The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-10

name. The Patriarchal, the Priestly, tho
Imperial, Nnsly, and Republican forms OF
government have each succeeded for a
time with credit, but no scheme or plan
vet devised has proved sufficiently perma-
neut to Withstand the force Of revolution.
And vet II Is universally admitted that
human nature Is the same In oil ages among
all nations Of tho world when seen under
similar circumstances Of life and tdnca-
ton. Why, then, IL It that no system dwell
digested laws can I've framed to satisfy men
and prove abiding through all the changes
Of time! Because the human race, with all
its backward and forward movements, is
gradually progressing. The movement Of
society Is by action and reelection. Not.like
the current Of stream, always running on
In the same direction, but rather like the
swing Of the ocean when the tide In rising.
a wave comes in, breaks, and rolls back.
No one would imagine, from q single
glance, that there was progress at all; but
FIX your eye steadily for half an hour on
one point, and you win perceive that with
oil the Aux and refux of the waves, the
progress Of the tide is onward and upward.
Just so it Is with society. IL you examine
history in small detached portions of one
year or Ave years, il Is Ike single wave,
which dimppoints you By its recoil. But
take 6fty OF hundred years, the flats and
sea grass are ont of sight, and You are
struck with the difference between low
ebb and full tide. u The progress Of half q
century gives an entirely new aspect to
events, which appear, some disastrous,
others hopeful on their first occurrence.
We should keep in view the settled fact
that revolutions never 60 backward, and
whatever their effects during short periods
following their occurrence, the object OF
revolution is invariably gained by recur-
4. ring war, il obstacles prevent its full
attainment in the first contest. Wherever
there is action there must be rejection, and
in the convulsive throes Of mighty masses,
overturning society and organizing a new
principle of government, there must be
checks and rebuffS. Yet old systems will
follow their destined fortune and eventu-
ally crumble into nothing except a page of
history. The world is becoming each year
more democratic. This spirit must, sooner
or later, eliminate in mobocracy and
then rejection will occur. But whether
the acme of folly has yet been reached, is
considered doubtful; and though such're-~
action is expected and hoped for by large
numbers, yet, when 1t does come, much
disappointment will be felt because our
hopes cannot be fully realized. We may
plant new orchards of fruit trees, but will
never he able to reset the old trees torn
and swept away by the furious tornado.
A feeling Of respect and veneratiOn for
time-honored institutions is commendable,
but spirit of liberation displayed for
those differing with us in opinion, and
readiness to accommodate ourselves to
such things rs we cannot prevent, evil
denee wisdom. GALILE0 was pronounced
aheretic for asserting that the world moved,
and mankind finally received the truth
very reluctantly. All facts and truths,
when first discovered, in fact everything
new that interferes with anything old, ex-
cite suspicion, prejudice, and dislike. No
science, invention, or discovery now pOpu-
lar with the world, but passed through a
fierce struggle Of persecution and pro-
scription before arriving at success; and
We shall not hazard too much in assert
Ing that r. much of prejudice and
disposition to persecute prevails now
as ever existed at = any time. With
more charity Of feeling for our fellow
mans failings, or for his peculiar
opinions, and with more moderation and
patience in discussing our differences,
there is no doubt the truth would he ar
rived at much sooner. Let us callnothing
new-fangled or wrong because We do not
exactly understand 1t /; for upon examina-
ton We may find fact as old as the race
. Of man and Is lasting az time itself, and
that it is either our fault that the fact has
remained hid so long, or our misfortune
that it did not appear earlier. The bare
foot urchins now running the streets will
soon take our places upon the stage of life
and become the rulers Of the land. Let
! ms educate them thoroughly in the princi-
pies of liberty and virtue, and they will
take care Of themselves. 1t is in early
life, and principally by the family fireside,
! that Statesmen are made. Lessons Of good
or evil are there finculcated that remain
indelibly Axed upon the mind, five are
no, willing or not prepared to accept new
order Of things inevitably ordained, then
let ps remember we shall have but little
time to suffer, and soon our places will be
filed by those who, perhaps, viii wonder
:, ct our resolution and firmness Of purpose
80 clinging to sntiquated prejudices.
! siss s1 roI Consolda ton. ? r.
At meeting OF the Board Of Directors
of the sSoathside Railroad Company held
I on the sth instant, Nessrs. A.G. Nell
WAIVE, G. w. BeLlLEG, THOMAS WALLACE,
r-. Hno,,,.s n G Crpyvk,rpv 7 nw