The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-11-28
ohanae. Social and Political,

rally mems political views aud feiaeioas'
and inevitably diminish power IN one dircc-
ton and transfer tito another. Inventions
and discoveries affecting popular pursuits
aud directing energies iuto new channels
work revolutions 10 political opinlons, raise
new issues. and often new parties; but
where new parties do not appear, old ones
are modified, and their relative powers Sc
rlous'y affected.
In this country the steady growth OF the
Younger sections has more serious tftct
upon the political complexion of the nation
than anything else. Even the railroad must
take tho second place in comparison WIN
that. The establishment of q considerable
population In land but recently coVerca
with forest brings new society inlo lne
national councils-a new society, Win ne"
impulses. and new interests to be cohs'deleo
and to be proptlatcd. Concessions must be
made to it, and compromises effected TO pre-.
vent discomfort, and, if possible, gain re-
cr,,;ts 10 old parties. This process has been
steadily going OH, and its tendency is to the
liberalizing of public policies and the
gradual surrender Of old ideas. So we have
The supplanting Of power long established
along with party leaders who become aut!-
quatcd by the rapid revolution which follows
the march of Improvement in all the econo-
mics of life and the rapid settlement OF a
new country.
II Is upon these views that we base our
bones of an early disappearance from the
political arena, and, more important yet,
from the political councils of the nation, OF
the prejudices, social and SECTIONAL from
which the South has so sadly suffered They
depended mainly upon the existence OF an
institution which has been finally and per-
maneutly abolished With it must perish
the food with which it fed the prcjudices.
This institution was an obstruction to
the natural course Of the causes OF
change, social and political, to which He
have above alluded; and its removal
Will facilitate the progress OF those
lorcible agents from whose effects we may
so hopefully and logically look for good
TO ourselves.
We cannot, indeed, expect that the reVo-
luton from these causes shall not modify
our own society. We could not expect
other sections to be forced to yield to their
influences while we continued In oulr old
channels without change. No! we must
surrender large portion of our cherished
usages to gain the compensation In the way
OF benefits which revolution must, under
the wise dispensations of Providence. confer
upon Us.
Even Massachusetts must succumb to the
"logic Of events" and not only surrender
her political power-so long fortified by the
national hostility to slavery-but she mutt
lament tie passing away Of many social
pcculiarities TO which she has beehive say
10 her credit, for we admire the devotion Of
4 land TO its household customs and house
hold gods--for long time devoted. The
western breezes that sweep through the
Hcosac tunnel bear the echoes OF the tri.
umphs Of that power which has departed
from her never to return.
Never in the world before were lands SO
rapidly pcopled as they have been in this
Union, with the facilities Of transportation
stimulated by au energy and enterprise I'M
preccdented. So never before did any coun-
try exhibit such rapid changes i'll the local
spheres of political power-su Oh constant
change Of influences upon government
through the agency of growing interests and
wonderful physical Developments.
We cinuot safely predict the policy and
inclnations Of our own people of Virginia
a few years in advance. Under her old In
stitutions there was something Ike perma-
neucy; but now what may be best for her
five years hence no man can tell. Yet 1t Is
most gratifying that In this condition OF
doubt we feel certain that whatever comes
will be for her good. She..wanlS change.
Just as the whole country docs; and it is
through the glorious Influences of the natural
course Of events in this great land that she
knows she will escape from the expressions
Of the blind aud selfish schemes Of the men
whom accident has placed temporarily in
power.