The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-04-16
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Communicated.
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With the exception OF the six wise
men OF Mt. Sidney our people We're
greatly surprised at the action Of the Board
of School Commissioners of Augusta Co.,
which met IN Stallnton on the 9th inst. in
ignoring the petition of over two hundred
citizens of the Middle River district ask
ing them to appoint Mr.. James +. Bow
man Il School Trustee for this district in
the place Of G.. A. Roller, who had re-
moved from the Township. But we We're
particularly chagrined and astonished at
the course pursued by Mr.. b. Franklin
Richard, a member of the Board from this
neighborhOod.
Heretofore Mr.. II. has been regarded,
and we believe prided himself ON bis sound
! conservative views OH all questions affect
| ing the interest and prosperity of his
neighborhood. | understand, he claims
that it was owing to his energy ana per-.
! severance that our people to-day enjoy all
1 the advantages of an Incorporated city.
/ Besides while attending to the material in
| terests of people. he has not been. .unna ind
ful of their spiritual wants We owe to
| his great liberality the beautiful church,
that is SO ornamental to the western poE-
ton of our city. Now / ask you to corr
] trast the past with his present conduct
A numDer OF our most respectable citi-
zens knowing the discord that had been
in the past by the two factions, and further
believing that it was not only ilnnortalrt.
but essential TO the prosperity and sue
cess OF the school to prevent, il possible,
its falling into the hands Of either faction.
irrespective OF all party affiliations, and in
no sympathy with any faction, determined
totpetltIon the Board that they would ap-
point gentleman who was free from all
entangling alliances with either faction.
whose character no one could question.
and whose high qualifications for the posi-
tlon could not be gainsayed When thispeti.
tlon was handed to Mr.. Richard il was
not enough that he failed to hearken unto
It, but must ado insult to every signef of
the petition, by remarking to Mr.. David
Grooms, who was a witness before the
Board do you not know Mr.. Cfrooms
that l could have gotten a similar paper
for Lewis Bell, colored.'i Truly truth is
stranger than fiction
In our opinion thisremark demonstrates
the total uniitness Of Nh. r. for the posi-
ton he occupies, as well as the animus Of
the man. who was behind the throne and
greater than the throne itself
In comparing Mr.. Bowman with Mr.. a.
/. Grooms we are at a loss to devise mo-
tive for your support of the latter oyer the
: former Surely it was done to override the
people, and crafty the personal malignity
Of one who would gloat over the destruc-
ton OF every school house in the district,
Sir, speak the words of soberneSs and
; truth. with no unlSindness. hut with heart-
felt commiseration for to youaione belongs
: the honor OF having Winged the dart
+ tipped with malice, into the scht OILS OF
your own viclnage.
Let us indulge the hope that with The
recurring Spring. in The qnietnde and re
g tlremeht OF yolf home. tElatlreasnD may
r once more assert herself, and that You bt
r restored te NonF normal condition, and. AZ
! III former times. with malice To none, ltlit
leader in every good work.
CONSERVATIVE