The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-21

THURSDAY, February q 1884
Mr.. Robt. Sillington, of Mcdowell, died
last week.
The Highland schools have suspended
for want of funds.
Hon. Shelton F. Leake died at his resi-:
dence in Charlottesville, last week, aged
70 years.
The floods in the western rivers are rap
idly subsiding, but the suffering that has
been entailed is incalculable. Congress in
creased it's appropriation to $500, 900, and
private and public contributions are being
literally made.
In the municipal elections throughout
the State of New York last week, the Re-
publicans made uniform gains. The same
result attended the municipal elections
in Pennsylvania on the 10Th. The ''grand
old party" does not propose to go.
The House of Representatives had an
all-night session on the 18th, the question
under consideration being the Mexican
pension bill. The Republicans filibustered
to prevent the passage of the bill. because
of some Objectionable features init. The
session did not close until S.55 Tuesday
morning.
The registration in Norfolk. under the
new districting of that city resulted rather
unfavorably to the Democrats. Out of a
total registration of 5,S79. there were
1870 colored-a majority of 81. With the
white Republican and Readjuster vote,
the opposition to Bourbonism, it is
claimed. will have 1000 majority.
The last WytheviIle Dispatch contains
the salutatory of Col. r. E. Withers and
Mr.. Frank Terry as editors and proprie-
tors. In it, the announcement is made
that the paper will hereafter be Democrat
ic. Col. Withers is forcible writer, hav-
ing had large experience in editorial la
bors, and his power will be felt in his par
ty and the State.
The Republicans, on the 10th, carried
Philadelphia by a majority of thirteen
thousand for solicitor and nine thousand
for mayor. Roth branches of the city
council are Republican, the lower house
by an overwhelming majority. The Re
publicans made the fight against the Dem
ocrats, who were backed by the committee
of one hundred, in favor of King for may
or. 1t is aremarkable victory, under all
the circumstances.
Gen. Chinese Gordon, sent by the Eng.
lish government to Egypt to influence af-
fairs there against Ell Mahdi, has reached
Kartroum. He has issued proclamation
recognizing Ell Mahdi as the ruler of the
Soudan, remitting half the taxes imposed by
the Egyptian government, and declaring il
not the purpose of the government to in.
terfere with the slave trades. Osmar
Digma, the commanding General under
Ell Mahdi. declares it to be his purpose to
sweep the English forces into the sea.
The evidence taken at New Orleans by
the Senate subcommittee to investigate
the condition of affairs at Cophia, Miss,
reveals terrible condition of disorder
danger and outrage. 1t is almost incred-
IDLE that any people pretending to be civ.
ilized would resort to such wrongs and
outrages for political ends as are testified
to byrespectable citizens. whose only crime
is that they are Republicans.
The subcommittee to investigate the
affair at Danville, connected with the
bloody conflict there on the Sd of Noyem-
Der, have examined number of witnesses.
The evidence is contradictory-the white
witnesses testifying that they acted in self
defense, and that the difficulty was pro
voked by the conduct Of the negroes
while the colored witnesses depose that
they had no weapons. were seeking no dis
turbance, did no aggressive act, and that
the assault and murders were unprovoket
and wholly indefensible.
We have received several commu
nications adversely criticizing the &C
tion of the Readjuster and Republican
Committees which assembled in Richmond
last Saturday. Their length and the late
hour at which they were received compel
us to delay their publication until next
week. We recognize the right of the
writers to be heard through our columns,
whether we agree with their views or not,
for they are both Republicans of unques-
toned integrity and influence, who have
been identified with the party from its
earliest history in the State. We should
prefer that our Harrisonburg correspon-
dent authorize us to sign his name to his
communication, as the nature of the arti-
Gle, it seems to us, requires this, and I'M
less otherwise instructed before it goes in
type, we shall do SO.
1t could not be matter of controversy
with us, whether the improvement of the
public roads should commence at Stauntor
as centre, or at the extremities, with
Staunton as the objective point. We want
to see some practical steps taken to get
the improvement, and if it is deemed
more advisable to commence in the county
and work towards Staunton. it will suit
us. If the Waynesboro Messenger will
join in the effort to inaugurate plan fol
this primary object, we will not fall out
with it as to the point of beginning. The
immense loss to the farmers of the county
resulting from impossible roads, cannot
well be computed, and it is for them t.
determine whether this is to continue in
definitely or not. There are no interests
more important to them than those in.
volved in the public roads and they should
seriously take hold of the matter, and dc
so without delay.
Rev. J. Rice Bowman, of the Presbyte
rian Church, Harrisonburg, has accepted &
call to Gainesville, Texas. He made 9
visit to that place and was SO mucf
pleased with the congregation he is tc
serve and the town, that he purchased
property, and made the preliminary ar
rangement to enter upon the duties Of his
new charge as soon as practicable. AS a
token Of their regard for him, they pre-
scented him with 81 900, and in response te
the thanks of the Doctor, they said 1--WE
consider this nothing in comparison tt
the good that will be accomplished by your
coming among u.s." DIR. Bowman is one
of the most learned and popular ministers
in Virginia, and his removal from the Val.
ley will be cause of regret..to wider circle
than the immediate people he has SO ably
and silccpSSfullv served Here in Staun-