The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-10-06
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, OCTOBER 6, 1881.
The "Real People

The continuous rule of favored few in
the State infatuates them with the delusiOn
that they constitute the State. However
have been; however much they may have
betrayed their trusts and wronged the great
mass OF the constituent body from whose
sweat and toll the government receives its
support, these favored few assume that they
are the ''real people, and to them belongs
the right to control revenues. squander
earnings, and prostitute official position.
II doubt is expressed of their fitness for
such responsibilities, it is denounced as an
insult to the intelligence Of the real peo-
ple." II corruptions are exposed, il rob-
berries are detected; if crimes, high or low,
are made bare, and the perpetrators bis
tered by public Indignation, it is heralded
as an assault upon the safeguards of So
ciety and the conservative restraints of gov
eminent because the ''real people, have
been thus kicked out Of positions they pros
tituted. This class OF persons initiate
the air with their rawlings about communism
and agrarianism, whenever the people,
incensed and outraged beyond endurance,
rise up in their might and hurl such crea-
lures from places OF trust. 1t is the ''rea-
people: who are thus stricken down, and
the common horde which assumes the direc-
ton of affairs that by long years of indul-
gence these favored few had come to the
conclusion belonged to them The s'real
people" are not the few pestiferous politi
clans. who live upon the contentious ofcom-
munity and the exeitements of passions and
hates, arraying neighbor against neighbor,
because an honest difference of opinion may
be entertained. The real people, are the
working masses-thOse who run the pillow,
the workshops, the mines, and the indus
tries OF the Countrywide seek no political
prefermeht and are only concerned in the
faithful administration and disbursement,
for the legitimate purposes of government,
OF the means which come from their TOLL
The laborer who wields the axe, the ham,
mer, or the shovel or trowel, or shoves the |
plane, although he may not own foot OF
land. or dollar in stocks or goods. or pos
sess more than shelter for his family and |
clothing for their nakedness, is one of |
the "real people, for it is the result of his |
sturdy arm and well-poised head, which sup
plies the wealth of the country. 1t is the |
fashion for the mere drones of society to |
sheer at and denounce such, if they have |
the temerity to express an opinion about |
government and its uses and intimate an |
independent thought for themselves. 1t is
the drones' business to live upon the sub
stance of the honest labor of the country,
and the politicians are the real drones of |
the State. Their occupation is to reap
where Others have sown-to sap the fruits
of honest toll, and then scoff at and scorn
the very sinew and marrow which have fed
them. The ''real people, are beginning to
awaken to the necessity Of looking af-
ter their own affairs and not leaving
everything to the control and direction of
the mere professional politicians, who re-
spect neither labor nor government unless
it contributes to their indolent ease.
These self-styled ''real people, assume
that they are the government-that its
privileges and immunities are for them, and
that whatever they may do it must not be
brought in question by the masses. There
is an earnest restlessness on the part of the
bone and sinew of the country under this
assumption. of superiority, and the ballot
box is the most appropriate place for it to
be expressed. We think it quite likely the
"real people, of the State we refer to, will
realize this and find that there is more vi
tality and grit in the self will and self-re-
spect OF the unostentatious populace than
have been accorded to them. The ides OF
November may be instructive to many, and
a lesson learned that will serve a good pur-
pose for all time to come.