Staunton Spectator

The result of the elections which took place in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa last Tuesday is expressed by the familiar apothegm: "The Dutch have taken Holland." This result in not very strange and not unexpected. A more favorable result was hoped for, but scarcely expected, except by those who allowed their wishes to control their judgments. It was hoped that the Conservatives would be able to reduce the Radical majority in Congress. But in the elections which have occurred, the Radicals have gained one or two members. What will take place in November another month will reveal. We suppose that the Radicals will be at least as strong in the next Congress as in the last, and may have sufficient strength to control legislation in spite of the Executive veto.--Whether they will venture upon the impeachment of the President time alone will reveal.--The present times demand patience and fortitude on the part of the South. Their most important lesson is to

"Learn to labor and to wait

With a heart for any fate."

It is never wise to repine at misfortunes which cannot be repaired. The true philosophy is to forget them if possible. Never bother the mind about them, for thinking only broods increased trouble. Our duty as well as policy is to do what we conceive to be right and just, and leave the consequences to a wise Providence that overrules all. The people of the South have done all, in the way of concession, that they can do in consistency with their honor and self-respect, and it is their duty now to stand calmly, but firmly, in opposition to any further concessions in obedience to the behests of the dominant party North. "Masterly inactivity" is now the policy of the South so far as political questions are concerned. With them, politics should be laid on the shelf, and party prejudices be buried in the tomb of the Capulets. The faces and attention of our leading men should no longer be turned toward the National Capitol. Their minds should be directed to the development of the practical and material interests of the South. Here there is labor for both mind and muscle. There should be no drones in the hive of Southern population. All work should be at work. In the language of the Examiner, "we have our families to feed, our fences to re-build, our homes to embellish, our fortunes to carve out of the rich smiling face of this fair land. We have digging to do, and sowing, and reaping; we have money to get, the exhaustless hidden treasures of our soil to bring to light and activity. What care we for the blatherings and the scoldings of a pitiful and insensate faction? Nothing. To-day we do our appointed task, letting them rail as they list; to-morrow they will have vanished like evil vapours that the night winds have conjured out of damp and darkness.

And we can afford to wait. The right is with us, and all the revenges of times will react in our favor and to our behoof. Little parties and little men may have their little triumphs, and live through their brief day, but truth, and equity, and justice are eternal, knowing neither day nor night, not 'broken lights,' but the full and perfect day. We do not depend upon the prevalence or failure of a policy or a party; our existence is not bound up in any system, nor shall we shrink from the discharge of any duty, nor be impatient of any obligation, because clouds, however dark, obscure our sun. Upon ourselves we depend; in our own strong arms and cheerful hearts, and in the good God above us we put our trust, and whatever chances, these shall not fail us."