Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-03

L hODI EOI u y,
1928 1885
5tannnr gpertatnr
For more than three-score years the srAuS.
TON SPECTATOR has been to an extensive pm
lie as familiar as household word" The
history of the central section of the great Val
ley ofvirginia is its history. With the eYoep-
ton of two other journals in the State it takes
its rank in years-of existence, and in castiu2 q
view over all the country from Marylar d to
Tennessee, west of the Blue Ridge mountains,
ltls entitled to wear the honors of age in agec.
citation with It's esteemed contemporary.
what eventful years and times 1t has chroni
cled! Coming into life during the quiet sad
pure administration of Monroe, it has steaeiy
moved evenly along the pathway of true Jour
naiism' representative organ of noble raee
and the champion of correct and sound prir o..
efples. Before the formation of the great re.
litical parties of which Henry Clay and DE-
drew Jackson were the opponents, it was al
active and Jealous champion of the people an
the peoples rights. Receiving inspiration
rectly from the founders OF our government, Il
has maintained the true theories and the high
purposes which established civil liberty a1ss
liberal rule en- the American Continent. r.
has witnessed the rise and fall of great parties
it has passed through the scenes Of trouble
which came upon all the country. and nova
in the day of It's birth and first active life, H.
supreme devotion to right, 10 justice, 10 goo
governm emit. and the advocacy of substantii
and liberal progress. guides its aims and con
socrates its motives.
The mission of a newspaper is one of grea
responsibility. 1t exerts an almost supreme
control In the family. in social life, and in bus
mess affairs. for good or evil.
The cultivation of proper literary taste, the
promotion of agriculture. commerce. and man
ufactures, and the advocacy of measures o
true progress, are the chief cares in the labore
of those who conduct the columns OF the
SPECTATOR. Education first and foremost ii
the groundwork of all advancement, and upon
this basis. the chief as well as the minor pur-
suits and objects of mans existence are found
ed.
Platforms are. in these times, considered the
proper mode in which to present claims for
public recognition and support. The SPEcTA-
TOR retains its old and time-honored princk
Piles and purposes. Under the benign infiu-
ences of new national administration which
will recognize the equality of all sections of
this great-country, and. adhering to its enunci-
ated purposes. the SPECTATOR will maintain it's
place in the public arena, with high hopes of
present and future usefulness. which shall be
worthy gifts past history.
In the details of journalism are many inter-
esting features. 1t is question in this day
which engrosses the minds of editors most, the
chart under which they work, or the attractive
and entertaining subjects which can be gath
cred by effort and industry in the daily round.
books and standard publications. thorough
market reports, are some of the details but
not the least, in making up readable and
lively paper. Then the local department, If
not first in Importance, is the first read, and
still continues to claim that constant and dis
eliminating attention SO essential to the influ-
enee which it exercises on all minds, especial
~ the Young. The fact of the prominence Civ
on 1t, makes it Of first Importance, and in pro-
gressive journalism it has already taken that
rank.
The SPECTATOR will labor to merit enlarged
patronage in its subscriptions, and in IT'S ad--
vertising and job-printing departments. 1t
feels that there is no more to do than to invite
cordial cooperation OF old and new and
young friends to its aid. Now is most desi-
rable time to commence with its regular week
faithfully It can serve the purposes of entertain
naeEt and instruction.