The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-04-05
country and lay the blame on a few mem

country and lay the blame on few mem
bers.
Senator Blair's desire to help the South
ern people, and blot out the old sectional
feeling. was further manifested recently
in a bill offered by hl!n in the interests of
the Confederate soldier, The bill provided
that when appointments to civil positions
were made from the ranks Of those who
were disIoyal during The late war, prefer
ence should be given to disabled Copfed-
crate soldiers. There was nothing in the
bill that smacked Of any preference of the
Confederate soldier over the soldier
against whom he brayely fought. The
only preference it accorded him was over
the politicians and camp followers vino
forced him into the ranks and then shell
tered behind bomb proofs. Of course
strorg opposition was expected from the
North, but it was hardly expected that
Southern Senators like Hampton and Dan
lei should rise in their seats and vigorously
protest against the measure, claiming that
favors or was i'll actual waut Senator
Riddleberger made manly speech 10 be
half of the measure. He assailed the
statements made by bis colleague and the
Senator from South Carolina, declaring
that all over the South were eX.Confeder-
ate soldiers suffering from the disabilities
incurred in battle. poor, and often helpless
and dependent. They were to-day the
real loyal element of the South, and de-
served preference as against those who
were equally disloyal, but far too prudent
to meet foe in manly contest. The
speech should be read by every Confed-
crate soldier in the land, and l hope the
| VIRGINIAN will publish it in fun
Last week an extraordinary assem- blage
was held in Washington. 1t was the
"Woman's international Council" There
we're delegates from all over the Union
ard many foreign countries. The profess
sions and trades were alike represented
Lawyers, doctors, professors. journalists,
trades people, and one railroad president,
all in petticoats. Every detail of the
great gathering was under the control of a
woman, and from first to last the council
was a success. Its sessions were held in
L lbaugh's spacious Opera House. and day
and night the place was crowded The
program consisted of addresses. from the
various delegates, devoted mainly to the
discussion of woman's work. To one who
imagined that woman's sole mission was
to entertain and be entertained, to cook,
to sew and to wash, the council was rev.
elation. It showed that all over this
broad land, wherever there is work to be
done, feminine fingers and feminine brains
are busy. They are pushing into all the
avenues Of industry and science-into law,
into medicine, into manufactures. They
are battling for the right to be regarded as
other than playthings or slaves. They are
demanding that sex shall not debar them
from profitable employment, where capsc-
iJy and skill are not wanting. They are
asking that compensation be measured by
service and that gown shall not be the
apparel of dependence. They are willing
to endure the title of ''strong minded. y if
thereby they may claim the reward Of
their labors.
And while not slow in demanding their
rights and exposing their wrongs, there
was nothing said or done that was not
womanIy. There was an absence of the
'shorthaired" element which the rural
public is accustomed to associate with
such gatherings, The delegates. as class.
were broad proved women, becomingly
dressed, modest in Department. and happy
in speech. The addresses were clear, log
ical and convincing, with here and there 9
touch of tenderness. The immense audi.
ences which daily assembled, were not
only entertained, but left the house with
a higher appreciation Of the sex. and :
conviction that their complaints were not
all groundiess.
The bill for the erection Of a pubHc
building at Stanton has been favorably
reported by the committee on public
grounds and buildings, and is now on the
House calendar. The bill to construct q
macadamized road from Stanton to the
Federal cemetery passed the Senate on
Saturday.
Mrs Lucy Binford, Of Craigsville, bas
been placed on the Mexican pension roll.
Bills for the relief Of Messls. j. n. Grouse
and Samuel G lick, of Augusta, have been
introduced. as has also bill to pension
Mrs Margaret Dunlap. of Churchyine.
On Saturday the Senate passed without
amendment the bill granting pension Of
$50 per month to Mrs Mary B. Kirby. It
now goes to the President,