The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-13
rhe work Of Redevilnlent.

@ According to the conventional 'uea - =,
..torn,entstionn the torment e iati ~
I - ,is;t re,r.bu,iye suferings rpoh trans
gressors appear upon q special service ana
when their work is over they disappear.
So MI the stories exploit The instruments OF
annovance TO the extent for which they
we're intended. aud 'tiet them slide" The
most charitable. while not altogether dis
pyeasins, Interpretation Of the rationale OF
the crusade OF Greenbackers at present III
yading the political field is that they are IN
some sort proyidential plague to the Re
publican party. 1t is argued that they are
designed to bring in some sort confusion
upon national politics-a condition faVora-
bic to new order and to the diversion OF
political strategy from pIeindiecs local, and
thc reconstruction OF parties more cHciu-
siycly upon questions OF policy and practl'
cal utility.
There is reason in the suggestion; but
we cannot feel assured that the expected
good will come from this new thing. We
apprehend that in few months the foilles
OF the yerdant crusade will be so apparent
to all people that it will fall into universal
contempt. In that event those who are
in most familiar intercourse with them can
not escape the faint Of association. and VIII
reap anything but advantage from it.
Nevertheless VIC shall, upon main point
in the theory, above stated. be g"atitied by
the disappearance OF the tormentors soon
after they have acted their parts. We are
BY no means encouraged to believe that
these torrents will be confined TO political
transgressors. We know that these agita-
tons are disturbing and injurious to the
business and prospects OF the country, ana
that they inspire hopes in simple and honest
minds that can never be realized. Thus
evil is uncagcd to fly to peaceful COMMUNE
ties and deposit bitter drops in many hum
bic and ingenious hearts, which would else
have been at rest.
But we put no faith in the idea that there
is any providential good in srecnback!sm
nj all, unless it be that proridcntiaiy Il
party invented for the personal advantage
Of its leaders, with no consideration what
ever for popular benefit and happiness,
shall bring upon itself ultimate defeat and
general contempt, as an example OF the dis
aster that proydential laws are sure to visit
upon the decisions OF bad men, invented
to perplex society and promote their own
sortld qualifications.
This we think the better view. At all
events, whether to torment those who
should be tormcntcd or TO bring themselves
TO grief rs the authors Of very vicious and
very falIacious theory, they will at least be
true to the accepted idea that the torment
orS will cease 10 veX and disappear when
they have gone through their part in the
drama.
That the country will see this we have
not Il doubt. The ultra Grceubackcrs' plan
is by its own character and object special
and limited in time. There is no vitality,
no continuity. in 1t; and maybe we should
especially return thanks to 4 bcnefcent Pro-
violence for this. We should consider that
defeat and disgrace are the inevitable fate
OF plans that are fraught with vast mischief
10 society, but which are impracticablc.
liz uCuSf iiiClS iitiSl
go as soon as their bcdevilmcnt is over.
Over it must soon be. At best it is but Il
poor drama, and is incapable OF any pro-
longed existence. Like Colonel SELLERS,
it is a social "sell." Over the whole land
the voice is heard, and its echo rings over
the hills and far away, "Therc's millions in
it," BY and by this tantalizing voice will
become intolerabe. The people, seeing
that it is only "paltering in double
sense" thousands OF those who feel that
they have been tri1led with will 90 for the
scalp OF this Greenback "SELLEgs," and
they will get it, too.
Let the Greenbackers be sent for what
they may, their fate is but to illustrate the
excellence Of providential laws, which bring
all bad inventions that are born OF bad mo-
tivcs to an end and envelope their bad
authors in discomfort and disgrace.
IT II