The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-22
Virginia's Brightest Day.

If il be true tnlt the SOuS looh VAIN "lPtO'
val upon the spectacle of Il great man strug-
Cling against adversely, then the heavens
above must smile upon the moral grandeur
which is exhibited by commonwealth OF
yirtuous and noble people bowed GOWN
beneath their Affections, but giving way
10 no .puerile complaints, preserving thclr
integrity intact, and keeping alive anna the
tempests of misfortune the lights OF faltn ana
hope as bright rs in the unruffled calm OF their
prosperity.
That there should be exceptional cases, mat
some minds should yield TO dependency ana
others express themselves in queruiouS COM
plants, is true, but such is not the general
spirit of our people. Such practical phlloso-
phy, such manly fortitude, such evcnness OF
temper, and even benevolent dispositions, as
the great majority of Virginians display under
their heavy misfortunes, are unprecedented III
history. The grim old cavalier who laid the
foundations of our colony has looked down
upon many an achievement of his Nirginian
children in camp and council which might
inspire even beatfied spirit with new thrill
of exultation; but not the Nirginians OF 76,
when they carved out with their good swords
this American Empire, nor those who wrote the
charter of its independence in imperishable
words, nor those who illustrated it with an
eloauence such rs modern times have never
surpassed, present a spectacle of such real sub
Unity as the Virginians of this day, bereft of
all but the hereditary virtues of their charac-
ter, yet bearing themselves as If, IN saving
these, they had saved all which gives dignity
and value TO existence.
If our people had folded their hands in sui
len indifference, if they had INDUCED amorbid
melancholy over their disappointments, and
proved unable to accommodate themselves to
the changed condition of affairs, we might well
despair of the future. 1t is only maniacs, who
sit among the graves, cutting themselves with
stones We have paid the last rites TO the
Past; we have buried it with all the honors OF
war Now, like brave soldiers returning from
the grave of comrade, let us change the ele-
giac strains for more inspiring music; let us
go forth to fight new battles and gain fresh
victories in those contests of peaceful industry,
whose trophies are more ubstantial than those
of war, and whose triumphs will cast sun
shine upon desolate landscape, and make it
smile amidst its tears. What though the
political armament be overcast We have our
hands and our lives. There is no change
in physical nature. All the objects that
greet our eyes-the fertile plains, the
grand old mountains, the beautiful rivers,
associated with the days of our childhood and
hallowsd by the traditions of an illustrious
past-skil remain. The earth is as fertile as of
yore; the mountains as full Of mineral
wealth .,-sAe harbors as inviting to commerce;
the elements of material wealth untouched by
the hand of war. Unless we, too, are changed,
unless we have ceased to be men and Virginia
men, nought is taken from US that can prevent
no remuneration Virginia from
it's depressed condition, and the contamination
of magnificent destiny. We have only to
Danish from our minds political disquietudes,
and devote our energies TO the improvement
each man, Of his own fortunes, and we shall
be prosperous yet. Moving steadily forward
in this plain path of duty and of wisdom, we
pursue the only course which can lead US TO a
better and brighter day.