Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-18

1923 1885
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For more than three-score years the STAUN.
TON SPECTATOR has been to an extensive pub.
lie as familiar household word" The
history of the central section of the great VAL
ley of Virginia is its history. With the excep-
ton of two 9th journals in the State it takes
its rank in years OF existence, and in casting a
view over all the country from L.aryIand to
Tennessee, west OF the Blue Ridge mountains,
1t is entitled to wear the honors OF age in asso-
citation with is esteemed contemporaries
What eventfui years and times it has chroni-
ced! Coming into life during the quiet and
pure administration of Monroe, it has steadily
moved evenly along the pathway of true jour-
nalism, representative organ of noble race
ciples. Before the formation of the great po-
litical parties O. 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 di-
rectly from ,he founders OF our government, it.
has main tanned The true theories and the high
purposes which established civil liberty and
liberal rule OF the American Continent. 1t
has witnes -el The rise and fall of great parties
which came up, 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 ent and the advocacy of substantial
| and liberal prog ess GUIDES its aims and con-
socrates its motive
The mission CT a ut wspaper is one of great
responsibility. It exerts an almost supreme
control in She ia nily 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 we'll as the minor pur-
suits and objects If mans existence are found
ed.
Platforms are. in these times, considered the
proper mode in which TO present ,ssaaims ,snr
public recog liz ~ AID SUPPORT The spEcrA-
TOR retains its cd and time honored princi-
pies and purposes Under the benign infiu-
ences of q Few national administration, which
will recognize the equality of all sections of
this great country, and. adhering to its enunci-
ated purposes the SPECTATOR will maintain its
present and future usefulness, which shall be
worthy OF its past histury.
In the details OF Journalism are many inter-
esting features. 1t is question in this day
which engrcsses 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
not the least, in making up 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.
eliminating attention SO essential to the influ-
ence which it exercises on all minds, especial
ly the young. The fact of the prominence Civ
en- it, makes 1t of first Importance, and in pro-
gressive journalism it has already taken that
rank.
The SPECTATOR will labor to merit enlarged
patronage in its subscriptions, and in its adj
vertising and job printing departments. 1t
feels that there is no more to do than to invite
a cordial cooperation of old and new and
young friends 10 It's aid. Now is a most desi-
rable time to commence with its regular week.
ly visits. and to rsalize how efficiently an d
faithfully 1t serve the purposes of entertain
| ment and instl uction.