The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-08
sober second Thought.

S n & 4 matter Of both regret aud mortlii-
cation that personal condition and dissofl.
tent have led many citizens Of Virginia %
seize upon visionary ideas and vote sor pei
cons who were not worthy OF public apprio,-
baton For their qualifications or for their
c,,araeter. So unreasonable have been the
views adopted aud so undeserving the men
snnporsed that the impulse by which very
many acted plainly shows that passion and
not Judgment governed them.
The time is fruitful Of trouble and dis
content. But the uneasiness and the diss lat
faction OF the voter are the worst OF all
councillors upon matters OF public policy.
They should be well considered with refer-
snce TO the public welfare. He is either afi.
Intelligent or unRatriotic who makes nus
persona! erie9s superior 10 the public IN
terest. A man guided by feeling tnat
gives rein 10 his resentmenfs and magazines
his griefs or wishes in this manner will as
suredly do wrong-always do wrong.
Werepeas that it is lamensable to see how
many people have been thus misled. The
public virtue Of Virginia has been more lril-
haired by this than by all things else. Men
have rushed into wild theories that were
without wisdom and devoid altogether OF
practical utility, whereas had they rehectea'
rs men faithful and true,to the public well
fare as well as their own should have done,
they would never be required to repent,
and they would know that they were help
ing to promote not only the count1y's wei
fare, but their own. To spread visionary
theories and elevate bad men to place IS
alike Injurious TO public and private good;
and any man wto does this will live 10 re-
pent in sackcloth and asbes his great foiiy.
What we want in Virginia is more pub
lie devotion and less OF personal. That
would bring us public peace and personal
honesty and contentment. Gentlemen, men,
yirginians. you should repudiate personal
resentments and personal interests when
YOU consider the public welfare. Look TO
the State-give your heart and hand to her
welfare, and you may be as certain as you
arc that day follows night that you VIII 40
that which is best for yourselves as well as
the Commonwealth.
We have lamented to see men OF promise
coming to the front 70 take upon them the
responsibility Of conducting and sustaining
the Commonwealth who easily fell into dc
lusi;e ideas and impracticabie policies.
These led them into alliances that were
hurttul, and seriously impaired their ability
to be usefu! to the community IN which
they lived. We hesitate not to point 10 the
superb folly OF fiat money as the champion
delusion into which many such have run
with an impetucsity that was amazing.
We feel such entire faith in the I'M
assailability OF our views that we fear
lessly predict such deluSion as that
is one from which gentlemen who Tell
under it will never clearly rid themselves.
Oh, it is painful to generous minds to see
the young and promising wasting thoH days
and piling up endorsements for them
selves in this manner. 1t is not that such
an error is merely hurtful to those immedi-
ately concerned; but it is with reference to
the country that their erratic action Is to be
ucpio1Cu. ...7ta@ " n .
We repeat, what is needed is more pub
lie devotion and less personal impulse. 1t
would be all the world better for the pub
lie and for personal interests were we gov
erned generally by regard for the public
welfare. Cut loose from resentment and
personal ambition to be advanced through
channels, and above all, repudl-
ate .agitators, who agitate for sordid pur-
poses that stand out so plain that none can
fail to see them.
Our opinion is that there are more gener-
ous-minded men with fair promises wrecked
in the agitations OF the times than at any
previous time in our experience. The man
who stops short in an impulsive career and
considers well the situation will rob the
political grave OF at least one good man that
was in danger.