The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-21
aieIln,,nd l|ispate
SATURDAY DECEMBER 81, 1917.
Christmas Refections-Legislative.


The holiday season may be improved by
the members of the Legislature, not only III
consulting their constituents. but in pa
tiently rejecting upon the enbariassments
of the State, and how they arc to bc met
without sacrifice Of honor, and with the
preservation of the authority and dignity OF
each branch Of the Government.
This paper was not an advocate OF the
funding law, and is not actuated 10y any such
thing as pride of opinion in what it has TO
say. Wise or unwise, that act was passed
and the Obligation Of the State to respect II
and fulfil the contract which she makes win
all her creditors who avail themselves OF II
has been established by the decision OF the
highest judicial tribunal in the State. 10
talk lightly Of that decision is needless not
10 respect it is revolutionary.
What is to be done? 1t becomes no one
to rcplv that nothing can be done. The
man who says this is discouraglnS TIC
community from doing anything, and IN Il
roundabout way practically setting the luds-
mcpt of the Supreme Court at nauSht by en-
dcayoring to defeat its mandate IN prevent
ing ANYTHING from being done which might
insure compliance with it, The representa-
tive is rccreant TO his public duty VINO
spreads dependency and discomfort among
his constituents, and inspires them with III
difference towards the obligation and honor
OF tho Comm onwcalth.
He should, on the contra ~, encourage MS
people to do all they can to redeem the pup
lie credit. No man is q thoroughly Soou
citizen who is reluctant to do so; anu no
man who fails in this duty has proper ldei
of his own interests. Destroy the pubic
credit and YOU destroy the general thrift and
happiness Of the people. The outside Worio
will avoid the State Us the traveller would
avoid the district of the plague. We shall
have no reiniorcements from without either
of population or capital, and will be left to
fry in our own fat, q diShonored and mscra-
bic people. II the faithlcssncSs OF the phb-
lie servants should leave us i'll that sad state
il would not he long before the entire COM
munity would pray for relief from shame
and prostration by a restoration OF the pub
lie honor, through the recognition and pay
ment of the public obligations.
1t is time when every legislator should
examine his conscience and ask himself how
much he has been governed by personal am
bition and how much by public spirit. If
any one finds that he has thought more Of
himself than he has of his State, he should
Immediately pluck from his heart the sordid
motives and east them from him, and resolve
TO give himself and all he has to his State.
1t is through the unity and patriotism OF the
people alone TINT the good name and pros
pcrity of the State can be preserved. The
subordination Of the public welfare to the
ambition OF men will end in ruin.
The question of providing for The ohliss-
tons Of the State should be discussed wholly
with reference TO the public interests. 1t Is
base to be governed by its personal and
uartv bearings. Could there be anything
more disrcrutabic than the conduct OF the
Radicals on the subject? And where man
looks with contempt at their course, how can
ne for a moment dream OF initiating them I.
They voted unanimously for the funding
act. and now they manifest III intention OF
making opposition to il us Il piece of strategy
for getting into the offices of the State. And
what do they do when they get into them !:
If they follow the examples of their breth-
rem in the South it will only be to sfuandcr
the public money and increase the public
debt by lillins their pockets with the hard
earnings Of the people. Such would be our
fate. How could the people trust men who
were so false to the State and themselves rs
one day 10 vote for measure Through
bribery, it is Said) and the next to seek to get
into the public places and put their hands
upon the public treasure by violently OPP
posing that measure? Men thus discrcditcd
can aSsulcdly find no favor amongst Virgil
mans.
Let, then, the vacation he employed in
earnest reflection upon the State of the Com
monwcalth and the representative duty with.
out regard to personal ambition. This will
enable legislators to return to their du-
ties in n great degree freed from i'm
proper influences. The funding act is
ont of the discussion: and the question is,
What plan shall be adopted to preserve the
credit of Virginia and maintain her pros.
pclity and growth: Addressing themselves
to this point and casting the past behind
them, their measures will be crowned with
success.