The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-20
Tho Public Debt.

To the Editors Of the Dispdtch
Will YOU allow plain country latn and
nrnss h;s admiration for the honest au9
.,1nIv course YOU have invariably pu,suto
=, rnS,rd TO the obligations we are unuei w
IN onr honor and credit, both Ut noue
ana ahroadi I presume that every Tue
haarted Yirginan feels worried oy 1ne
aection that the misfortunes lncluen. W o,d =
devastating war have brought me Sovu at o,u
Commonwealth to the verge OF DahAlup,So,
and that her plighted faith, Wnlcn nas o hos
unouestioned and unquestiohaois, oI'
almost become q bye-wora anu lep,o az"
Wby is this! Have we oegeneta'eu .t ~
a iaoI h. W The Mkicks and cuffs of Disfor-
.,,no would barter the honor OF the PROUD
Ia state for personal ease and Individual
odrancenenti Or have we become so men-
taiiv moor that we cannot produce man or
sat If men who have the capacity to form
the nlan and sternly point the way that
leads to O maintenance Of our honor ana
,eease from our difficulties! can readily
COMPREHEND the difficulties we baye to en-
Counter and the sel-denial we will have to
practice in order to meet all the obligations
which will rest upon us, both OF prl-
yate and public character. But cannot
the sacrifice be made and our honor as
individuals and as people be sustained {!
Most assuredly it can if we are only COM
pelled to make the effort. A few drinks less,
a few cigars less, and short curtail on social
indulgence generally, and the Object Is effect
ed, and the man better creature. The peo-
pie can and will stand an increase OF taxa.
ton sufficient to pay four per cent. Interest
on the public debt and carry on the govern
It,t ocy rnfrp1ph.
ment and reform. and little common hon
esty in administering that government. TIC
question is frequently asked where does tnat
e2,20O,000 60 that is spent under the town.
ship arrangement Our roads are worse
than they were under the old regime,
and the only visible evidence OF
thrift and improvement is embraced
in few new school. houses and
some fue new dwellings and barns built by
tue collectors and handlers OF the peoples
money. Is not the daily labor Of the man
who owns and tills the soil and pays taxes
upon 1t worth as much rs that or some CT
these faithful custodiaps Ct The pubic cash I
If 30, by this marked distinction3 We en-
ploy men to 90 to Richmond and make laws
for us. They vote themselves six dollars
day and mileage, and there is not one who is
rot dead-headcd" on the railroads; and,
then, DO deductions are made for lost days
from any cause whatever; and, with few ex-
captions, presume that ionr hours per day
is all the time these SCREAMS OF the people
pretend to be engaged in the work assigned
them and yet these sapient taW-gl7ers
are afraid to project an important agricu'-
tural interest by taxing out OF existence the
mongrels, whelps, and ours low deg-oe,'
that infest the land, and have failed lhus far
to devise scheme of taxation coupled With
retrenchment and reform e5sy3,ctere that
will restore the credit and prosperity or this
once proud old Commonwealth. Mr.. Editor,
I hear that there Is an organization called
" Grangers" that is gradually e1endingi'ver
the length and breadth Of the land, whose
profeSsed nission it is to set all things right
and "put the right men in the right place"
I know nothing of them but what hear,
but If they are to be the iconochsts OF evil
and will erect affairs to the true ard living
God, and sustain the honor and prosperity
of our dear old State, pray ferycntly that
they come, and come quickly. L.