Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-03
FEW SUGGESTIONS.

The forest aud mineral wealth Of
our State is so vast, Its capacity for
development so tempting and so GER
tain, that West Virginia bids fair to
become one of the richest common
wealths of the Union. Natural re-
sources, however, are not all that Is
necessary to make a rich and great
State. In order that they may be
turned to account, it is essential to
have a wise and just course of legisla-
ton, and State government honestly
and capably administered in all its
departments; and these depend solely
upon the spirit, intelligence and pa
triotism of the people of the State.
Taxation, for example, should be
lust and uniform and the burden Of
it should be as light as possible. The
laws governing cOrporations-those
great agents of modern progress which
so easily become powerful engines Of
oppression-and those regulating bus
mess transactions in general, should
be such as to prevent all fraud and
dishonesty and afford the utmost Sc
curity to investors. The courts should
dispense justice with certainty and
expedition; and all public affairs
should be administered by agents, and
according to system, which will inspire
respect and confidence. All these are
essential to a full development of ma
terial resources, and even more so to
the prosperity and happiness Of the
people.
Jefferson county has neither coal
nor oil, neither iron nor lumber; and
as an agricultural county she has al
ready reached such a stage Of cultlva-
ton that we can scarcely expect any
great increase in her contribution to
the material wealth Of the State. But
the other elements of power and pro-
gress she possesses in the highest de-
gree. Her people are distinguished
for intelligence and thoughtfulness.
For generations they have taken a
keen interest in public affairs; and
thew have furnished leaders, not only
for this, but for other States and-in
the person of our present distinguished
Observation-Disclosures the whole nation.
While they are conservative in action
and orthodox in principle, they are
yet thoroughly in accord with the
aims and methods Of modern progress,
material and political. And above
all they are animated by lofty spirit
of patriotism and of disdain for narrow
and sordid self-seeking. With such a
population, who can deny to Jefferson
a place in the front rank among the
counties of the State, in spite of her
lack of mines and oil-wells and forests?
But if these advantages entitle us
to a prominent place in the progress
of our State to wealth and power,
they impose upon us serious respon-
sibility; and we must assume the per-
Torrance of important duties in shap-
ing those policies which shall bring
West Virginia to that place among her
sister States which bountiful nature
has so eminently fitted her to occupy.
Our object herein is merely to sug-
gest some ideas which have a very
practical bearing upon the approach
ing campaign, and which we leave to
our readers TO elaborate for themselves
And We earnestly urge them to con-
slider carefully these suggestions in
determining what should be the char
acter and qualifications of the men
whom we shall choose to represent us
in the next Legislature.