The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-04-07


conditions and new inl1ences thas will
surroun and guard her.
A Few r mely and Appropriat
Thoughts.
1t is a diff cult matter to please every
body ia editing newspaper. In fact
we never aspire to that happy condi-
ton. There is such diversified opinions
as to almost every public question and
interest-such absence OF reflection with
those who are generally the most exaet>
ting in theif demands, that it woI!d be
a waste of time and thought to endeavor
to adapt discussion of important mat
| tiers 10 the whims and inclinations
of the multitude. The only safe and
propsf way for an editor to do, is to
give his views frankly, honestly and in
telligently as he may be capable. First
is to consider the public welfare; then
his IN consistency; and approach the
disc 1ssion as free as possible from passion
or personal bias Whether the argn-
ment, in that ease be in q ;cold with the
views of Il majority of his readers or not,
he will get ciel 1t for can1or and will
command respect from those who are
frank, honest and conscientious them
selves. 70 seek to please everybody
generally results in pleasing nobody
forfeits the good opinion of the inteiii-
gent, and fails in influencing the public
in any appreciable degree.
We have been told that the VIRGINIAN
leans too much to Rep lblcan doctrines.
TIL may be SO, for the editor believes
that The cardinal principles of that party
are right. But we are sure we cannot be
charge l, in fairness with being parts
IAN. Indeed we have no use for parties,
other than they relate to the public
good, for we ask nothing from either
and ecu It the favor of neither. We be-
lieve thai the policy of protection is the
best policy for this district, this State
and the South, and for that reason favor
it. We believe in sound currency, be
cause in this is involved the solid pros
perity of the people and the credit of
the nation. We have no patience with
sensational fads gotten up to delude an l
deceive the people, in order that upon Il
delusiv. craze passing power m W be at
tainei and the spois of Office enjoyed
The projectors of such eXpedients do
not think about the business OF the
country, the effect upon the methods OF
business. or the basis to which the rami
fed interests of the nation are adjusted
A few months ago the country was agi-
tated and fermented over the fallacies
and decisions of the Alliance platform az
adopted at Ocala. 1t captivated the un
thinking, swept over State after State
lik a cyclone; unsettled business;
frightened capital, an inflicted a degree
of harm that cannot be estimated in dol
lars and cents. 1t soon spent its force
4 but not until aspiring politicians hat
f committed themselves to policies, that i
= they had calmly thought over, apar
e from ambition for Office they would neve
r Congressman Tucker were led astray b.
the swell and volume of the craze, ant
S becaus we, Republican, criticised ant
: dissented from their views, it was as
2 sumed that we were arraigning and con
demning the Democratic party. TIL
S Richmond State, a sound Democratic
4 paper, advanced and maintained tn
5 same views in relation to the free silve
! bill, after the Bland bill had been de
# feated, while we attacked it on its pre-
e sentation. The Petersburg Iqldec-AI
peal, one of the ablest Democratic paper
a in the South, holds to the same view
: we do on the tariff and yet maintains it
0 Democratic identity These Democrat
? papers advancing similar sentiments t.
! those we have endeavored to enforce q
/ to two cardinal and essential questions
Il are permitted to go unrebuked, although
o they antagonize the prevailing senti
= ment in their party, as expressed il
It twenty weight State conventions, and ut
d tered in the case of the currency, on TIL
floor of Congress by some of the ables
i men in that party. 1t is known tina
e Senator Barbour of Virginia, is not i
;. accord with the free trade element c
his party, for which Mr.. Tucker speaks
a yet he is regarded as a D Amocrat OF TIN
: first water. And throughout the coun
/ try, the ablest Democrats differ will
n Senator Daniel and Congressman Tucke
d on the silver question and the Alianc
t platform generally; yet they cali them
n selves Democrats, and that is enough
3 They are permitted to differ with thei
a party on Fundamental issues, but so lon
e as they pronounce the shibboleth of Sen
S ator HILL Il am Democrat" they ar
t recognized as of the fold, clipped an
: branded with the marl:s of the party
: We mention these things in no apollo
S getic spirit; for we have no apology t
n offer for any position we have taken O
e views we have expressed through thes
$ columns. They are our honest convie
e tions, which we would not surrender TO
n any consideration that it is in the powe
= of man or party to confer. Hundred
y and thousands of Democrats agree wit
y us on these questions, and have 81
i expressed themselves but are SO enam
g ored of a party name that they place il
: obeyance their convictions in the hop'
t that power may be woa through party
organization and the spols of offic;
D grasped in the scramble that follows.
n We believe the first and paramount
S duty of a paper is to utter the truth, a
it understands it, and advocate TIL
: measures and policies which will bes
: advance the interests of the people an,
Y the welfare of the country. journa
: that has not the courage of it's convic
: tons and the manhood to express then
e on all proper occasions is unfit for the
g hearthstone, or the counting room, o
9 the Office 1t is neither an educator o
f public opinion in conservative channels
nor a conservator of public interests l
t is q mere vehicle of gossip and a truculen
1 slave to expediency-a perversion of tru,
e journalism and an offense to public in
f tellgence. We would rather be a tdoy
7 and bay the moon,n than to pander t.
: popularpassion or yield to a passing craze