The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-28

m Ike IN the Nos complement. 80 =
what IL the Cause that Impedes vir-
ctnia on her Road to Prosperity
CoLE's FERRY, July 25, 1875.
Editors DISPATCH: TO all thoughtful men
who have turned their attention to State
matters the most difficult questions that pre-
sent themselves are: How are we to i'm
Droye the advantages in climate and SOIL
which nature has given to Virginia! What
are the obstacles that lie in the path Of this
Improvement, and why is it that we az a
State have advanced so slowly when We take
into consideration the manifold resources
that lie here within our borders? AS
member of that great body into whose bands
the Government Of Virginia must finally
come. and upon whose shoulders the duty OF
advancing her interests both in public and
private life must fall-the young men-our
opinions ,lnon this subject may be worthy OF
notice simply from the light it may throw
upon Virgina's future course. "
Tbc Vi!ginians are undoubtedly q brave,
honest. and generous race Of people; and
This character they have cultivated and ma
tured during long series Of years. They
are emineplly conservative, not only in pub.
lie but in private life, and it is the spirit OF
the latter that constitutes the greatest OBJ
stacle TO Yireinia's rapid material advance
ment. We refer, OF course, TO that con>er-
yatism OF old habits and opinions about the
practical requirements Of liie-a conserve
tism " hicn dcgenerates into narro"neSs,
which amounts to nothing more than su-
preme satisfaction with its present condition
aud all ts attending results; regarding an i'm
prnyemeut in that condition as an innovation
unworthy OF encouragement. Perhaps we
make mistake in regarding this conServa-
yatism as active. 1t is on the whole passive.
Passive in this way-that it amounts, taking
all together, to apathy, so far as enter
prise aud energy are coDecrncd-an ln-
difference, which is worse than opposition.
because still less aueaa1le to reason and III
interests. Conservatism in Government Is
utterly different from that conservatism IN
private life which we have Just described;
and while the former can readily exist ID
conjunction with the latter, yet conServa-
tism in Government is deprived of its great
SCOPE for good unless attended by spirit OF
prouress and erer-incteasng energy and en-
terprise ia private opinions and acts. With
out this attending spirit it becomes simply
q massive DO Wer, and not al active agent. For
mentioned. what people are more opposed
to repudation of just public debts than Vir-
ginians, and yet is it al ways the exception,
\ iyl,t appreciation Of private obligations?
1t is, in vast number of cases, more
than we are willing to allow. Here
there is centred the greatest impeachment to
iirginias progresS-thiS conservatism in
private opinions and habits. And we leave
it to the judgment of all to corrobora!e its
truthfulncss. Virginia has accepted honestly
the results of the war. Her citizens, emf.
neutly sensible, recognizing no cause why
States whose interests are hencefOrth one and
the same should be at variance have accepted
the fiat of fate bravely, honestly, and, above
all, willingly. Blu, she has not yet fully &C
cep,ed the obligations which those results
have and will continue to impose upon her.
And why? Because she has not yet thor
oughly appreciated the stand she must o!
necessity take in the future, and the course
she must inevitably follow. And the reason
of this non-appreciation on the part Of the
State lies in that very conservatism which
We have referred TO and which was one Of
the worst results Of the slavery system.
Virginaus are strongly averse TO changes.
This spirit, which falsely animates them in
private life, they have wisely extended to
their Government. This is the re ason why we
have preserved our State Government in its
integrity, bu'. at the same time, why we have
not advanced in prosperity. Those habits
of fullest satisfaction with our present con-
ditiOn fostered Ivy another system now in the
new state of affairs retard us a, every step
aud upon every side. The majority Of citl.
zcns upon whom Virginia relies for her pre-.
sent progress have not forgotten those old
ante bcNum lessons OF unthriftiness and
banefu lack Of enterprise. We STE the
natural results of this when We re-
gard the poor encouragement which the
live men Of tue State receive for their
efforts, and the repeated failures of any
improvements in our borders-an inevitable
effect tlJwng from mario minded cause.
We see the natural result Of this when we
look around upon our broad lands, rich in
mineral matter, waiting impatiently for the
coming capitalist. Is this due entirely 10 our
lack Of capital: Why do so many Efforts Of
ours fai: Our accumulated wealth was, in
deed, swept away by the war; but we can
say ct the same time, if we judge only from
appearances, that our energy and spirit of
enterprise sank with it. The truth l., that
they never existed to any remarkable extent.
Until they be fostered and encouraged we
can never expect any great accumulation Of
wealth. We see especially the conservatism
of old habits and opinions in the agricutu-
raj classes. We find that the greatest draw
buck to their mproyement-and it is the class
tina: constitutes the very backbone of
the State-is not SO much want OF
capital as unthrifty habits; no desire to ad.
vance their present condition, and in all
cases and it is thing not so small as might
be thought-a total regardessness of APP
pearances. Only those in the lower classes
thrive and make money in their farming
who are willing 10 work with their own
hands, practice economy, and thus improve
their condition by small Accommodations of
capital. In the highest classes only the strict
est performance of drudging duty, an en-
Iightened and liberal spirit, total lack of
extravaganza, and the thought that nothing
is too small to preserve, can elevate their
condition, and thus elevate the condition OF
those under them. Are these not in the ma.
joTiiy of cases exceptions? In fact, the ma.
jorlty Of our citizens, especially among the
middle and lower middle, do not hail i'm.
provement of any kind with joy. They are
only content to make the bread clear which
they eat. They cannot appreciate the ines.
Unable benefits which the energy and enter.
prise of one man can confer upon large
community. 1t might be thought that when
another advances the capital they would at
least condescend to patronize and encourage.
Until We thoroughly appreciate these facts
there can be no hope of progress. Until the
minds Of our people become liberaIzed
ii is farce on our part to discuss great en-
terprises and descant on the manifold advan.
tages which Virginia possesses in soil and
climate. What other reason than this will
explain so fully the fact that so few immi-