Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-06
Black and White Lists.

The action Of the Legislature in regard 10 prices,
The resolutions passed By the votuRlsrs the meetings
OF the mechanics, the on cries OF tenants against
landlords and other indications shOE that the peace of
the CITY is meuaCed and that important reforms
soon be made 70 prevent serious disturbances Of social
order Is would be vel if these signs needed by
those Who ought 10 be- bus not most interested in
thsm An ounce Of prevention Is worth pound Of
cure IL is said and the time At hand when the greedy
and grasping sheud lay tbs adage TO heart. The
mAIims Of Poor Richard. however readable 10 time
Of prosperity will scarcely avail quiet The discomfort
OF the days that are and still less Of she days to
come. As we'll hoe to hold are in tho haad by think
ing Of the frosty Caucasus.
But the blind hose 70 whom a noj Is as good as q
Wink is not more irsensbe than The majority Of those
% whom the premouitory perIurbatons to which We
have alluded should in trumpet appeal Deaf as
al adder and eaous as the coin taey 80 much ooyet
the warnings apparent 70 every one else make no
impression upon them. The Man With the Muck Rake
Is TOO intent upon his dirty work to rOce the shadows
before the conf rs events and the problem
50 muel 70 divert he attention and tsep IL diverted
from bis sOrdd Occupation, to transform bis whole
mora being and male him good AID useful member
Of society.
1, Is generally conceded that legslatOn will Lot have
this ef4ce What wiz We confess sc hardly Luov
and vet h seems 70 Us lhs. the force Of public opinion
add the pOEsf Of the press might vel Be tried before
resort IS had laws which there much reason to be
hevs viii prove inefacacious 1. remains 70 be seen
whether public oplaCn can be brought 10 bear upon
she public it5ef for really aPp,Grs that the matter in
lCsou involves the whole body Of the people and il
Is doubtful uules5 count By mere Bumbers, which
side has the majority At FIRST view, nttlny seems
plain than that the sufferers vastly Outnumber the
sGOrOeers boarders, SPECTATORS landlords etc. but
Wbeo the relative influence Of the parties is considered
TIE subject assumes a very Different aIpeos.
However, a. 10 times pass: Ee have proved the inu-
uty Of municipal legislation regulate either the cost
lhs supply provisions il the city MARKET and az
IS than Qe .tionab whether State legislation Hi
avail anything more H follows that other azenecs must
be brought play NsT: 10 la-, ii not before il
puoIe opinion couiesSejly the most powerful in di.
Ieong regulating and restraining mea. The press is
but the instrument OF public opinion. Nov in regard %
Ih3 eIs. evils aud preieH. sutsriags Of thu eomnu.
nifty public opinion Il vsry dec ded aud unequivocal-
But is express Iysd to jurisdictions on the street
cJIn aud AOadeHUg sppreLOnsions o. the future
over The tea-laolys Tsege ~ concentration of EUR
poe aud no unity OF action, and Il there we're. the
probability Is tina. it uoud C1pend Itself Ia resolutions
AZ public mestioEs Which read very well in The daily
prints bu-, IL ne may judge By the fruits Of the
county meeIiags barren OF results Il cannot
be shi that the press has failed TO do It's duty or
VIA. it conceived TO be & dlly - respte. 70 tbs mat
teT. Suee tie FIRST gymp.on Of eI,oriOr, there has
Ossl hue aud cry IN the Plpers which might have
overturned throne, had it bsen directed against it
sad OF this u:Js ct alone have the pagers al over the
COuledCracy teel upsaimous There hss been but one
opinion aud yc Ihe papers have failed sguay to &C.
cOnPlish anything. WY We can think Of but one
reason and that because their editorials their Wit
sarcasm and eloqueuos have beea aimed the abstract
thing Of eStosdon instead Of the s1tortOners them
selves Individually and b. rame. The charges are not
specific aud personal aud hence they 90 no good what
ever Like ali general accusations, they ore applied BY
every HOs to himself but to his nsghbOrs.
Why should there b. Black Lists OF extortionsrs
hoarderi e.o, as eel Of renegade SOushernsrs in
she Yankee service The former d. infinitely more harm
10 the lhin the latter. Why should they be
empt from disgrace aud public seO5n We do not Gd
yooa:e ind.sor innate aud uufouudsd attacks upon
persons far from IT, Oar Aim ia simply to state the
only way In which the prsss be Of toe least service
IN aIeva:ing present and prospective troubles. Let
tie facts be ,stAbhshel and then let the Black List be
published Withou. r,spee. 10 persons At the same
time lee there Be White Lists Of the patriotic the gen.
srOus the charitable. morning paper published yes
tsrdAy quite number Of names belonging to the White
Let No Richmond name thsrs nor have Ue ever
seen one on any White List. 1, is time our generous
citizens should Le known - the whole COOfSdsFsoy.
Let the Black aud White List be prepared ct once,
else let the press cease m utterly useless and tiresome
sing-soTg about e1,orlOners in general.