Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-05-10

Woausrfal Progress Of Opinion In Thll
ty Days.
The Conservative party of Fauuuie
county are wise hearted people. The
look straight atthings. They see clear
~ and act promptly, and are general,
far in advance of what are called 18th
party leaders" They constitute an i'm
meDse body of enlightened aud indie
pendent thought. Thought with then
quickly forms itself into words, an,
words - transformed into prompt an.
vigorous action. 1t was no sooner I'M
derst00d that the real nature Of the mex
fall election for State officers was race
conflict. 9 struggle between the white
and negroes for the political control o
the state of Virginia, and that the Re
0d3ssster Democrats sO0uld.. haze 1t n
their p0Wer to determine a0hich of th0s'
odversasses should gain the victory, thar
the Conservatives of Fauquier deter
mined to take such ground on the ques'
tinn of the State debt az would enable
the Democratic readjusters to unite In
the party action, because every mar
saw at q glance that it was of far greater
importance that the white race should
continue to mould the thought and &C
ton of Virginia, than that any particu
laf Optui0u - to tie disposition of thu
State debt should p evaif. They wished
and still desire that the debt shall
be fairly and h0norably settled and are
willing to burthen themselves with the
additional taxation necessary to attain
that object. But they do not mean to
put the Commons wealth under the rule
Of the negro in future attempt to do It
They clearly understand that, II the
intelligence and morality Of the State
continue to govern, that they could get
on tolerably we'll under the McCulloch
bill. or the Barbour bill, and If the Rid
dleberger bill itself should pass into a
law that it would not bankrupt their
finances to pay the lower rate of assess
ment for which 1t provides; and they
clearly understood that if the negro
should be put in the seat of power that
long train of disasters would follow,
the least of which would be a fictitious
and fraudulent public debt and the tax
alton to pay it.
The first indication of the changed
condition of Conservative opinion in
the county was the meeting at March
court and the resolutions then adopted.
But the party in the last thirty days has
made q step In advance Of that position.
They say now it is stronger and better
ground to let the State debt go, or, as q
sailor would say, to heave 1t overheard
that the ship may with more certainty
ride out the storm. "Let the Readjust-
ers settle the debt to suit themselves,
whilst we assume no responsibility with
regard to it." We attempted, say they.
to settle it on the principles of the
McCulloch bill. The attempt disrupted
our party, and President Garfield and
the Northern Republicans, instead of
standing by the debt payers. have come
into Virginia and taken sides against
them and now seize the occasion to put
the State un,ter negro rule
Shal! we allow this thing to he done?
and shall we by madly cIingiDg to n
settlement OF the State debt accOriiDg
TO particular figures become the accom-
plice in our own destruction? If we
can't settle the State debt upon the
principles we consider fair, prudence
dictates that we shall give up the job
End not let it hang like a milestone
about our necks. From whence is the
obligation derived that we should com :
nit suicide in the vain attempt to settle
the debt? There is no law i'll the moral
code making us the bondsmen of the
public creditor. This line of action is
dictated by the first law of nature,
which is self preservation, and applies
as strongly to political parties as to iDdi
viduals ''Drop it, drop it altogether" ("
This is what all the conservatives said
at April court He who has ears to
hear, let him hear Wasrentoz Inde1.
THE BABY's SERMON.-The children
had been up their mammals room, after
break fast, that Sunday morning, learn
ing their text; and when they had it
perfectly, ami were coming down stairs
again for a run in the garden, while
nurse was busy. Mamie and Frank fell
to disputing And what do you think
it was about? Why, who should carry
the great rubber ball down stairs.
Mamie wanted it, because she had
thought of 1t first, and Frank wanted 1t
because he was the Oldest.
YOU'RE mean, selfish boy" said
Mamie.
YOU'RE pig" said Frank.
"I'll just tell papa what q horrid boy
you are" said Mamie.
"And I'll tell mamma I wish she'd
| sell you VI SOucUOOy uOu WauGSuC0
| a sister," answered Frank.
So these naughty children went on
from bad to worse, saying all sorts OF
unkind and unpleasant things to one
another-so very unkind that they were
ashamed enough whenever they remem
bered them afterward.
All this time baby Ben was coming
down stairs behind them. Slowly, ona
| Cc1% ~ n ejvr,o In11inrr fucf IN ha tN0 Ina.
ters with both fat, small hands. the lit
tie man made his way; and wider and
wider opened his big blue eyes, more
and more surprised he looked, as NJ
heard the angry words.
The children stopped to finish theil
quarrel at the foot Of the stairs. Franz
was trying very hard to get the bal
away from Annie, and she had got a.
far as pulling his hair, the naughty girl
when the baby stopped on the loves
stair, and preached his sermon to them
"Ickle chillen," said he, "lOve on
anodder."
That was every word he said. 1t wa
the text the children had been learning
in their mothers room such a shOr
time before. niedropped her hands
her face flushed, and turned half ava.
from baby Ben, and nobody said any
thing for moment.
"Here, Frank" said Mamie. at last
holding out the ball, .you may have II
I'm going TO be good
$50 am L." said Frank. "You sha'
have the first toss, Mamie. Im-ln
very sorry was so cross"
So the two went off to the gardel
hand in hand, ashamed enough of hav
ing been so naughty; while the bab
curled himself up in his papa bl
chair in the study, and there nurs
found him. after long hunt. fast ASLEEP
with his thumb in his mouth.
How TO MAKE GOUD WHITEWAsH.-
Take of good uuslack ed lime half
. bushel, sake with warm water (ra1