The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-25

The State assumes that we have made
our peace with the powers that be and Ia
ken office under the government" and
hence are disposed to do something we
would not otherwise do. This seems to imply
that we have made some advances or had
some negotiations by which our views have
been modified and editorial conduct con-
trolled. Our contemporary is very much
mistaken il this is the meaning of what he
says. We have never consulted or commu-
nicated with the ''powers that be" at home
or abroad as to what course we would pur-
sue. We had positively declined office
when rendered us, and successfully used
what influence we possessed for another
An act of Providence causing a va
cancy, the urgent solicitations of polit-
ical friends and foes induced us after
wards to accept. We never sought or
held Office as a source of support. There
is no position in the gift Of the gov
eminent that we would accept, conditioned
upon the surrender of our legitimate and
lifelong calling. We are as Independent
of office ana political favors from the ''pow-
ers that be, as the State or any of its Bour-
bon contemporaries, and just as untram-
meled in the expression of our views of
public questions and public men. We sup
port the administration because it is the
representative of the policy and the princi-
Piles we believe best. for the country and
the South, and we will support those who
support it because of this. We believe the
Republican party to be the true national
party, that the measures it upholds are those
which have brought the nationito its pres
ent high position and prosperous condition,
and we will favor thOseiwho give assurance
that they will assist in enforcing it's policy
and perpetuating its power.
We have never toadied to Presidents,
Cabinet officers, Senators or Congressman
that thrift might follow .fawning." We
have differed, as to State policy, and ex-
pressed that difference through these col
umns, from two Presidents and two Cabinet
officers, at different times, in whose de-
partment we were serving, without forfeit
ing their confidence. We have differed and
do differ from the present adm in istration
Senator, in many things, without, to our
knowledge, having incurred his hostility.
1t is, in fact, mistaken notion which the
Bourbons entertain that to hold official po-
sition under Republican admin stration
a man has to become slave. There are no
petty exacti0ns demanded-no prying in
QUESTIONS lnstituted-no craven subm ission
required. We have, however, invoked the
displeasure of few fly-blown, dead beat
adventurers-a few chronic office-seekers,
who would starve without official papa
few INSCRIPTIONS place-hunters, who do not
know principle and its connection with
government, from hand saw. This COM
pliment we have enjoyed and now enjoy.
But it has never been intimated to US, d.
rectly or indirectly, that to retain the con-
fdence OF the government, we had to COM
promise our manhood, modify our convic-
tions, or suppress our honest opinions
These are our birthright and will be faith, |
fully and fearlessly maintained through |
these columns, which are our private prop
erty, and will be surrendered to no clamor,
nor influenced by any amount of taunt,
prescription or false accuse ton. We have
passed through too many bitter contests
and endured too much partizan hate and
injustice without losing our self respect or
compromising our profession, to be con-
trolled in our views of men and policies,
by merely mercenary considerations. The
VIRGINIAN is its own master. 1t has Won
Its way to the confidence of the people upon
1 own merits, and this confidence we
shall endeavor to retain by advocating the
same principles and measures, which it,
singly and alone, has upheld in Virginia,
against the fercest and most relentless OPP
position that ever a journal had to encoun-
ter. There is no Office that can purchase
is no mans favor or disfavor that
can influence it; no coterie of small-fry
politicians and shallow-minded time-servers
who would give their souls for office, that
can swerve it from that line of policy which
it believes to be duty to the principles and
the party to which it processes allegiance to
support.