The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-11
An Embellishments View Of the Valley.


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An Englishman's View Of the Valley.
The following is part of an address de-
livered several months since in England, by
Mr.. Hugh Stewart, Of this county. 1t will
be found of interest to our many readers
Mr.. Stewart said
! The character of the American, just like
any other product, whether in external ma
ture or in man, is the result of a chain OF
precedent events. In his case the links OF
this chain can be traced back to dates and
events long anterior to the dawn OF history,
or even to the twilight Of tradition, but
which, thanks to modern science, are not al
together recoverable. Philology reveals to
us that race Of mankind to which the Amer
lean belongs seated at a very remote date
somewhere in Central Asia. As there is no
ground for supposing that it came from the
South, which was occupied by another and
very different branch of the human family,
or from the West or the North, for reasons
with which the philologist and ethnologst
will be familiar, we must conclude that if 1t
had not sprung from the soil, it must have
come from more distant East. If then
the Aryans of Central Asia had been the
product of migration, Of course only those
had come who had the enterprise and hardi-
! hood to 60 in quest of a new home. This
then was the spirit which presided over the
race, at its birth, and launched it upon its
I long career. Again and again-we know
not now often, for the records ofhistory had
not yet begun-the same process must have
been repeated. OF this hardy and enter
prising race, the most hardy and enterpris-
ing again renewed their westward move
ment. All the while the characteristics oil
the advancing race were being confirmed
and strengthened; the infirm or feeble in
body or purpose were being left behind, and
the primeval ard now hereditary impulse to
move on at all risks was becoming in those
who from time to time sought new homes,
an ever strengthening instinct. At last
and this is where ordinary history first takes
cognizance OF then-we find them settled
on the Southern and Northern shores OF thf
Baltic.
After awhile the day arrives for another
movement, for another winnowing and
sitting, far more searching than any OF the
previous ones. Greater hardihood and en-
terprise were now required than were evel
called for in any OF their past movements
The sea has now to be crossed a new form
of danger to be confronted. Those who ven
ture in their open and half open boats on this
great enterprise to establish new ONE OF
thissIde Of the storm swept waste of waters
must be men who know no fear, and il
whom the instinct OF moving onward is if
resistible. The result OF this supreme ef
fort is tie great British nation-the produc
Of all that is best in Angles, Jutes, Saxons
Danes, and Mortimer. Such was the Ions
process by which the men were formed wh'
fought at Crecy, at Poicters, and at Agin-
court; at Blenhein, Families and Malpla
quet at Trafalgar, at Waterloo, and in Zu
lu-Land; on the Gauges, the Nile and tn
St. Lawrence who produced Bacon,
Sha espeare. and Newton who first triet
men by their peers, and first governed them
selves by their representatives; who brok
the papal yoke and established freedom
of religion, Of speech. Of the press, and
commerce. In their island homes they prove'
themselves the grandest race Che world ha
seeh. But the drama was not yet comp ]ete
The original impulse had ever been gainin.
strength and now appeared to culininate.-
But it was not so. Oae more effort had t.
be made In grandeur and hardihood
transcribed all that had yet been achieved
Not narrow sea, but the broad Atlanti
had to be crossed; not small island, but &
new world to be occupied.
The British race must itself be sifted, an
none but those that had nerve as firm a
that of the Pilgrim fathers could hope t
join in the great enterprise. And so
comes to pass that America is peopled wit
that which is most .enterprising and pro
i gressive, in that race in which these quail
ties had been most highly developed.
these respects she receives the cream OF tn
CT0du, VIC puIcSb oCiCStiOI Va th"o ""'S
was most select. The long series is now con
plete.
The circuit of the world has been made
The hardy, the Inventive, the go-ahea
American looks out on the Pacific, toward
that side of the Old world, from which his frs
ancestors started on the long career which
his person is now consummated. The like {
this has not been done BY any other race
men, or in any other part of the world.
human history it is something quite uniqu
It is the main stream in the history of maj
All other series of events--as for instance, TIL.
which resulted in the culture of mind
Greece, and that which resulted in the cmp
!. of Rome-only appear to have purpose al
4 value when viewed in connection with it.
rather as, subsidiary to it. Their true pa
}, in history is that of af1luents to this ma
stream. And even Christianity itseif,whi'
e. so loudly proclaims its Indifference to 8
g national or chronological distinctions, and
equal regard for every branch of the huma
Ig family, while it has been rejected by IL
D, d race to which 1t was first revealed, has b
ID come to the more advanced parts OF t
f1,o,,