The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-21
wanted-A Hero.

R;.hmona wan,s n hero. Great deeds
require great men. Great deeds are 70 Os
done here. and men equal to them must
ariae However favorable the circum-
stances, however adequate the means Tor
the accomplishment of great undertaking,
little can be done towards it without
leader, without the brains and the energy
to take advantage Of circumstances and to
bring the means into full exercise. En-
ployment like this for great minds and in
domitable resolution is form Of genuine
heroism-a direction of the heroic prlncl-
pie into o channel of the greatest utility
and the greatest benefit to mankind.
Now Richmond needs this heroism, and
can never achieve her proper destiny
without it. 1t is most remarkable that,
with oil the exciting causes to the appa-
rition of the Hero-the great natural agen-
cies of wealth and power that are to be
developed-the unsurpassed natural ad-
vantages that invited to improvement and
enterprise as the sure means of building up
a great commerce, and creating vast wealth
and dense population worthy of great
state-no controlling mind, sustained by a
strong will and practical wisdom, has ever
come forth. One cause has been that the
engrossing topic of politics has absorbed
the intellect Of the State. The genius OF
the people was political-the educated men
of talents gave their whole time to the
study of the science Of government, and
left the solid, physical interests of the
State neglected. Indeed, many of our lead
ing statesmen conversed well about i'm
proyements, al were pleased with the
theory; but they were all indisposed to put
their hands to the aoork. Their aspirations
for political honors directed them to more
agreeable mental occupation.
So that while other States have had their
great men to carry through works of i'm
proyement that have enriched their people
and added immensely to the power and re-
sources of their governments, Virginia has
had no such son to improve her unexam-
pied natural endowment We are wrong.
She had one-the late JOSEPH c. CABELL :;
but he fell martyr to sectional jealousies,
log-rolling, and an apparently innate in
disposition among our people to sustain d
great labor, however fascinating the pro-
misses it held forth.
But we have entered upon new road to
prosperity and power. The incentives to
effort are vastly increased, and the obsta-
cles in the way of enterprise are, on the
other hand, diminished. The man or the
men equal to the occasion ought now to
manifest themselves. Richmond needs
above all things the monitor and guide to
put her plans in proper form and to point
out the way to accomplish them. We be-
lieye that the talent and the resolution can be
commanded and that the true mode Of
eliciting it is to establish among our people
free and frank intercourse and consultation
about our common interests. Without union
and cooperation of the citizens, Richmond
can do nothing. This must be had. We
have men fit for counsel-wise and foresee-
ing. They should come together. They
are the most industrious and persevering
men, but for want Of unity of action they
achieve but little outside their own personal
interests. They must break up this habit
of isolation and come together. Singly and
separately, their force is lost united and
all pulling together, they can accomplish
anything.