The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-25
Partizan Spirit.

The turbulence incident to holly con-
tested political issues and the claims Of men
representing the respective parties to
those issues, not unfrequently bring to the
surface one-idea men, or men of no ideas at
all, but who manage by sheer force of i'm
pudence and brass to push themselves into
prominence. Such men live upon excite
ment, thrive in the ATMOSPHERE OF passion,
and may be regarded as the chronic agita
tors Of community. Prabably there is nc
arena where Inc intellecEs CT men tre
brought into active play that leaves less to
cherish and to crafty than that of politics
1t is a source of relief to the conservative
mind, as we'll as to- business interests. when
the period has passed when the passions are
inflamed, arrangements effected, and
friends antagonized. All good citizens look
forward to the angry tempests which rage
in the great political contests of the coun-
try with feeling akin to aversion. The
popular mind drawn away from legitimate
pursuits deranges the channels of trade, i'm
pairs the healthy activity of business, and
generates and encourages passion and feel
ing, which operate to the harm of all the
interests of community. To the frequent
recurrence Of these political agitations, may
be traced much of the business disorder Of
the country, and surely wise public policy
should enter protest, stern and relentless,
againstany unnecessary and partizan dissen-
sions, such as usually attend political con-
tests.
In ordinary elections Of municipalities, es-
pecially when political parties are not con-
tending for supremacy, and the selection is
to be confined TO the best citizens with but
one political affiliatior, party machinery is
ineXcusable. It is weak and petty ambi-
ton that seeks to disturb the ordinary har-
mony and stir up excitement and strife,
when no reason affecting the interests Of
community can be assigned. The mere
qualification of personal feeling, and the
subordination of the good will of society to
selfish ends, is not an adequate excuse for
the injection of ''party'' in the selection of
gentlemen to legislate for corporations
when the substantial interests of all are
identical, and the general welfare alone TO
be considered. we all feel the healing and
healthy influence of the present non-parti-
Fan administration of national affairs, and
like effect will follow when the same spirit
is manifested in a more circumscribed
sphere. When community is struggling
to give prominence to material interests and
advantages, and seeking to attract the atten-
ton of capital and enterprise to their utill-
cation, it is the perfection of folly to defeat
. the very object sought, in the exhibition of
strifes, contentious and personal spites
among those TO the 'manor born" The
popular aspiration everywhere is for peace
and coneord-the abatement of politi cal
assemblies, and the direction of the energies
and intellects OF all 10 the accomplishment
OF the common good. 1t is here as it is else
where, and those who seek to stir up con-
tensions and instigate antagonists, when
there is no earthly cause for them, will find
that they have mistaken the popular tenn
per. There is generally some concealed
motive that shrinks from exposure and
avoids public scrutiny at the bottom of such
unnatural invitations, for there is nothing
in the demands of the public welfare to jus-
tify and every thing to protest them.