Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-09-04
Letter from Eng George County.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.

SHILOH, Va, Aug. 29th.-The abundant
rain fall ofthe last few days has greatly
cheered the hearts ofour farmers. The grow
ing corn which had begun to fire and droop
has been revived fallow blowing has been
resumed; pasture fields have taken on
greener hue: the sluggish wheels of the grist
mills have been quickened to livelier mo-
ton, and attendants upon protracted relig-
ious meetings are relieved from the inS,ltier-
able dust which has prevailed for several
weeks.
Everything has assumed more cheerful
aspect except the faces of some Of our read
juster politicians upon which deep concern
is very plainly written. Whether it is con-
triton for past sins orgloomy forebodings of
the political future in which they see more
and more plainly every day certain defeat
of their long cherished hopes of Office, it is
hard to say With a few Of the leaders we
still ind Some buster and bravado-a sort
of graveyard whistling to keep their spirits
up but nobody is deceived by all this as it
is evident to every careful observer that the
peace of this once large and happy family is
seriously broken. Republicans are finding
out that they arc not TO be allowed to have
even the crumbs that fall from their own
ing the coalition ranks.
Democrats are realizing how false and hol-
low have been all readjuster promises of re-
form in our State economy, and are rapidly
returning to their old party fold John Paul's
speech At our last court, and the scenes en-
acted in the coalition meeting, held imme-
diately after the delivery of that speech,
opened the eyes Of many. democrats who
have been in full sympathy heretofore with
the readjuster party. In that speech they
heard for the first time the idea of this be-
ing white mans government openly,
bodily and publicly sneered ut. ridiculed and
denounced. and that by native white man
whom their new party had elevated TO the
high position Of one of Eirginia's reprenta-
tives in the national Congress. They heard
that same speaker eXhort the crowd of
negroes present to stand up more mantully
than ever for their rights and to assert their
claims to full share in the administration
of the State and local governments. They
saw, too, how certain white men. chronic
office seekers, joined with the neg roes in
raputurous applause otthese vile sentiments.
and how these same negroes, in the coai-
ton meeting held few minutes later, act
ing upon the advice just given them by Mr.
Paul, came boldly to the front, took the
reins in their own hands and controlled the
action of that meeting. Wekuow ofscver;ll
who, since this occasion, have expressed
themselves as completely cured of Ma
honcism, and are once more good. healthy
democrats.
In the matter Of the public schools, too,
which was made. along with the adjustment
of the State debt i potent factor in the
building up of this new party. returnin Q
democrats have seen what a hollow pre-
tence was all that vaunted devotion TO the
cause of popular education. They have
4 seen the able and distinguished head of our
State school organlZation-a man who had
earned 4 national reputation for administra-
tive talent in the department Of education
displaced without the slightest provocca'ion
RI make room for township politician
whose lack of scholarship has become by
, word and subject of newspaper Jest
; throughout the country.
They remember the dsgracctul scene Ell.
ac:ed at the late meeting of the Board OF
Visitors at Blacksburg College, all institu-
ton supported by taxes drawn from the poo
pie, where member of that Board in drunk
en- rage first wantonly insulted and then
drew deadly weapon upon fellow men,
ber
But coming nearer home. this same class
OF Democrats iii this county have seen this
| SiNel wv iSi lliS SstAiSC vi puDilC
manifested i'll the removal OF our late county
. superintendent of schools without cause,
save to reward Il sort of crossroads stump
speaker-a man without one point of quail
, ticaton. moral or intellectual, to commend
him for the postion-one who as stated in
this correspondence at the time. failed last
winter to obtain the coveted prize of the
smallest post-otlice in the county, simply be-
sluse no responsible person would 60 upon
his official bond rs -master-one whose
, m ornamental ignorance of matters pertain
f ing to schools is sufficiently illustrated by q
few extracts from his papers in a written
examination last year when he applied, but
failed 10 secure certificate, TO teach one OF
our public schools. In these papers, now lying
before your correspondent. this public school
officer makes the startling announcement
that Oliver Cromwell was one of the EARL.
est explorers Of America. and was accom-
panied in his perilous work by James Cor
t don Bennett and VIM. Penn That Bene-
dict Arnold WAS 4 distinguished military
commander i'll the war of 1872 and that
Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio
were among the thirteen original States
: OF this Union. That the cape Of Good Hope
is situated OIL the OF Florida AMI Cape Henry
on the coast of Maryland. That there are two
tropics-Canc.r and Copricorn having Il mild
Ultimate anu I'f otl!cr cniu: anu That the winter
, SolSticc occurs on the Did oi January In gram
mar he was wholly deficient, and in arithmetic he
| draws distinction between common and vulgar
fractions illustrating the former by the example
of y and the latter by 3la. and makes bond for
SlGo, running at interest for year. six months
and nine days 1T per cent amount to S671.95,
!, whatever that may be. His spelling is very
unique the papers showing the following Farr.
fetched methods: Alumni, bridel. liquish (ico-
rice). incourageable, raleise and irresyphalus =
And this man is set to examine and pass upon the
qualification OF teachers for our public schools,
appointed by those who are. par prcsilencs the
champion lovers and defenders OF public educa-
ton. Can sensible people be longer deceived by 4
party whose every movement serves only TO dis
solve the false pretcnscs OF its leaders? We think
not.
VIRGINIA NEWS
Ihe stone-cutters at the nenitentiary have