The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-01
Look Ahead.

less frettings over what might have |
been, and a constant looking back to con-
ditions and opportunities which are buried |
in the grave of the past. This is IRA
tional and childish. Men have duty to
perform in the present. They have some
thing to hope for in the future. and they
should build and labor for it. The past.
for the South, is SO strewn with blunders.
and monumental mistakes. that. apart
from the lessons which adversely brings,
it has nothing in it that bordering over
would benefit us. An inherited labor system,
which was interviewer with our industrial,
social and political fabrics, was an idol that
had to be broken and shattered in order to
accomplish our material emancipation. 1t
dwarfed the energies of the people, re-
stricted the field of their intellectual
vision, contracted their moral horizon,
and untitled them for the great battle OF
life with its manifold demands and en-
larged and inviting opportunities. They
thought little of the material forces
which are now moving the world and
commanding the broadcast minds and the
/ best energies Of men everywhere. While
railroads and diversified industries were
converting the waste places of other Sec
tions into busy seats of enterprise. we
chung with fatal tenacity to the negro
and the mule as the ''axle-tree'' of the
universe, content with the methods which
made the many toll for the comfort and
| affiuence of the few, while the masses were
doomed to ignorance and poverty. The
| fabulous wealth of our mountains and
hills was untouched by the hand of skill
and enterprise-our waters ran unchal-
lenged to the sea, our young men either
| become hewers of wood and drawers OF
water for preferred caste, or broke away
| from the slavery to find room and oppor-
ltunity for their energies and ambitions on
! distant theatres Of endeavor. The circle
of the year found us where we began, if
not little worse off. There was no dl-
versitv of labor and enterprise to keep the
results of our efforts among ourselves and
by their constant motion create new values.
We were drained of what we produced by
the demand for what we did not pro duce,
and thus the fruits of our toll and SOIL,
enriched others instead of ourselves. Our
| wealth made no progress-our political
power was at a standstill. Other States
and communities not so highly favored by
nature, moved onward in the acquire
ment of all the elements which contribute
to national advancement and stimulate the
energies of the people, while we Jagged
superfluous on the stage of the great
industries which were pushing on our
country to imperial greatness. So fas-
tened and fixed was the South in these re-
lations and conditions, that it required
some great upheaval, a political earth
quake, the plow-share of revolution to
break and change them. 1t came with all
its horrors but the dark day is gone. it
belongs to the past and we are confronted
now with the living present, and it's
manifold and exacting and inspiring de-
mands.
Turn your eyes where you will over the
Sunny Sonth, and the evidences TEEN of a
new life, new methods, new systems, and
all directing to progress, growth and
power. Railroads either completed, in
progress, OF in contemplation, are net
working every State. penetrating isolated
regions and exposing untold natural
wealth mines are being opened, furnaces
established, factories put in motion, labor
employed. and all the agencies which con-
| I,.;L tofa nd of1 a
commanding attention.
While these forces are moving and up
turning the old order of things, concen-
trating effort and thought. to the utiliza-
ton of our material resources, the more
important and essential interest Of edu-
cation is marching abreast with them.
The public free schools are established in
every State, and the doors of the school
house opened to every child Where be-
fore only the few could find access, now
the many have provided for them the
means of mental improvement and the adj
yantages of a degree of education that
| will fit them for the duties of life, COM
mensurate with their opportunities, their
| capacities and intellections. Waning
prejudice and growing enlightenment as
/ topublic duty, will greatly increase these
facilities. and supplemented by the gener-
Gus and munilicent aid of the national gov
eminent, the system of public education
now in operation will become more perfect
! in its operation and more beneficent in its
results.
| The spirit and purpose Of the new South.
as thus illustrated, ARE more fully shown in
the grand Exposition now in progress in
the Crescent City. Not only is there ex-
posed the physical capacities of the South,
| its wonderful natural resources and diver
sified products, but the evidence is given
of broad comprehension Of the POSSIBLE
| tiles of the future and the empire that
awaits us if we but grasp the opportuni-
ties and invitations which are within our
reach. The whole civilized world will come
| in contact with the South as its exhibits may
! be concentrated in New Orleans. 1t will
be seen what the South is,under imperfect
,,eveopme nt, and what it may be with APP
piled energy, enlightened public sentiment,
anu Ill0 courage 10 ldCc tlio uublto stllel lC-
sponsibilities which the present and flu
ture may impose and the laws and constitn-
tion demand.
The industrial era which is thus prom
ised and foreshadowed. implying the aban-
donment of old methods and old notions,
as they affect material forces, will demand
also that the greatest obstruction to South
ern progress. the professional politicians. of
the Bourbon caste. be relegated to the
shades of private life. They are not fitted
to this age and its requirements. They
live in the past. are welded to its tradi-
tions, foster its prejudices and revel in it's
follies, incapable of grasping the new con-
ditions. or assimilating with the progress
sive influences which are shaping South
ern destiny. They cannot understand
that there has been a revolution in our in
dustrial, social and political systems-that
old theories and notions are obsolete and
have no adaptation to present relations
that the South of $50 is not the South Of