The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-28

mo,,s to Submit 10 II. Fem the nature Of
ttee peature- -ErERrTHISHh dusT1 been Ten
stired BIZ each, and EVERYTHING toSt-it IS
apparent that nothing Is due TO or from
either partp. ] venture to affirm thnt our
statesmen have not made O correct dag
nosis OF the case, and interested par
ties have We'd with each other in obfus-
eating the minds OF q people instinc-
lively fearing, dishonor By, holding over
them the rod OF Imaginary disgrace. The
boot is on the other Ieg--'s MMtato nom
inc, de tie fabntG 1.arTatar,", The same pro-
cess Of reasoning applies with equal forceto
the northern bondholders. The destruction
OF the Confederacy involved the destruction
OF their bonds. They volunteered to pay this
price for the preservation OF the Union (aDd
frankly confess think it was cheap at The
price,, and a1e therefore estopped from any
such claims. Thus the State. released from
all obligations to its citizens at home, Is con-
fronted by the foreign bondholders. Here,
indeed. "NobEesse obige." The man who
would refuse to pay. in full, the innocent
holders OF our bonds is as base as pick
pocket. They lent us their money in good
faith. They were no co-partners in our
us sell everything. including our boots; let
us excise ali salaried officers and make it an
honorable distinction to serve The State
without reward until this debt is paid. In
conclusion, protest against the injustice
done everyone by keeping up the delusion
that the debt can or will be paid. "Silken,
sly, insinuaiing jacks pat us clodhoppers
on the back; tell Us how happy we ought
10 be. "Oi fortunate natl dgricota," &C..
but never forget to ask us up to the cap
tain's Office to settle our fare. 1t would be
very interesting piece Of information
to us il they would advise Us how to
do it. With disastrous seasons and
unremunerative prices, like other trades,
we lose money Or make two OF three per
cent. Now, show us how 10 pay six per
cent. on twenty-five or forty millions (ten
or twenty millions are OF "no consc-
uuence," rs Dir. Toots would say, in eSti-
mating debt never to be paid, aud fifteen
to twenty per cent. for advances to conduct
our business. 1t is criminal to keep up this
deIusion, and cruel to hold the rod OF imd-
qinarY disgrace over 4nthinking ignorance.
Let us be just 1--WE can't be generously and
fear not II no distinguished statesman can
lead you out of the wilderness, follow me
as your Moses. ALFRED N. BERNARD.
P. S.-Amidst the "torTens copia rer,tne
7,ounruin'' above offered 10 the cogitations
of the public forgot, in the hurry OF the
running pen, to submit still another novel
ty, to which the attention OF the statesmen
about to assemble in Richmond, as well as
ali others in authority, is invited. When
Prussia was reduced 10 the direst extrcmi-
ties by Bonaparte her citizens contributed
to the State their precious jewels, receiving
from the State duplicates in iron-the beau
tiful Berlin work. These fac Smiles are
still cherished as infinitely more valuable
than the originals, and esteemed as the
verilable patents OF true nobility. 1t
is an unworthy, a ncfarious suspicion,
to Suppose that Virginia has not sons
equally worthy and emulous OF such an il
ustrious example. Has she not sons, too,
equally competent to serve her for one year
at lci,st for their aboard and Clothes"
coupled, at its expiration, with the presen-
tation Of one of these nestimabIe baubles,
worth about So, instead of drawing salaries
from her dismembered and denuded car
cass, nearly double as much rs they were
when she was redolent with the purple
light OF youth, health, prosperity, and
whole body.