The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-25
yirgEnsan Writes from Missouri
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
OREGON. Hor.T COUNTY. Mo.,}

December Z, 1878.
II has been more than two months since
had the pleasure OF sending you line.
when last wrote was in the county OF
Rappahannock, State OF Virginia. Since
that time have been at the capitals OF five
Staics-viz., Harrisburg, Columbus, ln-
dianapolis. Jefferson City. and Topeka:
no, TO speak OF st. LOUIS. hahsas City,
Lawrence, Atchison. and st. Joseph.
was in the State OF Kansas during the
raging OF the greenhack fever, immediately
preceding the election. In that State had
The honor to make Democratic speech,
and I strenuously advocated the "doi-
lar OF the fathers" after the most APP
nroyed manner Of the Dispatch. was
amused at the idea of Greenbacker, who
flcl;cateJy suggested that was ''bloated
bopdba,dcr., did not "deEy the soft im-
Deacbment,' but IL he could have seen my
nocket-book at that interesting period OF
my experience he would have supposed that
il had been "tramped on' by every Gle.
nhant in the gorgeous train Of the Queen OF
Sheba as they proceeded, under their pom
dcrouS burdens, to King Solomon's temple.
The Greenbackers were "cleaned out" in
Kansas. That this experience was the re-
sult OF nv speech, modesty forbids me to
say. | arrived at this point two days be-
trict O: which this county forms part is
the ONLY one in the State that elected Green
hacker. tits confidently believed that IN the
GREAT political whirlpool he will have about
rs much power to control the m9lstromic
current rs the soft ZephyrS that blow from
the "coast OF Araby the biest" have to
unsettle the firm foundations OF ''Tene-
rife" or "Atlas" Before left Virginia
had been informed that'ii expected to
"make Roadway on the rolling plains of the
mighty West" would have TO advocate the
ideas OF our Greenback fricnds-that every
thing west OF the Mississippi wanted green
backs In such quantities that the "leayeS in
Ealambrosa" would only prove an inhni-
teslmal multiple in comparison TO the inf
mite amplitude OF unfettcred expansion.
The fact is. my experience in the West has
taught me that there is but one thing the
people fear more than the insane ideas Of tue
irredcemaG!e paper currcncy-greenbacker
That one thing is srasShoppers. | say one
thing. I suppose, from accounts, there were
Sercrdt grasshoppers.
expect TO make my home in Missouri
the great Empire State OF the West. Do
not think intend to crow. TO use tisu-
ratiye expression, the dust OF the sacred
soil OF old Virginia is still clinging to my
feet. In my new love my heart still turns
foudly to the old. Virginia is grand old
State. As write. fifteen hundred miles
from the classic waters of the Shenandoah,
the Rappahannock, and the James, associa-
tons, beautiful and touching. .'come troop
Ing like spirits from the Vastly deep" AS
look out upon the bright galaxy of States
am not willing to admit that there is SIN
gle star in all the brilliant constellation that
Goes not pale before the bright and steady
light OF That star that fingers in the resplen-
dance OF uniading coruScationS. 1t is true,
nv State pride is sometimes touched by
those who allude to the attitude Of
some FirginianS on the question OF the
State debt. ] tell them that the men to
whom they refer are not more the repre-
sGntativeS OF the rruc sentiment of Virginia
than the lazaron OF Italy are the repre-
sentatives OF the splendor and the glory Of
the Imperial City. There is another little
thing that disturbs my equilibrium. 1t
would disturb yours also, Mr.. Editor. 1t
is This: When talk, as sometimes do, Of
Washington, the Father OF his Country !;
Jefferson, the author Of the Declaration OF
Independence and the founder OF the Uni
versity Of Virginia; George Mason Il be-
Iicve it was). the Father of the Constitu-
iion; Patrick Henry, the power OF whose
eloouence has been lkened unto the
.waves that roll along the troubled Bal
tic,' &C.; say, when | talk OF these
as the brilliant comets that blaze across the
sky Of Virginia's history. and whose glory
is still " streaming to light up the track OF
ages" it is humiliating to have fellow ask
me explain the philosophical and mechani-
Cal principles by which the 9loflett whiskey
bel!-punch is made to perform its functions?
believe, Mr.. Editor, that you are Chris
tian, but ii that kind OF an interruption to
t..l. n 4
Virginia did not make you as mad as 4
"biIcd OWL" then you are nearer sanity
perfection than have been willing to be-
iicvc.
| hope you will not accuse me OF trying
10 get any one 10 come from Virginia to
Missouri ii [ tell you something about this
State. With the single exception OF Old
Virginia, this is the greatest State in the
known world. II my reverence for the Old
Dominion did not cause me to make this
exception, my Difference for your feelings
would. Missouri is rich in minerals; she
is rich in iron, lead, and coal. She reioices
in fourishing cities, thriving towns, and
happy villages. Geographically, she is al
most in tie centre OF the country. In less
than twenty years her great city. ST. Louis,
it is predicted by those who are students OF
her destiny, will be the rival. in population,
o! New York. Her institutions OF learning,
scattered all over her borders, are fast pre-
pairing her for that intellectual and literary
ascendancy which will make her the peer
OF those States where culture, in the king
dom Of letters, has long been made spe-
cial;y. Her IRON, her coal, her lead, when
fully developed, il need be, can supply the
markets Of the world. Her water-power is
sufficient 10 put in motion the factories OF
all New England; with 4 soil whose fruit
funess would insure the support OF as many
operatives rs could be crowded from Lake
McmpbramaSoS 10 Long Island Sound. 1t
has been said that "the Valley Of the Mis-.
souri, river is as rich as that OF the Nile, and
that all that is needed to produce the i'm
preston upon 4 traveller that he is in the
heart Of that far-lamed country Is the sight
Of Il few Egyptian pyramids"
! desire 10 say before closing, Mr.. Editor,
that since have been here have greatly
missed the familiar face of the Dispatch.
do not design 10 flatter you, nor do pro-
pose TO disparage the many excellent papers
that are published in this State; but for
substantial, solid, readable, conservative,
reliable, and, l will add. instructive
and entertaining qualities; for a certain,
quiet, and unobtrusiye dignity OF ex-
preston; for unfaitering, unhestating, un-
WaYcring, and unyieldlnS adherence to the
great principles OF State and National Gov
crnmeni, it has never been my pleasure to
read a paper more uniformly satisfactory
than that OF which you have the honor to
be the editor. Long may you continue to
mould The sentiment of ynIlr State by An