Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-10-10
FRIDAY MORNING. OCT. 10. 1879.
OUR NEXT COUNTY DELEGA-
t5 TON,

OUR NEXT COUNTY DELEGA-
~ TON.
1t is greatly to the honor of Augusta
county that ever since the question of the
State debt became part of current poll
tics, her people have uniformly and per-
sistently cast the weight of their influence
in favor of an honorable settlement. and
against any settlement. whatever that
should not have the consent Of the credi-
tors. Despite the most seductive premi-
SEES, held out on the hustings, Of ease to be
derived from tightening of their burdens
by, to say the least, questionable legisla-
ton; despite the dangerous appeals which
have sought to array classes in antagonism
upon whose cooperation the prosperity Of
the state depends, and despite the heavy
pressure through which they have passed
since the financial panic of six years ago,
the people Of Augusta nave been true to
one purpose-that the debt should be set
tied, and to one sentiment that its set
Element should bring no discredit upon
our State. They have steadily held to this
purpose through the most exciting cam
paigns, the most bewildering arrays of ar
guments and the strongest personal APP
peals. Such heroic consistency has made
itself felt in the legislative halls of the
state and the utterances there of Koiner,
Echols and Hanger have had power and
effect given them not exceeded.by those OF
Senators or Delegates coming from any
county or city in this broad Common
wealth, not even excepting the metropolis
ef the State: Augusta is known through
out virginia by the title of .'a debt pay
i ing county. ,'s:A noble distinction. one OF
i which, her people may be deservedlY proud,
ana grand heritage for those who are to
come after them And 1t was earned;
bought at a. price of sacrifice. 1t cost
something for many of our people who
were struggling with the financial gloom
which is now fast fading away, to vote to
maintain the honor and faith of Virginia
at all hazards; it cost human nature a
pang for man laboring under private
debts, to turn his back upon promises, no
matter how delusive, of relief from pub
lie one, and it cost an effort to resist the
sweeping current of oratory which has
poured by them month after month since
the agitation began. But the sacrifice has
had it's reward. Hardly had the gloom
which had SO long settled over the whole
country showed signs Of lifting before the
creditors of Virginia themselves came for
ward with proposition for an honorable
reduction of the debt, a reduction which
when we read some of the speeches Of
three years ago the widest hopes hae
hardly included. 1t was not a mere set
Element on paper, but settlement undel
which one fourth of the debt has already
been actually funded and, more than this
this day Virginia under this bill Is payina
about quarter of million dollars less Of
interest. BE- nj ilJ ID $3.50 .as.l9.,.-
and now having been faithful to the
end, having steadily held their course un-
til the goal is reached, they are called upon
to set their seal upon the work by the eiec-
ton of representatives to the next legis la
ture. They have presented to them on the
one hand, for the Senate, Absalom Koiner
and for the House, John Echols and Mar
shall Hanger; and on the other hand, for
the Senate, s. Brown Allen, and for the
House, D. N. Van Lear. We separate the
two tickets for the cause that the first
ticket named is composed of gentlemen
who believe in the bill and voted for it
while the second ticket is composed Of
gentlemen who have be IN opposed to the
bill and view it with no friendly regard,
but who are willing to s'give it trial. .
Between the two tickets we would suggest
that the reader may apply the same rule
he would use in running his farm. It he
had fine team of horses from which he
expected good deal of benefit, and needed
driver, would he take an applicant who
had raised the horses. was kind to them
and knew how to handle them to advan-
tage. or would he take one who didn't
have much opinion of the team. didn't
think they would work, but would anyhow
.eiye them trial." We presume that is
about the plain statement of the case and
that is the way our people will look at it
Messrs. Allen and Van Lear are Clever
enough drivers but they believe tina
another team would be better Augusta
county can't afford at this late day, after
all she has done, to trust her team to the
l. L., Hovs~ int