The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-09-02
Specimen Bourbons.

The Rockingham Register has been delv-
Ing into its musty files, and as result has |
brought to life an editorial written by the
senior editor of the VIRaINIAN In 1866
The Richmond Dispatch reproduces the ar
ticle to show that the writer thereof as the
present editor of the VIRGINIAN, is polit-
ically inconsistent. 1t is the first time in a
long period that we have seen anything in
either Of those journals which read so well,
and we would advise them to search the
cid files Of the Register and continue the ex-
tracts, as they are far superior in style and
sentiment to anything those editors are ca
pablo of preparing We have no objection
to furnishing them brains, in this second hand
way, or seeing them appropriating for the
edification OF their readers, the reflections OF
fifteen years ago. That is about as near to
the practical ideas and policies OF govern
ment as they ever get. The party with
which they cooperate is generally about
twenty years behind the times, and it is not
until the advancing strides of civilization
and governmental science have developed
new thoughts and stirred fresh inspira-
| ton that such journalists as our cotempo-
raries can discover inconsistencies. why,
the truth is, we would not give blue bean
for the man who claimed to be consistent
in his political notions and opinions in this
progressive country OF America. "Wse
men change their opinions-fools never .
If we were superficial and thoughtless
enough to write the articles in question in
1866. we congratulate ourself that we have
advanced to more comprehensive under
standing of the situation, and to theories
and principles which are carrying the coun-
| try forward in its great mission OF mate
rial and intellectual development. The
Register and Dispatch attempt to meet the
live, pregnant issues and interests of to-day
with the arguments of fifteen years ago
Why don't they come up to the times, anc
address themselves to refuting with present
arguments, present propositions. The Re
publican party does not live in the Laws
beds or feed upon fossil husks. 1t believes
in intellectual and material progression
and is constantly blazing the way Tor the
perfection of American institutions ant
making history for this remarkable Anglo
Saxon race. We don't believe in standing
still and chewing the cud of disappointment
We prefer to go forward-to keep abreas
of the advancing tide of civilization ant
playing part in the living present, insteas
of mourning over the dead past. and hug
ging the memory of exploded and obsolete
notions and theories.
We would advise the Register and DIS
patch to wake up, or the fate of old Ri
Van Wrinkle will be duplicated in their his
tory.
Since writing the above we notice tina
the Spectator has embellished its column
with the article in question. This is grea
Improvement on the stupid stuff that gen
orally appears in that journal. If it will
transfer to its pages the views we now en-
terrain and express through the VIRGINIAN
it will take wise step in the direction o
educating its readers up to the living ques
lions of the day, and a healthy understand
ing of the national theory of government