The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-09-03

Intelligence and Wealth Il
Our contemporary Of the Yi,sdjcator
when in a philosophical mood, says some
wise and practical things. LII the last issue
Of that paper there are some conservative
and sensible reflections upon the colored |
man and the evidences of his advancement
inintelligent discrimination. Some months
ago similar article appeared in the same
paper. The effect of the sentiment and
the temper thus given out cannot be but |
salutary, and if taken up by the press of
the State and the interests involved dis
cussed i'll the same dispassionate spirit,
good would be done.
The VIRGINIAN has endeavored for a
dozen years to stimulate the colored
people to advancement in every respect.
No better evidence of appreciation of cit
izenship and freedom can be found than
the accumulation of property. This has
more conservative influence than educa-
ton, but both are essential TO an intelli-
gent appreciation of the duty of the citi
zen and the colored mans influence as
factor in our political relations. That the
negro vote has always been conservative is
sufficiently illustrated by the fact that the
Democrats have invariably been driven
to endorse it, after having opposed the
policy it indicated. The negro voted for
the resumption Of specie payment he
voted for the protective policy; he voted
for the national bank system he has
voted for every measure which has
brought about material prosperity and Ma
tional wealth, at a time when the Demo
Gratis voted against them. Yet in the
course of time the Democrats have been
compelled to acknowledge that the negro's
vote was right and their own wrong.
In State matters it is the same. He
voted to remove the unconstitutional re-
striction on the ballot to rescind the
whipping-post law to re-adjust the debt
on the basis of the Riddleberger bill to
rescue the public schools from ruin, and for
every liberal and enlightened measure
that has been enacted since 1870. He
voted for them in defiance of Democratic
opposition, and not until public sentiment
was so forceful and resistless, did the op-
position cease and the policy the negroes
vote pointed to accepted.
Says our contemporary 1T is absurd for
the colored man to close up his ranks
against the wealth and intelligence of the
country in which he lives" That depends
altogether upon what the wealth and ill.,
| telligence" propose. We have shown the
negro's vote has been more wise and
conservative than the vote of the party to
which the Vildicator refers. So much
so that that the Democrats have deliber
ately and formally approved it and an
nounced it as their own. 1t is not
healthy to have lines drawn between
classes in politics or in any other relation
of community as it affects public concerns.
But if the assumed Intelligence and
wealth are wrong and the ignorant right, it
only shows that the former have perverted
their gifts and opportunities to such ade-
gree, as to be COMPOUNDED by the foolish.
Intelligence and wealth are only to be COM
mended and admired as they may be made
useful to community and the State. If
directed in wrong channels and gov
erned by passion and prejudice, they be-
come agents of harm to society and the
body polite, for the power that inheres
with them is used under such influences
in inverse ratio to the good they might eff
feet, if employed in a rational, patriotic
way. We have.had this thing of ''intelli-
gence and wealth. preached up to us ever
since the negro was enfranchised, and yet
there has not been an important public
question affecting government fora quar-
ter of century that the party which as
sumeS to represent all Of the intelligence
and wealth has not been on the wrong side
of it-practically admitted in reversing
it's position, after the most stubborn,
but unavailing persistence in the wrong.
Learning and wealth controlled by preju-
dice are dangerous to community. The
influence they exert, instead of resulting
! in wise counsel and wholesome laws,
only tends to mischief. If they beget inso-
| lence and arrogance, as is frequently the
case, the interests of the people have
to suffer, as government is perverted from
its legitimate purposes, and all the rela-
tions Of community thrown from their
proper balance. Will any one affirm that
the boosted intelligence and wealth. of
the Democratic party, as reflected in the
last Virginia Legislature, were not posi-
tive harm to the Commonwealth VIII
any intelligent and wealthy man, left to
| his reason and his judgment, contend that
the election law is not a disgrace to the
State? Will he deny that the partizan leg
islation affecting the School Boards is not a
public calamity? Will he say that the
foolish and ill-digested legislation, in rela-
tion to the public debt, was not positive
and almost irretrievable harm Here
were the intelligence and wealth. con-
trolled by pa ssion and prejudice, subordi-
mating reason and all patriotic purposes to
the greed of party and the pernicious use
of narrow partizanism.
| duu WCdlOu Cully WILL tuCn
responsibilities. They are gifts which are
designed by the Great Giver to be used
for the betterment of the human race
the advancement of society-the perfec-
tion of government. And it not used in
that direction they will be used for less
noble and more reprehensible ends, partak-
ing of crime against the body polite and
calling for the punishment that crime i'm
plies. No man can escape the obligation
of the position he holds in the State. He
cannot excuse dereliction in duty by plead
ing the supremacysof passion and preju-
dice. He must either do his duty, as a
rational being, in maintaining the right
and promoting the ends of justice, or he
must prove false to the obligations which
rest upon him.
The safety of the State, in peace and in
war. is with the common people. The
patriotism and love of justice which were
born with them are the safeguards of So
ciety and of government, They reach the
right by instinct, where the processes OF
,.a iooipofiOpc arn ahcppt nopo onrn1oc