Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-11
Facetiousness VS.. Fact.

Our contemporary, the Valley Virg''''a'',
attempts with show of facetiousness, as
puerile as it is ineffective, to gloss over Its
anomalous position with regard to the ad-
vancem emit of the interests Of the State. 1t
assumes that the business interests OF the
State are in a depressed condition because
our Legislature is Democratic, and Whilst
it is greatly distressed over this violent as
sumption, yet it's duty as a journalist forces
it to portray in lively terms this sad state
of business depression, which it seems TO oo
almost con anore, and at the same 1t sets
forth in glowing pictures the Eldorado Oh
fered to the impoverished sons Of Virginia
in the wind-swept, tornado-tossed, ana
grasshopper-infested plains of Central nan
sas. 1t is one thing to offer to sell LANDS 10
those who have made up their MINDS 10
leave their native State for the West, pu1
it is quite different one to hold forth induce
ments to cause them to leave, and more es-
pecially when this is coupled with an effort
to make them dissatisfied with their homes,
by harping upon an assumed depression OF
business and making gloomy forecasts Of
the future.
| It is true that our merchants here are
complaining of dull times, but it must be
remembered that this is the dull time OF the
year, and is so, more or less, every year,
and has been made more so than ever this
year by the impossible condition Of the
county roads, which has, for the past month
or more, prevented the farmers from mar.
ketine their produce and making their usu-
al purchases.
From all over the State comes the cheer
ing news of active industry and commercial
enterprise. Northern capital is rapidly
flowing into Virginia and, what is better,
our own people are looking to the invest
ment of their surplus capital in manufac
turing enterprises of all kinds. Peace ano
: quiet reigns within our borders, and there
never was a brighter outlook for year o
prosperity than is now opening before thu
people of Virginia.
The attempt to charge whatever depres
sion may exist in business to the fact tha
: the Virginia Legislature is Democratic il
mere political trickery; it is as bold all as
sumption as that made in 1876, when thu
revival of the business of the country
= brought about by splendid harvests, wa
attributed to the fact that the Republican
party had gained control of the U. S. gov
eminent, though it was accomplished by
;, fraud upon the people. Probably the Va'
qinian would also attribute the depression
in business at the North to- the Virgins
: Democratic Legislature. We have just re
: ceived the monthly Financial Circular
: the Bankers, Henry Clews & Co., of NeE
York, which says: 'Two months Of til
= year have passed, and the country canno
. congratulate itself upon the improvement
in business that many expected to charae
" terize the opening of the year.
''The general state of business is still ia
from being satisfactory" This is the stat
of affairs in the North, but We hear Of n
= such complaints from the South-fror
e there we hear nothing but the busy note {
n enterprise and industry; old cotton mill
l. are being enlarged, new ones being bull
II mines operated, and large investments {
J. capital being made in all branches of man,
" features.