The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-08

satisfied themselves with efforts to get rid
|of office-hoIders of Acknowledged bad
character, and the removal OF others who
are obnoxious alike to whites and blacks,
they would have succeeded and the Gov
erpmeDt would have been benefited. But
they were too eager, and suddenly found
themselves opposed by the combined influ.
ence Of the entire carpet-bae element, SUP
ported By It's friends In high places In
Washing on, who hail from every section of
the Eass and North. Unjust aS It may
Of the Federal oflice-holders In this State
were appointed on the Recommendation Of
representatives and senator's from other
States, and many OF them are retained in
office by the same influence. The natives
felt aggrieyed at this utter ignoring Of their
interests in the premises, and tired 10 get
the reins into their own hands. AS have
already explained, they failed because they
were too eager and too comprehensive In
their attempt.
Another great source OF discnnte nj in the
party ranks Ia the absolute ieade. ship Of
ignorant, II not dIsreputable, PERSONS over
the blacks in some of the country districts.
These persons are dogs In the mInger, who
neither succeed In carrying their districts
themselves or allow others TO succeed.
They have such complete and unquestioned
control oTer the black voters thaG they are
enabled TO dictate the party nominations,
and generally nominate themselves. The
result Is that while g fcw mere reasonable
leaders would put up Candidate: to attract
votes from the opposition, tile maj ority OF
the party overru!e them, aud nGDiuate truly
obnoxious men. Many efforts were made
during the late election to give nomina-
tions to waverlug and weak-nced ConSer-
fI liIl ~
and their friends cloar over to the kcpub-
lican side of the fence; but, WITH rare eX-
ceptions. they failed on urcouut of the
opposition Of tic old Union League
leaders. The latter assert, with some
show OF justice, that they organized
the party, and Gr0 therefore emil
tied to recognition before eleventh.
hour converts. Notwithstanding aIi these
troubles. however, the State Is sure for
Grant at the next election, for the reason
| I hat local quarrelS and personal chickering's
will not enter into the canvass "a they did
| with such baleful influence this fall.
Richmond has not improved rs city as
much as | expected it would since the war.
The ruins of Breckinridge's great ire are
| still to he seen In great squares of totter-
| ing, windowless walls, aud heaps of broken
brick and masonry. But the improve
| ments that have been made are creGitable
alike to the energy and architectural taste
| OF the people. Main street-at least the
| most prominent part Of it, hear the Gus.
| toul-housc-preSents much fiuer appear
ance to-day than than it did before the war
/ 1t has been rebuilt with marble and iron,
| and the snowy fronts Of the leading bus-
| ness houses now rival those on Broad
| way. There have been but few private
! dwellings erected, however, and real
estate values have not increased. Certain
branches of industry and commerce have
been developed to more profitable results
| than before, but it is safe to say that the
+! failure of crops, high taxes, and general
stagnation Of business all over the State,
has had n depressing Influence OH the well
fare of the city. For instance, the wheat
| crop Of this year, marketed here, fell short
three hundred thousand dolisis Of the
amount received for last years crop. a
number of the old famili!c business
houses, whose credit in happier days was
upquestioned for any amount, have failed,
and their names are only heard OF now tn
| the bankrupt courts.
The city IS gradually becoming Partisan,
aud the laXity or lenity Of morals, the free
dom OF manners, and the recklc-. eXtrava-
gance of New Orleans, arc finding close
| imitators here. Glaring li%bt> Oh Sunday
nights, and Wide.open doors nn Sunday,
iuulCatt W liC Sli1iESI II'ii h'hibS o't
Broad street the possibility OF gettins fluid
refreshment for Tho Inner lnln al any hour
of the Sabbsth as readily as on u week
day. and will soon be followed by the
French custom Of theatrical and operate
performances In competition with the
churches. do not think that the
upper classes CT the more stable part Of
the population arc satisfied with this
state Of affairs, and it is time they were
taking the matter in hand-tor the good re-
pute of the city if not for the welfare OF
their young people. The German clement
of the population here is qnite large, and
sustatns the reputation it has the world
over for genial hospitality ard success in
combining pleasure with Business. The
Gesangveren is the name Of the leading as.
sociatjon. II has n tine club.roonl, in which
the members now frequently meet to re.
hearse "Der Freisbutz," wha'l opera they
will soon bring out at an amateur PERFORM
ance ut the Richmond Theaira.
PRINCE GEoRGE.