The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-11
Will they do it /?


The events of the past week point conclu-
sively to the dissolution ofthe solid South as
political organization. Out of the chaos
must come new ideas and new men. The old
leaders of the past must be relegated with the
things of the past. The strength and hope Of
come forward. Like the great captain of old,
their lips have touched the dust, aud they
should gather inspiration from contact with
mother earth and press onward and upward
until the heights are reached. Untrammeled
by political records, far enough removed from
the glamour OF a once illustrious past to see
the possibilities and promise OF bright future,
they should take the helm of State in their own
hands, and looking forward and not backward,
guide the ship clear of the shoals and quick
ed for fifteen years. Practical, common sense
is what VIC now need Men of independence
of character and of brain. We want less of
sickly sentimentality over what has been, and
a more earnest and aggressive effort to make
the State what she should be- The rock bed
and genuine comprehension and acceptance Of
the situation as it is. Legislation enacted to
evade or impair the obligations we have as
sumed, must be repealed. Upon the broad
flag stones ofjustice, equal and exact justice to
every man and class of men, must the struct-
ure be reared. The inevitable must be
recognized and our energies directed not to an
attempt to evade, but to an earnest effort to
take things as we find them and make the best
of them. The prosperity of no country can
be permanent that is builded on the broken
faith of its people. There can be no real
growth and progress in the State, until
men are permitted to act with positive in
dependence in all the relations of life
an independence guaranteed by the letter
of our laws, but which few dare exercise.
Charity and hberality to political opponents
must take the place of the old intolerance and
arrogance. In short there must be less of pol
itics. manufactures must be the lever of our
elevation. The development of our natural
resources and the advancement of our material
interests must be the great desiderata, and not
iiiSA VI l'pi y S"'i SOiieAci ehAe
offices
To the young men of the South the oppor-
tunity now offered is specially propitious. The
| theatre for action is broad The demands are
pressing. viii they have the nerve and indie
pendence to leave behind dead past, for hope
full future? Will they shake from their limbs
the shackles which have bound them to an
effete organization and strike out boldly on a
new line? Will they turn aside from the glory
of the fathers" and look to the happiness and
welfare of the sons and daughters? Will they
give up the methods that have ruled and ruined
the South and adopt those which have made
the North and East powerful and prosperous
Will they permit themselves to drag along in
the old rut for the poorprivilege of basking in
the smile Of that peculiar class which neither
learns nor forgets, or will they take the affairs
which concern them int } their own hands, and
work out their own salvation and the salvation
of their people? Will they take practical and
common sense view of their duty, and then
press boldly onward to the redemption and
regeneration of their State and section?