The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-16
FOT Ete UIhPTlcH'
To the Young Men of yirginsn.

At crisis like the present, when all
hearts are full Of anxiety and dread for the
future, esteem it great privilege to ad-
dress you few words. The only apology
have to offer is that | am Virginan.
Party politics, in the old acceptation Of
the term, are no more. The war disposed
of all minor questions, and we now have
but two great ones pressing upon us. The
first is the question Of races, which will
soon be settled by the men who fought,
not only shoulder to shoulder, but breast
to breast-the young men Of this great
Empire All zoe can do is, when the pro-
per time comes, to vote in a body for Cdu-
casian supremacy.
The other is that Of Development, and
with it we have everything to do.
The only creative sources Of wealth are
agriculture, manufactures, and mining.
Our labor system is broken up, and agri-
culture languishes. Manufactures and
mining have been only commenced. Do
not despond.
True, many of the sons Of the Ola Do
minion have been forced to seek occupa-
ton in other States, but it could not be
avoided. This makes it the more necessary
for us who remain TO be up aud doing.
Prosperity is only question of time. The
interval may tax our endurance to the
utmost, but let the remembrance of our
noble old mother State, and the loved
ones at home, stimulate us TO more earn
est effort. Listen to the philosopher:
"For there is a perennial nobleness and
even sacredncss in work. Were he never
so benighted, forgetful Of his high calling,
there is always hope in man that actually
and earnestly works: in idleness alone is
there perpetual despair. The latest Cos
pei in this world is, know thy work and do
it. know myself long enough has that
poor self Of thine tormented thee thou
wilt never get to know it, I believe
Think it not thy business, this of knowing
myself; thou art an unknowable indi-
vidual. Know what thou canst work 1t
and work at it like Hercules. That will
be thy better plan."-Carlyle.
Let us not despiSe the day of small
things. Any man who can stand the IA
tigues of the march aud camp, can with
one horse make bread enough for seven or
eight persons. This may not he cougenial
employment, but it will open the way for o
better. Let those who can afford to study,
instead of rushing into the overcrowded,
lGhTuCu OCsOiC u low W
mining, engineering, manufactures, and
the various branches of science and art
embraced in the term technology. You
may starve genteelly on law or medicine,
but you can live comfortably, and may
make money in the other pursuits. These
other pursuits will require as much talent,
study, and energy as the most successful
man can boast of. 1t has passed into
proyerb that knowledge is power" But
Bulwer says that "the right application of
knowledge is power IAN important dis
tinction.
All this will require capital of course
but when we are once in the Union on
Caucasian platform, and the uSury laws
are Jas in Massachusetts, practically
abolished, it will be forthcoming. Does
any one suppose that shrewd men will hold
United States bonds at 6 and 7.SO per
cent. when manufactures or mines will
pay double the rate? Our communica-
tons with the Mississippi Valley, when
completed, will bring to our seaboard
towns an immense business, and we of the
interior must take care that the proceeds
OF these consignments are returned in
manufactures.
We must also encourage immigration
from the North and from Europe. The
Virginia Land and Aid Immigration Com
pany, if conducted on the plan which has
been published, and cordially Sil. supported
to add large numbers Of useful men to our
population. This is practical reconstruc-
ton. By these means alone can We
rebuild our fallen fortunes.
Suppose State lines are practically
abolished and the Constitution amended.
This Constitution was framed for thirteen
States, with homogeneous population of
few millions, mainly OF, English origin.
Now, in this age Of steam and Lightning,
our body polite is composed of hetero.
geneous mass of men Of all nations, many
of them Jacobins and Sans.culottes.n
holding the radical ideas, which from time
TO time have conyul,cd Europe. Let us
not criticise too closely the means which
experience has demonstrated are neces-
ary fOs the preservation of orr national |