Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-04-21
BRooKEwooD. VA, Apr. 1s, 1913.

| Edator OF Spectator Vindicdtor.
+, 1t you will pardon me again in thes
times Of war and rumors of war; fol
trespasslng upon your columns in
distinctly peaceable manner. l think
, can safely promise you peace as fal
as am concerned hereafter.
one or two points of your criticism
OF my letter in my judgment calls for
reply, which shall be brief.
Ihat a public servant is liable to
criticism whether by press or people,
goes without saying, and no one more
fully recognizes this than I do; fur
thermore, it is right that it should be
SO, and no one has less disposition to
muzzle the press than your subscriber.
| but newspaper is no less public,
and Its rights no more sacred, than
those OF any other servant of the PEG
pie, and when its structures are unjust
or misleading, should receive that
criticism which it metes to others.
hence l must frankly confess that
nave not yet attained that wisdom
Whlcn comes from age and expert
ence," and prompts one when his
friends are attacked and traduced to
seek refuge in silence
Now Mr.. Editor, YOU saw in your
issue of the 18th that to say you ever
made the classification OF the members
OF the Legislature as written by me
puts words into our mouth and sen |
tlments III our expressions not war |
ranted by any criticism of that body |
we have ever made.n
In making this classification 1 did |
not attempt to quote verbatim, but |
simply give the substance, and so
stated.
l have since hunted up copy of 7
your paper, and find that it is not SO
antique as you would have my "belat-
ed defense" to indicate. If have said |
anything, or placed any sentiment
there not justified by your language I
am ready to doff my hat and apologize
to you, and admit to the world that l
do not understand the force of the
English language.
In your editorial of March 10th you
say of the Legislature
Your words: "a Legislature made
up of chronic office seekers, men look
ing for higher places, and trucking
for votes.'
My Interpretation, 1st:: The sharp political
scamp act0 ADVOCATED measures aud cast has
y0te as ao0atld best Gdganee has political and
orsgdte interests, regardless Of the good Of the
State.
Again: sin our criticism of the
Legislature we in no wise include a
number of men who were there not as
leaders, who never undertook to be ,
reformers, and who neither encum- ;
oered the journal or wasted the time
IF the body, with numerous dema-
yogueic bills or blatherskite speeches.
These had not essayed herculean
asks, or matters of Statecraft far be-
7ond their depth, and are not, and
hould not be held responsible for the
sgonies into which the States was ,
thrown, or the failue of the legislative ,
benefits vouchsafed us. :
End class: Has aoeaker brother aoho did moi
Jttenpt to rSse to the plane Of Statescraft, but
eDna6Led along IN has honest heIplessness t
fate led.
Is there any Rampant Reformers, .
Rampant Conservatives and middle =
men" in the above quotation, which ::
'ou say was somewhat" your CLASH J
ication. I
Now my dearCol. in conclusion 1 I
wish to assure you that | did not take
our remarks or criticisms as personal,
,ut distinctly said Il thought it but
ust to say this much of the many
With whom served" SC. Meyer for
moment did T suppose they were
lined at me, except only in so far as /
vas one OF the body; with which, you
i've me to understand with your little
'leasantry, of the unsuccessful liti-
ant that I cut about as much ice as
ou did while member of the bar.
But joking aside. l want to discIaim
ny and all idea Of endeavoring to
pick quarrel" with you. 1 had no
uch desire or intention, and value
our good opinion too much, but |
7anted the people to know that
God deal had been accomplished.
Very truly yours,
j. W. CHURcHMAN.
We are glad our friend gave our words
4 designating the Legislature We
re willing to stand by them. If there
anything in them which classifes
ne portion of the Legislature as a
political scamp" and the other as his
weaker brother" then we do not
Understand the English language. W
he action of the Legislature on many ~
uestions indicated a trucking for -
otes, especially in creating a bureau IL
len in the Legislature had not essay :
4 herculean tasks or matters of State I
aft far beyond their depth, was not nT
alling them.weak. Some did under at
Ike snch, but the more sensible did DIV
OF. We cannot admit we called any oh oh
ody political scamp" Or said he tic
I'D weaker brother" It would di
ave been bad enough to have said the PI
st, but to have accused anybody of ye
ing the weaker brother of the ca
political scamp" was never in our T nr
ind nor is it in our words.-ED. Of