Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-10-08
What the Papers say OF the Candidacy
kA of Gen. EchOlS. S2A-

Harrisonburg Commonwealth: The
Commonwealth being opposed to forcible
readjustment and irredeemable curren-
cy, has had no candidate up to this time.
Now, however, we unhesitatingly and
without reserve announce our intention
to support Gen. Echols for Congress.
x
Gen. Echols is in favor Of any honor
able and just compromise of the State
debt that can be made-so are we. We
have so stated on numerous occasions,
and we believe with him, that if the
same effort that has been expended in
trying to evade the debt had been d.
rected towards its payment, our condi-
ton would now be much better. He is
opposed TO irredeemable currency-so
are we. Therefore, so far as Gen. Ech-
ols's card goes, and it covers the funda-
mental principles, we arei in accord with
him and give his card full endorsement.
Waynesboro' Tribune. We can only
say that we are extremely sorry that
Gen. Echols has suffered himself to be
duped into this act of political suicide.
We have never doubted his integrity
and ability, and have always entertained
feelings of the highest regard for him,
and had he been brought forward at the
proper time and in the proper manner
we might have supported him. But
any one, with thimble full of COM
mon sense, can see through the whole
plot. Judge Harris's personal enemies
are at the bottom of it. They know full
we'll that there is no earthly chance
for Gen. Echols, but they think they
will draw off as much of Harris g
strength as possible, and thus defeat
him in favor of Paul or anybody else.
Richmond State: We are glad to see
that General Echols has gone vigorously
into his canvass.
The stand he takes against the follies
avowed by Mr.. Paul and the adoption
of them by Mr.. Harris cannot but re-
suit in good.
Toprick the bubble of the fiat, ire
deemable, boundless and useless money,
proposed by the two candidates now in
the field in the Seventh district, it needs
but a touch. Among all the extremists
these candidates go perhaps fartRest,
being rivals In the attempt most com
pletely to ttatter the ignorant and obey
the foolish. TO discuss the matter is to
check the wildness of these people and
to call the truth to mind, and accord
ingly we shall see Messrs. Harris and
Paul begin to recede from their extreme
positions and to remember what they
have forgotten, that the citiZens of the
Seventh district are men of sense and
Integrity, and that the clamOrs of few
demagogues and their dupes are far
from being the voice of the people.
Farmville Mercury: AS Gen. Echols
is not candidate in opposition to con-
sefvatiEe nominee, and as his platform is
ours, and aUe know him to be az ACCOM-
plished gentleman, thoroughly qualified
in every way to fill the position he
seeks, we most heartily wish him sue
cess.
The other gentlemen being green
hackers and independents, we hope
will be left at home.
Charlottesville Chronicle: There Is no
trimming or shuffiing in the announce
ment of the platform ON which the new
candidate takes his stand. He takes
issue bluntly and bravely with his COM
petitors. We thank God and
take courage that 9 man has been found
in this District with the pluck to lift up
his voice in behalf of an honest fulfil
ment of public obligations and honest
money for the people. We hope Gen
Echo1s may be able to meet the paople
in every county and disabuse their
minds OF the false notions of public
policy which have been so insidiously
and necessarily instilled into their
minds fer years. Whether elected or
not Gen. Echols can do no greater SER
vice to his State and country than by
thorough discussion Of these great and
absorbing public discussions, and we
only regret that he has so little time in
which to do the work.
The Baltimore Sun in an editorial ar
ticle on the finances of Virginia says,-
'In this connection we note that Gen.
John Echols, who distinguished himself
as an officer in the field during the late
civil war, has announced himself as
candidate for Congress in the seventh
Virginia district upon a payment Of
debt platform f1r The State and hard
money for The country at large.n
The Sun quotes Gen. Nchols's views on
the State debt question, which. it says,
are taken with great point anda manly
honesty worthy of all praise" and con-
cludes: '"This is probably the opinion
Of every sober and thoughtful person
in Virginia who looks at the subject dis
passionately and is not infatuated with
the folly that debts can be evaded and
credit maintained at the same time"