those Shy
locks who are drawing the life-bood from
the farmers.
These general remarks leave in doubt the
.sShylocks," and by implication cover the
whole class of dealers in the suspicion. Had
the 'sShylocks' been specifically pointed out,
as we'll as the ''honest men, separating the
wheat from the chat, the Information would
have been very useful to the farming com
munisy. We. however, do not question the
intention of Mr.. Geeding. We believe his
purpose, in his communication, was to sub
serve the best interests of the community,
and the only complaint that can be made is
that in the belief expressed as to ''Shy-
locks" he does not designate them, so
that they could be avoided, and the ''honest
men, relieved from suspicion.
We hope the general purpose OF MI. Coed
inp's communication will be considered by
| the Legislature, for we fear that much harm
| is being done TO the lands of the Valley by
! some of the manufactured fertilizers.
Another communi cation in the Spectator,
over the signature of ''Sas,'' is open to the
same objection rs that OF Mr. Geeding, except
that the anonymous authorship, so far as
the public knows, conceals knowledge OF
the writer. The ''earnest protest. against
| the ''unwarrantablc license which some edi-
tors assume, In lifting aside the veil from
private life, and, by reYolting disclosures,
| pandering to the basest appetites of gossip
ing slanderers," does not satisfy the public
as to who the editors" are. This was
written to s'protest" against an article, pub
lished several weeks ago in the Vfndaeator,
about opium-eating in Staunton. The in-
dignant "Sag" goes on: "What right has
any man, editor or not, to place the charac-
tiers Of honorable men and women under the
ban of suspicion, and, by referring to the
alarming extent to which pernicious habit
has gone, in town Of small population, to
afford pretext for every backbiter to ques-
ton the fair character OF any virtuous citl-
GEN.
| It certainly would have been more con-
sistent with the reasoning Of Sag ii he
had designated the editors and paper which
had so offended as to call for his Earnest
protest." and thereby not left other ''edi-
tor open to the suspicion Of having been
guilty of the indiscretion complained OF.
While this immediate community cannot
be misled by the indefinite criticisms OF
ssSag," persons at distance may exer-
else their guessing qualities to locate
the .seditor'' and '.paper" to which refer
ence is made. We not only had knowledge
OF many OF the facts detailed as to ''opum
eating'' here, but as to its use IN other por-
tions of the Valley, but could not see that
| any public interest would be subserved by
calling attention to this locality. while Tn e
habit was prevalent throughout this and
other countries, as we had abundant evidence
to establish, and thus hold up Staunton as
peculiarly afflicted with this injurious in
diligence In making allusion to the sub
ject at all, we are governed by purpose
solely to relieve the editors OF the VIR-
GILMAN from the suspicion that might other
wise attach 10 them, and not with a view
to entering Into a controversy that does not
properly belong to us.
We would much prefer to call attention
to the many advantages and attractions OF
our city and section, than 10 single out
vice and invite the gaze of the world. Were
we to gather minute knowledge OF the
quantity Of liquor drank as beverage; the
number of oaths uttered of petty robberies
committed !; and magnify all the dalk spots
which attach to this as to other cOmmuni-
ties, and spread it broadcast that these re-
fected the inner life of our people, we GER
tainly would be drawing picture hidcous
enough to class us with ancient SodOm and
Gomorrah. The refinement and cultivation
Of our citizens, however, are proverbial.
| The christian influences sent out from
our various churches; the Young Mems
| Christian and other charitable associations,
which manifest themselves in practical SYM
pathy for the poor; the earnest labors of our
Temperance organizations to reclaim the
fallen and restore comfort and happiness to
desolate families; the moral and esthetical
influence of our splendid Female Schools,
with representatives from half Of the States
i'll the Union, eleyatine the tone and stimu-
lating the pride Of the young OF both sexes,
| are features which must be taken into con-
sideration in making up an estimate of our
people. No where within the broad limits
Of the Union is society so thoroughly in
fused with the influences and sentiments
which dignity human nature, mould the
moral forces Of community and purify the
social atmosphere. Take Staunton. Angus
ia county, and the entire Valley of Virginia,
and the vices iuseparable from organized
society we find in more modified form than in
almost any other section we know of, and
We would rather point to the aggregate yir-
tues Of our people and the beneficent be-
stowments Of nature in genial cline and
| Notwithstanding atmosphere, than to an isOla-