The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-04-13


and comWerctaI matter.
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4,css e.
Prophets.
Prophets are fAr more numerous now tnan
thsy were In The scripturxl days. But there
II q wide dilersnce between the prophets OF
thoee DAYS and those who live In our umes.
TAsn the propnets' eyes were touched win
u aneers Of Inspiration, and they saw
through the prospective for ages TO come,
aud with inepired language described the
syeats hat were 70 shake the world. Our
prophets In these times have NO such inspira-
tton. Their hopes only give impulse to their
prophecies With them "the wish 10 father 70
the thought" They predict what they desire
10 happea, and connectteg . goodly degree Of
practical sense with their enthusiasm. they
infer that II they only utter their predictions
with su@cient earnestaess and emphasis,
they will be able 10 impress others with their
own convictions, impart distrust and doubt
Of success among their adversaries, and thus
aid In rational way the fulhllment OF their
own DEMONSTRATIONS. This device has BE-
come quite common In the political arena.
Politicians are ever confident, II You believe
their own declarations. However discour-
aging the prospects Of their party may be-
however low their own hopes may have sunk
In their hearts-they maintain bold and
hopeful appearance, and swear by ali things
sacred and profane that victory will perch
upon the banner Of their en.fayored
party on the day Of eiection-a day of glory
to their co-hhorers, and q day Of judgment to
their adversaries! "Behold, gentlemen - said
an orator at public meeting just before an
election, ayour representative in Congress "
The nominee of the party whose cause the
SNEAKER espoused stood before them, and was
at once saluted with cheers that split the
vault above, although the convocation
was in the open air. That must have
been an outburst of popular fervor Of the
most stentorian kind, You would cay
And so it was fer il you will only excite
multitude ON the subject Of political and par
" issues, and represent the fates wrapped mp
in the contest with the due force and vehe-
mence. you can make itfrantic and draw forth
such shouts as will not only split the vault
above, but shake the earth beneath. Our ora
tor was fully equal TO t..e task, and the result
showed it, The welkin rang again, and the
agitation of the earth was fully as percepti-
BILE as that of an earthq uake, or the near ap-
proach of that black gen tleman of the bovine
race, tho spasmodic jerk of whose tail pro-
duced the same effect! Ten days after this ex-
citing Introduction to the multitude of their
representative elect-the orator remarking
that the election would be q mere form Of
registering the edict already uttered-the re-
preventative aforesaid was declared to be de.
feated and his opponent to have been chosen
by the electors at the polls! So that he had,
indeed, the honor Of being the representative
for ten days under the solemn asseveration of
the orator; but it was an empty honor, for
he enjoyed NO per diem, and was not even
privileged from arrest and imprisonment I'M
der the Congressional prerogative!
Politicians swear sometimes they will be
damned il they don't triumph by a decided
vote. This vow is, we suppose, generally
safe one. They are certainly damned in a
popular sense if they are beaten; and even if
we consider their oath with reference to their
future state, there is probably not much haz-
ard in it; for, when they stake their chances Of
salvation upon an issue, it might be we'll Ques-
toned whether they hazard anything ut all
or not! This mode Of conducting political
controversies is especially fashionable under
the system of universal elections which pre-
vail. and everybody now swears that his side
will achieve glorious victory. Even an hon.
orable candidate for the Guhernatorial chair,
was a few years since heard to assure his
friends ON the morning Of the election. that he
would kiss tho s'3overnor's wife that night"
He was defeated I! e., &s
Thu habit 20 strong in the dispositions Of
politicians. has Impressed itself on the public
mind generally, and we see it displayed in !
thu dfscussion of all questions Of public con-
Germ In which men are arrayed for and against
a measure. It has been brought out striking.
IL with rsenna to the Lynchburg and Rich
moad RailrUsd. We have prophets in album
dance. They chiefly reside in Petersburg;
but strange to say, there are some in Lynch
ba1g, though we can't SEQ what business any
body there has predicting on the subject and
least Of all against M and the road But the
prophets do predict with extraordinary en-
phasis--an Emphasis hardly JUSTIFIED BY the
friendly relations which the prophets ought
to maintain towards this city! Ne
vertheless. We trust that tho prophets may be
~ wide Of the mark ~ some Of the political
prophets to whom We have alluded above
Reasons why they should Be disappointed,
and their representations completely refu,ed,
are - plenty a. blaekberriss, and il they have
tteR weight We shall yet have the pleasure Of
rendering to some Of these prophets free tickets
ON the Lynchbnrg and Richmond Railroad!
The prophsts, In these opposing armies-po-
litical and otherwise-compare well with that
TERRIBLE arm Of Chinese warfare composed of
the horribly distorted and monstrously paint
I'd and decorated men, who, armed with gongs
and q yariety ofinstruments designed to make
ths mast shocking disonaaca. the most grating
md disasressbls sounds. endeavor to strike
lear to the hearts Of tho enemy by changing
heir Instruments, shouting, leaping and turn
ng somsrsaults Ia the air. The Chinese
regard them Is indispensable to q weil-con-
ancted combat. Our prophets are Is invariably
introduced Into our struggles a. were these
In ths battles with the Ostsstials.-
Ia the Aaglo.O Chinese war, they very much
amnsed Ne English. who used to shoot them
y they whirlsd in the air, and called It 'shoot-
nc tesA hying." Let our friends Of the low
ery kiaedon here Keep mp their war, lot the
6eOf0ef1 OF the Sun and 0rat rnwsan. ~ Hh>