The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-27
;tlln,ond lispatth,
-~.,..,.n,y JANUARY q, 1876
THE Centennial Bill.

The Centennial 6lll.
II. n.s.,Gr OF the Centennisi oiil oy Tue
~. Of representatives. Is hardly to be
..>..s,tc.. = matter of much qualification IN
- - Il he small majority in its favor. A
~ 49,. tha', which was designed for national
c. ..s:s cocy ard jnbilation, should have
.. ~ si,a something Ike unanimity, If at
~, IA it tiA.acts seriously from The price OF
tac occasion and its circumstance that it did
mo-.
Yet, so strange are the politicians, who
for ways that are dark and tricks that are
vain" are vexAtiously "peculiar," that we
never know why they d. anything unless we
attn butte their motive to seltishness. In that
we seldom err. There were possibly nun
dred names that would have been cast for
the bill had they been necessary for its pass
age, There are more than haif your modern
f'av lawmakers who are ever taking close
chances in voting, ever seeking to avoid
vote in favor of an appropriation. Their
legislative existence, they think, can only be
prolonged by assuming no responsibility, and
Going nothing that Can give the aspirants at
1ne handle az Ainst them.
We seldom see an honest vote on an ap.
propriatsnn in these days. Hungry expect
ans at Some, who have as slender merlts as
those VIA. are rcpyesen ting the people, arc
ever eager with Hide-open eyes and lifted
cars to learn any act of the representative
that may be ass,iled, and thc representative
is no cautious 10 do nothag tina; can DC tor
tured into complaint against him. In thls
way ths representative body is in these days
in great degree impaired 10 usclulacse, anG
public fealty is Transformed into selfish ard
sordid calculation Of the chances for promo.
ting cr impairing personal prospccs b. pub
tic acss,
Therefore we suppose il may DC believed
that the vote on the Centennial is by no
uears An expression Of the true ite.irg and
fbe opinions of the members Of The H!use
of Representatives.. We do not, Of course,
mean thst this shall! be complimentary to the
House eff Representatives OF this great ma.
tlop, bnt St may nevertheless be sc construed
by some people, for the moral ethics of this
country have been so perverted that there
be .saapy people who thiok that the great
duty Of public man is to play The game oil
politics with view to his own prog, profit,
and promotion, He is the smartes! ard most
deserving who does this the best.
So we do not look upon the vote On the
Centennial bill as representing the truth.
Yet we regret that there had not been some. |
thing like unauimity, because the world
don't know the amount Of diSsimulalion, as
well as stimulation, that has crcpt into the
representative character Of this "great ma
ton"
We do desirc-aow that the Centennial is
r fixed fact--:hat it should be a splendid and
hearty affair. And as We have suf-
1cred from great national convul.
sior, and above all things Feed bar
mony and the GOOD feeling that must
spring from national intercourse ia things
that are agreealla and inspire national pride,
we have for s:me time looked forward 10
the Centennial as happy even! for the ma.
'ton. We had hoped to sec the South join.
ing in VIA g.! heart, inspired by The hope
Oh an cXc>I. 7! flf,ct. We therefore re-
ngct that /" - :,Gt OF the Centennial bill !
In cur L. ! So should now have to
add lLat 80 Ill. Lire congressional del |
ecsatioL " I 80 tie bill in the House |
OF Erplc.tl.'' Il, >IowELL, man to
whom oU'!t;r, al~;irc, ought not to have
driven IL ~ H.. ..',.: vote for the bill from
TirgipiJ, gay ":.: ytc. General HINTON,
Of E.uqIitr, j.. not present. Well, 20
your way, geutlt,Jep, you might have done |
better.
The $ouL, We confess, has in considerable |
4 IRE lost 81 opportunity. 1t seems to be
Lee fH. TO maintain a position Of absolute
r":is:4"ct 10 all healing up Of wounds by
<lj 81 ip;ertioE." Like the proud queen,
s . woui rather perish by the flames than
tn. :Ee' should pe cXluguished by breach
{; court Etiquette.
We dad that Mr.. LAMAR availcd him
: !. o. Inc c,aAce to pronounce an eloquent
:, -s4urat on The Centennial, showing It's
<n.!.v;rr aad motives, and the happy conse-
u noes that they would spread over the LAND.
We ti,lst aud believe the appropriation to
3J,s national occasion will pass the Senate
;-rtceit.ly and there be an end Of the discus.
>3oa il Congress. We repeat, in closing, let
Il, r.m:mber that the vote on the bill in the
House Is rot a reflection Of the sentiments of
i a, b,dy. Like boys, great portion of its
members will be found with their pockets |
suited with marbles, chalk, tops, top-cords, |
=" rosam." nail, screws, colored pebbles,
lcoricr, aud innumerable things, emblems of
~fncir o"n delights and private Qualifications:
.cl.orc important far 10 them than matters of |
natioo cyncern.
a Cuban Dissolving View.
TIE President sent another shred of