The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-14
The Temporary Defeat of Annexation.


The Temporary Defeat Of Annexation.
We call it temporary because we will not
believe that the Council of the city of Rich
mond-deliberately selected, picked out by
their fcllow-citizens for their sound judy
mcns, expanded views, and that reach and
scopco of mind which marks liberal sagacty-
could deliberately do such thing.
We say nothing of the marked discour'esy
to their own committee, whose report was not
even permitted to be read, nor of the want
Of consideration for the representatives OF
Manchester, nor yet Of the absence OF every
thing like parliamentary proprlcty inthc pro-
ceeding. These are obvious, and VIII str'He
eycrybody-evcn by this time the lnenl-
hers of the Council who showed s''cH
strange alacrity, and III so unusual way, 10
.mothor ., the outset measure OF such IN
portance. We now look to the deed i'ScN.
The annexation of Manchester will complete
the circle of Richmond's municipal powers
and capacity. 1t will harmonize by unIhcat!on
NIL the thousand sectional questions that must
distract and hinder the progress Of two NIL
inequalities, each with such signal advnli-
taccs. 1t will give to each the benefit OF the
best minds of both. All this Is checked by
the action of the Council.
But further: Manchester is the natural
home of the Richmond artisan. The imnligra-
tion Of that most useful class will be vastly
promoted by furnishing them cheap homes
in airv places. They will build up the city il
we will only arrange so that they can come
here and live in some sort Of comfort.
But this action of the Council says no, they
shall not come unless they will come to Rich
mond to live the city shall not be developed
bv extension. Real estate must rise in value,
and it cannot do that if you bring into com-
petition with it "cheap homes for the labor
ing poor
And then, how inconsistent. Less than a
month ago the City Council asked unan-
mo,lsly that Richmond be allowed to aid in
building a free bridge over James river;
now it would throw away all the advantages
oftat transit. Then, some old fogy property
holders vcnturcd into the Legislature with a
remonstrancc and though their design wore
the spccious veil of regard for the rights of
the voters, yet. even the cloquence of Mr..
DANIEL could not save them from oycrwhcln-
ing defeat. For their real design was
apparcnt-it was the monopoly feeling.
And now we have the same thing. 1t is
the contest of property against labor. And
it is just that sort of contest that gives com
munism the food OH which it subsists and
grows. But we do not ascribe such narrow
views TO the large mass Of our propcrty-hold-
CTS. They are, we believe, largely i'll the
majority for annexation. Will they permit
themselves to be ruled by the few who can
only look at n great question as it effects their
individual pockets, and look at it wrong rs 4
matter of course!
We hope for the credit of the Council and
for the sake of cur beautiful city, all whose
interests cry aloud for annexation, that this
most unfortunate action will be rcconsidcrcd,
its injury rapidly repaired, and IL bill for an
nexation put at once into the Legislature.
Everybody wants it except those who do not
care for Richmond to grow unless it grows
more to their than the public gain.
Let us not pcrpetratc the crime of be-
qucathing to our postcrity bitter thirty
years ftud for what must come, sooner or
later, in spite of all resistance.