Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-04-03
COMMUNICATED.
THE ELECTIONS NEXT FALL.
No. 4.


We have written some articles 10
,ouse the people to the Importance OF
selecting for the Legislature our best ana
most efficient men, 3
When we consider that the office OF
maker is at once the most difficult
and the most responsible: When we
consider that TO devise, digest and frame
wise and iudicious legislation is the
very highest achievement of the human
intellect, straiuing The greatest talent,
taxing the widest range OF knowledge
and exhausting the largest capacity for
labor: When we consider that our
statute law is in worse condition than
that of any other State and that inc
crude bungling OF ali unskilled ana III,
competent legislator only makes Hyt 'no
confusion worse confounded: w hen
we consider that the next Legislature
must act on questions OF the greatest
difficulty and delicacy, when are Vi
necnliar and vital Importance TO the
neople of this county, surely II Is pam
rroposition that we should select for tins
81 men who will bring to It's per-
toTmance the requisite skill and capacity,
And il would seem apropositlon equally
plain. that no man, unless gifted with
extraordinary natural ability, is quail
fed for work of this character without
special training and education IN this
particular department OF learning.
We venture to assert, that notwltf-
Standing the admitted intelligence OF
our people, there are not twenty men
i'll this county qualified for this office.
There are not twenty men who can go
ahead and WELD a commanding miln-
euce in the Legislature. But it is equally
true that we have at least 10000 citizens
who may occupy seat in the leglsla-
ture without bringing open and notorl-
Gus ridicule upon the county, because Ii
man will preserve digniied deport-
ment aud keep quiet, he may MAINTAIN
u sort of respectable ihsig"iftancs dur
ING ms entire term of service.
The point we make is, that Jefferson
ought to be represented by men who
will stand in the front and give this
county some voice and influence In our
public affairs. If these views be sound
and correct, why is ii, what We have
written exctes the wrathtul Indignation
of that swarm OF scriOhlers who fling
their personal attacks at JUNlUs. Is 1t
because he has erected the true stan
dard by which to measure our candidates
for the legislature Is it because this
true standard, being accepted by the
people, will exclude certain lncompc-
tent men who aspire to this position?
Is it because these candidates want the
standard lowered and brought down to
the wretched level of their own admit
ted imbecility?
We have men who by long years OF
labor aud study, have qualified them
selves for this office and they do not fear
to he measured 10y any standard how
ever high and exalted. The public at
large need the services of men iikethese,
far more than they need the honors OF
political prcfcrmcnt. In point OF fact
the question is this Shall our county
he denied the benefi: of her ablest cItl-
2ens. in order to crafty the childish
vanity of few men of admitted ineitl-
cheney and acknowledged lnterlorlty
JUNIUS.
p9~ We regret the above communl-
cation came toa late for our last issue.