The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-16

ated. Hughes, with that calm forecast for
which he Is distinguished, took the position,
Immediately after the war, that 1t was the
duty of the people Of the South to accept
the situation and live up to it, and as
means to this he identified himself with the
administration party, enforcing his views
through Richmond journal-the name
OF which we cannot now recall published
in the interest Of the National Republican
organization. Cameron was then editing
Petersburg paper, in which be brought
severe ard bitter indictment against Hughes,
causing prompt challenge and meeting.
in which Cameron fell. wounded at the first
fire.
The fatal termination of the prolonged
and inherited warfare between the BITCHES,
of the Enquirer, and John Hlmpden Pleas
ants of the Wing. in which the brave and
intrepid Pleasant fell MORALLY wounded at
the hands of young Tom Richie, was be-
fore our active editorial day. and with
neither OF whom was. It ever our own fortune
to meet.
Wise passed through the ordeal Of Rich
mond editorial strife. to fall at the head of
his command on the field of battle during
the war. Aylett was one of the victims of
the Capitol disaster In 1858 or 80. Daniel
died from an acute disease in editorial har-
ness Just about the time the flag of the
Confederacy was. furl ed and the ''cause"
went into history as ''lost." Ridgeway.
after being elected to Congress in 1866. but
not admitted to his seat, breathed his last at
his country home in one of the eastern
counties.
Contemporary with all Of these able and
commanding journalists, privileged to en-
Joy their acquaintance, and the intimate
friendship Of some Of them, we recall the
association and the conflicts through which
we have passed with them with pleasure,
mingled with sadness. The living of them
have won distinction commensurate with
the promise of their editorial labors, and
the dead leave behind the remembrance Of
honor untarnished, Of friendship steadfast
and true of courageas chivalrous as ever
was recorded in the annals of knight er-
rantry, or embelished the pages of song or
story.
1t is lamentable to ackno Wedge that the
standard of journalism these able and in
fiuential writers established and maintained
| in their time, has not in all respects, been
observed by the profession of the present
| day. We can point to but few instances
where the same high motives and the same
elevated self-respect and respect for the in
telligence of the public, have governed in
the journalistic life. In the rural press, es-
pecially, there has been too much prone
ness to pander to prejudice and passion.
| and too strong an inclination to pervert
facts to subseIve partizan ends, instead of
addressing the reason of the people. and
endeavoring to convince by argument and
educate the popular understanding to q
| truthful appreciation of measures and poll
| cies. The proper mission of journalism is
to instruct and to inspire an ambition for a
higher ideal in public life. but In this Vir-
| ginia journals fall short, most of them
satisfied with rejecting the wishes and
striving for the aims of place hunters and
demagogues, unmindful Of the public wei.
fare and the influence to be exerted upon
the interests Of the Common wealth. Until
this ideal is found and an earnest purpose
manifested to work and live up to it, the
newspaper will only be regarded as the agent
to promote unworthy aspirations, and the
avenue through which to debauch pu bile SEN
timent.
Virginia is fruitful field for elevated
journalism. The crop of demagogues which
| has sprung up all over the Commonwealth.
receiving their inspiration from the grog-
shops and the crossroads, should be rooted
| out, and the popular mind invoked to a
higher guage for public service and higher
standard for political morality. With the
journalists ~ehave named, such thing as
an organ for this or that man would not
have been entertained for moment, and
even the bare suggestion would have met
with rebuke so cutting and a criticism so
scathng as to have driven the mover Of it
out of the walks of decent public life
There is indeed strong, vigorous public
protest against the political methods which
have become fashionable in these later days
and it is the duty ofthe press to lend it's aid
to the creation OF more healthy popular
thought and broader understanding Of the
privileges and duties of citizenship under
our form OF government. Unit j this is
done, we may expect shallow INTEL ects and
selfish ambitions to direct public affai rs and
mould public opinion, regardless of the in
| terests of the people and the welfare OF the
Commonwealth and country.
A few days ago, the New York Sun pub
lished letter said to have been written by
Gen. Garfield, while Chief of Staff of Gen.
Cumberland, in the year 1868, addressed to
Hon. s. P. Chase, then Secretary of the
Treasury under President Lincoln. The
letter lisa criticism Of the military conduct
OF the General commanding, condemning
his delays in moving his forces, and un-
friendly animadversion upon his military
administration. Subsequent to this Gen
Rosencranz was removed from the COM
mand. and it is stated that it was the infu-
ence of the Chief of Staff. Gen. Garfield.
which produced it. The letter, as published.
abounds in warm expressions of friendship
for his chief, but offers as a reason for its
writing the necessity of the military situa-
ton. he publication of the letter has
caused great deal of comment, and sever
al very severe articles from correspondents
condemning Gen. Garfield In unmeasured
terms. Connected with its appearance is
one from Gen Garfield to Gen. Rosencranz,
written in 1880, in which he vehemently
denies eyer having written or spoken any
thing to his discredit or that was not con-
sistent with the friendly personal relations
that existed between them and the admira.
ton he had for his military capacities
There is also reproduced a speech of Gen.
Garfield, delivered In Congress, in favor OF
resolut ion Of thanks to Gen Rosencranz,
in connection with Gen. Thomas, and CIV
ing the former precedence in the order of /
their names in the resolution nv reason nj