The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-01

idea of America is TO constitute q dominion
like that of ancient Rome-an agglomeratio
of provinces ruled from a centre by a Senate
And they will not listen to argument; the,
simply appeal to the sword. They enjoy fo
the present the prestige of success and i'm
munity from punishment-like the Imperia
system in France; and nothing but a shocl
will secure their attention a shock lik,
Gravelotte or Sedan. The American peopl,
are wild with excitement, with uninterrupted
prosperity, with riches, with unrebuked licen
| tiousness.
1t is evidently the duty of the party
which saved the Union to preserve it,
and so long as the Democracy openly de-
clare their policy to be its destruction, we
don't think they have any just cause to
complain of any precaution that may be
takeu. If we are to choose between
anarchy and q "strong government" give
| us the latter by all means. If between one
honest, virtuous man, limited by law, and
an unbridled mob of roughs, rowdies and
repeaters---of New York sans catlottes--we
shall not hesitate long in our choice. Dur
ing the past twenty years we have seen
enough of Democratic mob-rule. If only
for a change we would like to taste somo-
thing different If not better.
The Dispatch glories in the prospect of
the speedy completion of its pet improve
ment, the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad,
Of which it says:
By August next one hundred miles of the
western end of the route will be in running
order, and by July, 1872, the entire road will
be finished
Do our people appreciate this event7 We
believe not. Disappointment, hope long de-
has JrlI ~ ...4
their expectations, and we question whether
they will fully understand the great event
until it is upon them.
We could better appreciate the prospect
OF the opening of this route, if we were bet
ter prepared for it but we fear that, un-
less before the time fixed for it by the Dis
patch arrives we shall have been able to
attract sufficient capital into the State to
give employment to our impoverished peo-
Pile, the moment that road is opened to
travel, its principal business will be to
carry people out of the State, and lose them
to US forever in the great West.
If we had had direct communication
from this State to the West during the
past five years, our population would have
been decreased in an alarming manner.
We all know that there are thousands now
in this city who could they get there
without going around by Baltimore, would
leave at once for Missouri and Kansas and
if the State remains in the same condition
a year longer the great army of western
bound emigrants will be increased ten-foid.
What will stop them 2 We must invite
capital to open up enterprises which will
ensuis them employment at home that we
may retain them here. In a word we must
make Virginia prosperous within the next
year, or prepare to lose our young men-the
bone and snew of the land-wthout any
hope of replacing them. The mountains
to the west have been hitherto partial |
barrier; but the Chesapeake and Ohio
road will open way, and they will wan
der forth from this Happy Valley, no
longer an abode of happiness for them.
Seeing the danger, we are forewarned.
Let us, then, fortify against it-and how ?
Simply by setting about providing work
for all who are now wasting their means
and energies in enforced idleness-en-
forced, we say, because they are brave and
willing to work, but have nothing to work
with
Open up our minerals, build manu-
factories, invest all the capital we have
lying idle at home, and encourage it to
come from abroad by offering paying in
ducements, and we shall make them SO
comfortable in old Virginia that they will
stay with us and increase and multiply,
and replenish the earth here in "their own,
their native land"
But we shall rejoice with the Dispatch
in the completion of this great work, for
it is an advance--and for the evils we pre-
dict, we shall expect compensations that
will more than repay.
In referring to the settlement OF the war
in Europe, by the treaty of peace just
signed, the Dispatch speaks of the effects
it will have upon our own happy and
prosperous country in the following patri-
otto strain:
The restoration of peace in Europe will have
fine effect upon the business and money
world in this country. 1t will set free a large
it will divert the speculative world from for-
eign objects, and direct its enterprises to mat~
ters of solid domestic interest.
This year is a sort of crisis in the progress of
restoration from the effects Of war, and it is
most opp0rtune that this nation is left freed
from excltUueuJ duu ulntuIuduCc iIOm oICiSu
sensations, to address itself heartily to the real
business Of promoting harmoney and the solid
improvement of the country. Money that eau
find no means of mere speculative employment
will at last settle itself down to the uses of the
nation, in the trade and in the improvements
of the day.
A year of peace with such dispositions as
certainly must now exst-six years after the
war--will do wonders towards bringing back
the country to proper condition Of peaceful
prosperity and rapid advancement in national
power. Let us hope that we shall have such
a year.
Nothing promises now to disturb it. We
shall no doubt have speedy settlement OF the
Alabama claims, and then there is not speck
on the horizon to suggest danger or to excite
speculative feeling to injure the country by
disturbing its commerce.
NEW ADvERTlsEMENT
A GENTS WANTED--{ $225 MONTH"; by
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