The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-02-06

| Iiia1 IL VIII secure Lne approval ana thereby
gain the cordial cooperation and support Of
| the people.
This cooperation, and this alone, is in my
opinion, necessary for complete success.
am aware that l may be regarded by some
| as over-sangulne. But this is the sort of
faith abiding faith [ have, based not upon
fancy, or mere theory, but upon practical
results, attained in other places, upon some
experience and a great deal OF observation :.
Respectfully,
| Ro. S. HAMILTON.
The State seems to be ia quandary about
the absence of controlling mind s-genuine
craftsmanship in Virginia. 1t cries aloud for
a MAN to take advantage Of the opportunity
to lift Virginia out of the mud and mire in
to which the curb-stone politicians have
plunged her. This dearth of practical
| craftsmanship is easily accounted for. There
is no difficulty in assigning the true cause.
| 1t is because the Democratic press and 1.-THE
Democratic ring managers have educated
the people in the usages of curb-stone poll
tics-have guaged the chances for political
position by the amount of dirty partizau
work that could be accomplished, and not
by any valuable service that has been given
to the State. Whiskey and ballot-box stuff
ing have been more respected, courted and
favored than high aims OF State, political
integrity and patriotism. The dishonest
caucus managers have been directing the
politics Of Virginia, and there has been
nothing to encourage patriotism and states
70 II uf ~ Il
drive them into retirement.
Look at the press of the State and there
is no sentiment Of manliness and lberality
ever uttered about political opponents. Low
passions and prejudices are encouraged and
Observation-Disclosures and epithc is used
as the substitute for argument, and no am
bition is INDUCED to educate and bring the
public mind up to sentiments of justice and
right in political controversies. We see the
result in the class Of statesmen C) which
have been managing Virginia for the past
ten years! They have brought her to the
very verge of ruin and Bankruptcy, and yet
the people show no healthy sign Of stamp
ing out this brood of vampires.
ship in Virginia, when the people put their
feet upon the caucus despotism and ecorn
into obscurity the curbstone politicians who
have usurped political autho rity. We can-
not expect dccency to mix with the dirt and
filth which too frequently enter into the po-
litical fare Of which we are invited to partake.
The Legislative notes published in the
local columns Of the State of the 3rd inst,
say that the more moderate of the Read
justers utterly regard as inadm issable the
proposition of the bondholders. They de-
clare they will never concede or even con-
slider the tax-receivable coupon feature, UNI
less the three per cent. period is made
sufficiently long to compensate for the con-
cess!on by releasing annually enough Of the
coupons to permit the opening Of the free
schools. They say that the bondholders
will have to extend the three per cent. pc-
Rod, or the hope of settlement is ended.
We believe the bondholders will extend it
TO ten years, and with this done, it would
be acceptable to the great mass Of the peo-
pie and should be adopted by the Legisla-
ture.
The State continues, and says, that the
extreme Re-adjusters are in favor OF end
ing the negotiations at once and appealing
to the people in the next campaign.
II this is the position OF the extreme men,
the sooner the people know it the better
Ii they have the power in the Legislature
to defeat settlement now, after the conces-
sions OF the hondholders, and dare 90 be-
fore the people in the next fall election,
there will not be man OF them left to tell |
the tale Of their utter political destruction,
to the next Legislature. The people are in |
earnest about this settlement, and will al
low no foolishness.
The Legislature Of West Virginia last
week passed resolution instructing the
representatives in Congress from that State
TO vote for the Texas Pacific Railroad SUBJ
sidy. Hon. D. +. Martin, one Ct the repre-
'entatives, wrote very telling and sensible
letter giving his reason why the resolution
should not have been passed, and why the
'nbsidy should not be supported. On Mon
lay the Legislature rescinded by very de-
do1 vyoFA |