The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-02

alton they purpose-conserve public In
5erests and advance the welfare OF the
Commonwealth, they will be endorsed
by the people in spite of any irrelevant
and wicked appeals that may be made to
prejudice and passion. 1t is time OF So
Der thought with the people-is time OF Sc
rious consideration as to what the near fu-
tuIe is to bring to them and the Common
wealth, and they mean to use the balictt 10
voice their wishes and convictions with
and robustness that have never
before been used. Order has to be brought
out of chaos, as 1t was in 1882 by the Re
adiusters and Republicans. The crooked
places have to be made strai ght. A higher
aim in legislation-a more exalted motive
than mere self-a Drawer and truer purpose
than ever stirred the professional politi-
clan has to be manifested, and deeper
concern for the public welfare demon
Strated, than has controlled the law
making power of the State for the past
four years. If the confidence of the people
would be insured. TIC such objects and
aims the Republicans should address
themselves. not only in shaping the cam
paigns for the coming spring and fall, but
in the persons to be favored at the ballot
box. Let them be first sure that they are
right, and with this conviction to govern
make everything else secondary. Factions
will then be silenced : selfish ambitions
discouraged, and united in purpose and
strength, they can reasonably hope to
march on to victory, Nothing short of an
honest purpose to serve the Common
wealth faithfully will inspire the con-
fdence of the people. They have been SO
often duped and deceived so often led on
by false promises and delusiye hopes-the
prey Of designing lnen. ambitious first and
last for self-that they will have to be
impressed both in the manner of organi-
cation and the personnel of the represen-
tative men. with the sincerity Of the pur-
pose and the assurance Of needed re,
forms. With this effected. appeals to
race prejudice will be fruitless. Epithet
and denunciation will be of no avail
The common-sense of the people will
speak, regardless of past political associa.
tions, AID the devices which have been
used to divert the mind and pervert reason
will fail Of their mission.
Death of Prominent Men.
Hon. f rastus Brooks, at one time
one of the leading American editors
add with his brother. James Brooks,
conducted the New York Express, the
Wing organ of that State. died last week
after a protracted illness. Had Mr..
Brooks been summoned from earth thirty
years ago the announcement would have
caused wide comment. But he had ceased
TO be an influential character in political
circles. Younger men have come to the
| front to deal with new issues and new con.
ditions, leaving the older writer's to mark
departed era, and linger only as remi.
niscence among the progressive influences
which shape parties and determine politi.
cal destinies. Mr.. Brooks acted we'll his
part in his day but that day has long since
passed land it might have been as well with
him had he died with the faded questions
which stirred the country when he was
in the ylgor of his manhood and his use
fulness. But such is life.
Hon. John s. Phelps, of Missouri. ded
in st. Louis last week at one of the hos
pitfalls of that city, where he had been ia
ken for careful nursing and treatment, and
his remains taken to Springfield in thai
State, for interment. He died at an ad
vanced age. He had been one of the most
prominent characters of his State. He
served in Congress several terms, and was
the bosom friend and personal associate OF
Hon. John Letcher. Of Virginia. No two
men in Congress, during their time, were
more intimate or whose views of public
policy more closely harmonized. They were
both of robust minds unbending integ-
rity and fearless assertion, To them pub
lie position was public trust, and they
met its demands as faithful public ser.
withdrawing neither to the right mol
lett to conciliate favor or study the pop.
| ular current. Both, subsequent to their
Congress .onal careers. served their re-
| specti We States as Governor, Mr.. Letche1
| during the war, and Mr.. Phelps after the
close Of hostilities. The latter was a
Union General and acquitted himself with
great credit on the field. Both were con-
sentative men, with well balanced minds.
Pile Of their respective States Neither
was ever led into extremes, but when the
supreme test came they separated, Mr..
Phelps siding with the North, where
he was born, Connecticut being his
native State, and Mr.. Letcher with the
South and his native State, Virginia. They
were both men of strong convictions, I'M
questioned patriotism and courageous &C.
ton, and each was entitled to the conf
dence and respect of his constituents, al.
though their sense of duty directed them
into divergent paths and into hostile at
titudes. Each acted well his part in the
responsible positions to which he was
called. and each laid off his armor not un-
til the waning vital forces and the invasion
of time proclaimed that the days of their
usefulness had been numbered.
President Cleveland is on the right road
to break his political neck. We never
knew public man who INDUCED pas.
sion for writing letters on political affairs
and giving them to the public, who did not
live to regret 1T. His letter, assigning his
reasons for displacing Mr. Benton, Demo
cratic United States Attorney for Missou-
ri, and for re-instating him, and then Civ
ing it to the agent Of the associated press
to telegraph all over the country, was
shallow and uncalled fora compromise
OF the dignity of his position. His more
recent letter. in reference to the removal
OF Mr.. Stone, Republican, who held the
same position in Pennsylvania. and who
Was displaced for the same cause, smacks
strongly Of demagoguism, and demon
Strates disregard, as to the principle
of civil service rpfnru that 10 too noJo,