Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-20
MARTINsBURG, W. VA, SATURDAY, DEC. 20, 1884

vital Importance especially in our mountain
districts where the wealth of the locality doe
not afford sufficient tax TO support school
adequate to the proper instruction Of III
youth, our free institutions being based upoi
the intelligence of the citizen we can not tos
highly appreciate the necessity for MOI.
thorough and extensive system; a system tina
VIII furnish the most needy and the princel
Gift OF half million dollars to our school fu Ne
puted as largely as any meElber of the grea
Iafnily of states. should be carefully consideret
before the Representatives. OF the people by theil
official act refuse to accept IL.
We can no. too perssfenly press upon the al
tenfion OF foreign capitalists our vast miner al
coal. timber: and pastoral resources. with GU
relation a. the sea board; for from these alon,
can we look for the development of these in.
mense treasures. 1t Is the incoming tide tina
brings brain, muscle and wealth, with sros
perity in it's train. For while we are told by
The business men in the cities that among ths
young men OF West Virginia is found the nigh
est class af business tact ability and integrity
yet Ii Is q iamentabe fact that this power
development is almost totally lost TO us by the
migration OF our young men to more inviting
nelds In this connection we need to give
every encouragement to railroads and all mill
ing and manufacturing industries eveTywhert
Throughout the State, the majestic forests th.
grand old water courses, the fertile soil, ths
OF the mountains but wait the magic touch OF
capital and the brawny arm of labor to spring
into life. beauty. and power.
A State institution for the correction of tho
idle and dissolute street gamons has become s.
public necessity. The records of our courts
show tina. in the more popuious towns anG
cities petty oftenses by youthful offender,
have grown TO an farming extent. To confin,
the offenders in Jail fails to deter them, and I,
place them in the psnetentiary among class
OF hafdt ned criminals begets within them a
morbid spirit of revenge for what they feel u
be a penalty more than commensurate witt,
the offense and at the expiration of their tenn
turns loose horde OF men and women will,
but ole aim in life, to avenge themselves upon
"A society which they feel has branded them
criminals and worked their ruin. If any think
this too strongly drawn let them read the I'M
mortal work of Hugo. Les Miseribiles," and
study as carefully as he has done the effect q.
prison association upon the galley slave oI
France.
But more vital If possible than any of these
matters Is the Liberty Of the press which has
been so ruthlessly and wanionly attacked b.,
the supreme judiciary of this state AS 10 Draw
down upon that distinguished body the severe
censure and criticism of the leading journals OIL
the Nation. In these criticisms the press OF the
clergy, the laity, and even the soundest legal
journals ofthe day have Joined until our State
enjoys the world wide reputation of possessing
supreme Judiciary which by the arm of its
power h AS tempted to muZZle the freedom OF
the only real bullwark OF civil and religious
liberty. But while like the tabled God of the
Greeks whose grave was made beneath the
trembling Aetna which gave forth flame and
fire, press apparently yielded to the arm that
struck 1t down. Yetfron out its resting place
bursts continual flames OF muttering indigna-
ton which will yet overwhelm the Pompeii OF
Judicial arrogance midsts the piaudits of the
multitude. and all the people shall ayamen.
When We contemplate the great work to be
accomplished and The character of the agency
necessal TO its success, If B0vees definition OF
the office ofa newspa per be correct, ITO repre-
sent well the interests OF the times with an
average of two for each county in the State. we
find The press the most potent agency. BY the
use oil the telegraph gathering the opinions OF
business men and the thinkers af all sections
and climes and with its editorial columns it can
speak the voice OF the world in tones of thunder
and with almost lightning rapidty to every ear
in christendom. Hence. to you gentlemen,
more than any other class of men, do we owe
our present advancement and TO you we must
look for The future. Ifyou shall return to your
homes infused with new life and de termination
to charge your engines of power with energy OF
fiuctifylng thought, agitating the thoughtful
comps ling the siothful to think until the flame
of thought shall kindle action and burn out the
dead timber from the old forest of our ideas and
give room for The new and vigorous growth that
is pushing itselfto the foreground. cramped by
The tanglewood Of time. then shall your meet
ing prove not only pleasant and profitable TO
yourselves but OF the gravest Importance to the
State at large.
Once more. gentlemen, i welcome you to onr
midst and extend to you on behalf of the citi-
zcns the freedom Ofthe city.