The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-30
4 voman's yEoy:s OF Reputation
A CLOUD IN TIE sET.

cloud is in the sky like mans lland,
and mon with families dependent OH theh
ond widows and orphans arc watchlnS
i fcsr;no il may iarkcn their horizon. y
,3,,,rnrr i on the air, and these are llsteI-
inr eagerly in vain attempt to learn It's I'LL
port. s-,,onr,,, of
honor. While aIr1ics were encaiilpeu anu
battles were fought on her sou, hef peopic
cave freely as long as they bad anything 10
Snarr. When with defeat came poverty tney
bent their minds and their muscles 10 LABOR
for maintenance with an unia!terlhS resoiu,
tinn and patipnt soll-denial which rendered
thcm nobcr in their impoYcrlshment than IN
fhcir former elegant luxury. The best ana
rrc2tn,t of them all turned to the faithful
Guidance Of the youth of the South. Ofhccrs
Who had commanded thousands, orators who
held hearers spCll-b0und, did any honest
work that could he found. Men who had
seen large private fortunes melt away be-
came literally HhGWers Of wood and drawers
Of water" and had scnSc'of elevation While
ssiy;nr comforts to loved ones by even me-
NAL service. Soft, white hands OIL which
diamond. had giittered lost their whlteness,
and were sometimes blistcred, III meeting
ncy; demands. intellectual attachments be-
gan to have Il practical estimate OF so many
dollars and cents year to those once hcautl-
ful idlers. those now earnest workers-the
women OF Virginia.
During all this time the people have bacn
sustained by sense of untiring individual
effort and worthy purposes, by lofty State
pride, and by perfect confidence in our
grand old Commonwealth, the mother OF
States and statesmen" 70 be Nirginian
WAS to have an "cpcn sesame" to the hoSpi-
taliies of many sections Of the country-was
ailnusi an IL sillance Of counsel and suhstar-
till aid to q stranger cndc;Norihg to make ::
home in the South or West.
Is this Worl; Of Il century, elaborated so
Stninly yet 50 cla>tcly within the last de-
cide, 10 be malTcd i'll the winter Of 1SIl-,2
No one seems to know. The people arc
stunned by the bare possibility of suspicion.
Wish money il tie Treasury, collected by
law from the people for the purpose OF pay
iug interest OH the funded DEBT, the LcgiSla-
tlrc seems unwilling TO pay this interest.
though more than 4 million OF dollars will
rrnn!n should this payment be made. Why :
The opportunity inr delibelation, for inYesti-
cation. determination to kill the funding
Jill, ard grim something mentioned once
or twice only to he pronounced L shadow,
seem to lie the only answer. Is this dis
clailncr 10 become such by-word as the
phrase " Let Us have peace? Delibcration
and investigation after debt is acknoWl-
edged are i!i-.imcd. TO take the first step in
killing ILL by refusing to pay interest on
Il debt TO patient creditors, when these credit
ors lave themselves furnished the money for
The payment. is questionable craftsmanship.
Can Il sufficient number Of these sons Of Viz
ginia, chosen by Ter people to maintain her
honor and their rights, do this thing which is
debated openly, and that darker thing which
is d;scEaimcd by some? Is credit to be I'M.
paired at home and abroad? Is immigration
to be discouraged? Are those to whom money
is due from the State to wait the comforts OF
life? Can SirginianS go among strangers no
more rclyinGon tried strength, courageous in
conscious rectiiudc, prorldof honest poverty
Must each ore wien he would raise his clear
eyes to look into those CT lis fcllow-mcn bend
his head in shame, feeling that upon his brow
is the brand of repudiation? Must mothers
cease to teach their children that love for the
State should re second only tn love for the
great Triune:
In perious times God sometimes gives III
1uencc to pure, firm men who clcaye to the
right, unhceding the dictates Of policy. May
He now cntrllst the helm Of State to such
Sons members of the Legislature are fear.
.essV stating facts and pleading for right
action: and bearded mouths and dewy lips
arc already giving them their need Of praise
CHlEL.