Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-31

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1923 1885
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For more than three-score years the srAuN-
TON SPECTATOR has been to an extensive pub
| lie as familiar as Household word y The
history If the central section of the great VAL
ley of Virginia is its history. With the excen-
tion of two other journals in the state 1T takes
its rank in years of existence, and in casting a
view over all the country from haryIaud to
Tennessee. west of the Blue Ridge mountains.
1t is entitled to wear the honors of age in asso.
citation with it's esteemed contemporaries
What evsntful years and times it has chronic
cleo! coming INTO lie during the quiet and
pure administration of Monroe, it has steadily
moved evenly along the pathway of true jour
naiism, representative organ of noble race
and the champion of correct and sound princi-
ciples. Before the formation of the gress sS
litical paroles of which Henry Clay and An
drew Jackson were the opponents, it was an
active and jealous champion of the people and
the peoples rights. Receiving inspiration d.
rectly from the founders OF our government, it
has main tanned the true theories and the high
purposes which established civil liberty and
liberal rule on the American Continent It
has witnessed the rise and fall of great parties
1T has passed through the scenes of trouble
which came upon all the country, and now, as
in the day of its birth and first active life, its
supreme devotion to right, to justice, to good
governm emit, and the advocacy of substantial
and liberal progress, guides its aims and con-
socrates Its motives.
The mission of a newspaper is one ,ss,greaf
responsibility. 1t exerts an almost supreme q
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 of
true progress, are the chief cares in the labors
of those who conduct the columns of the
SPECTATOR. Education first and foremost is
the groundwork of all advancement, and upon
this basis. the chief as well 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 sPEcrA-
TOR retains its old and time-honored princi-
pies and purposes Under the benign influ-
ences of new rational administration, which
this great country, and. adhering to its enunci-
ated purposes, the SPECTATOR will main tain its
place in the public arena, with high hopes Of
present and future usefulness, which shall be
worthy of its past history.
In the details of journalism are many inter.
esting features. It is a 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
of toll. Correspondence, news, reviews OF
books and standard publications, thorough
market reports, are some of the details but
not the least, in making up a 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
attention so essential to the infiu-
ence which 1t exercises on all minds, especial
ly theyoung. The fact of the prominence Civ
en- it, makes 1t of first Importance, and in pro-
gresslve journalism it has already taken that
rank.
The SPECTATOR will labor to NJ crit enlarged
in its subscriptions, and in it's ad-
and job-printing departments. It
feels that there is no more to do than to invite
a cordial cooperation OF old and new and
young friends to its aid. Now is most desi-
rable time to commence with its regular week
ly visits, and to realize how efficiently and
can serve the purposes of entertain
ment and instruction.