The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-04-09
NTNORTTIES.

-
MINoRITIES.
There is some consolation even for men IN
,,,;ror;t;es The dismal region Of Salt River
which /. supposed to be altogether destitute
Of vegetation, has about 1t at least heritage
enough to keep or starvation. To be In q
m;nority lie n horrible idea to politicians, but
..sweet are the uses of adversely" The man
Who ia living on the fiat of his back, cannot
we'll fall any lower; he may compose his
limbs and take a refreshing nap; If he ever
make another movement, it may be for the
better il cannot possibly be for the worse.
Minorities have no responsibility. The
ship of state may go on the wrong tack, or
go to the bottom-they are not at the helm
War, bankruptcy and ruin may stalk across
the land they have the satisfaction of ex
claiming, Didn't tell you 500" They no
longer stand on the defensive, as in their
palmy days of power. They are no longer
compelled to be target for the arrows of
opposition. They are on the outside of the
house, and it is for them to throw brickbsfs
and boulders at the windows, and for the
gentlemen at the tea-table inside.to dodge
them if they can.
- The feeling of independence of an outsider
is glorious, He has no more thought or anx-
iety for the morrow than bird of the air..
Fate has done its worst, and now the blasts
of adverse fortune may howl On. 1t is his
prerogative and pleasure to watch and crit
else the acts and sayings of the successful
party, to spy out their weak points. rub their
sore places, and make himself generally dis
agreeable and dangerous. On their part
they are unable to retaliste. They have
done to him already all that their malice and
power can accomplish they have thrust hin
ont doors and they can get him no farther
He works away at the insiders with glori
GUS sense of security. In political edifces
storm outside does not add to the feeling
of comfort within
True, minorities have not the loaves and
fishes. But the loaves and fishes are gener
ally monopolized by mere handful of the
triumphant party. while the great mass look
on. and feed and fatten only in imagination.
The rank and file fight the battles a few
officers engrosS the honors. Hence the mi
nority may console itself with the reflection
that its masses are as well off for official pot
tage as the masses of the N ajority. More
over, any honest occupation is more desira-
bic to freeman than Office holding. There
is more security about private station, for it
is not at the mercy OF capricious winds of
popular sentiment there is more indepen-
dence about it, for the man relies only on
himself, and asks no other mans favor. Let
him who can WELD the hammer, or hold the
plough, thank Heaven when the road to office
Is 30 barricaded that he cannot storm it or
leap over it. TIE servants of the tickle and
e1acting public should arouse his compass
sion, not his envy.
Besides, there is left to minorities the
greatest of solaces, the pleasure of Hope.
On the banks of Salt River otherwise so
rocky and repulsive, this balmy and life
giving plant abounds When man has ar
rived at the head waters of that stream, he
can get no farther. Salt river is the most
hucfuating of all rivers, and the tide which
mas drlfted his canoe high and dry upon the
snore, may drift it off again. man cannot
De sad to have lost all, while Hope remains.
And Hope is no summer friend. She is a
snow bird, cheering us amid wintry land
scape' with pleasant thoughts of spring and
Mowers. She is not the lark, soaring up with
thqud notes to greet the rising sun, but the
Nightingale. singing its sweetest song il
darkness .f
hence th1fe is reason for good humor al
roand--the majority, that they possess the
present; the minority, that they have 8
chance for the future. In to-day-out to
morrow-is the fate Of parties in all repre-
sentative governments. Let no one grumbl
at the fortunes of war.