Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-01-11

The INDICATOR said during the legisla-
tive campaign in November, that coupon
rendering, or endorsing it was death to any
aspirant to public position. There seems
to be case in point in the matter of the
Lynchburg Hastings Judgeship The op-
posing candidates before the Democratic
| caucus of the Legislature are Messrs.
Diggs and Long. The latter is said to have
excellent qualifications for the position, but
he unfortunately has ''record" on cou-
pons. In lecture delivered before the Y.
NJ. G. A. of Lynchburg, he made a severe
attack on the coupon crusher" passed by
the Legislature of 1876. His friends, &C.
cordipg to a correspondent of the Lynch
burg News writing from Richmond, claim
| that Mr.. Longs objections were made from
religious standpoint" The opponents
of Mr.. Long, however, claim that no mat
ter from what standpoint, it was in opposi-
| tion to the Democratic platform and men,
bers elected on that platform cannot vote
| for him.-Staunton indicator.
The above article appears in the Staun.
ton indicator of the 9th inst. Mr.. Long,
who is referred to as candidate for Judge
of the Hastings Court of Lynchburg, is a
young man of the highest order of intelli.
genoe, finished education, great cultivation
and talent as lawyer, and withal of great
purity of character. The Legislature has
been asked by the leading members of the
bar of that city to make him Judge. 1t is
also true that his election is opposed in the
interest of Mr.. Diggs, upon the ground
that he has expressed views upon the sub
ject of the sanctity of obligations not in
unison with the prevailing sentiment on
that subject
The facts as we understand them are
briefly these: Mr.. Long was recently in.
vited by the Y. M. G. A. of Lynchburg to
deliver an address before that body; he
complied with their request, and selected
for his subject, "The Sanctity Of debt."-
Before religious organization, and from a
purely religious and moral standpoint, he,
in an able discourse, after celebrating his
subject in its relation to individuals, main
tanned that the same moral considerations
which applied, in his view, to individuals,
also applied to States and Nations This
is the offence of which Mr.. Long is guilty
and we are told that, in the eyes of bis
State, it is so grave an offence that she
through her Legislature, must visit him
for entertaining and expressing such senti
ments, with punishment, by closing hel
doors against his advancement Or prefer
ment in any way within her borders-tha
: he must share the fate of those convicted
under the States criminal laws-bs ostra
} cised politically, and only restored to sucl
! rights, we suppose, by the pardoning powe
of the Government and all because h'
dared in q lecture before the young mel
: and boys of the land to maintain, as propo
sition of morals. that the obligation o
debt was sacred. and should be fulfilled.
We tremble for the future of Common
wealth that-says to her young men, "Yot
dare not, under pain OF my displeasure ant
punishment, entertain or express the senti
ment, that obligations are sacred an;
ought to be met.
You dare not, before Christian associa
Itions, intended especially for the moral goot
of the young, inculcate the idea, that 6
promise is accompanied with any mora
obligation to me- hat promise"
Alas for the future of Commonwealth
when it is high crime to be honest; wher
it is treason to tell young men that the OBJ
legation of debt is sacred and ought to be
fulfilled.