The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-06

SATURDAY
Fourth OF July.

the kbcgty prociailaed On the Il QUIT u OF July,
17s6, were hardly thought OF last Thursday.
and, indeed, had they been. they were I'M
lerstood by the yewest number. OF people.
II was holiday, and rs such was gladly
observed bs the popuiace without why
or wherefore.
For fifty years there has been steady
tendency TO neglect OF the principles OF '76.
In that time States have been gradually sink
ing down in dignity and consequence and
the central government growing in means
aud power, and OF course becoming less and
less respectful Of principle and right. Peo-
pie, too, have become too mindful Of the To-
cality OF power and patronage not TO know
that the Federal Government had become
the real dispenser OF honor and cmolument.
Like the servile seekers OF employment,
they have learned too well where the best
compensation NC the easiest service were
to be found to prefer the pay and the livery
OF the State when those OF the Federal Gov
eminent could be obtained. For all that
time, as we say, the States have been sub
siding in the consideration OF the public.
while the Federal Government has. been ris.
ing in the respect, IL not the affections,
OF the people. Indeed, we apprehend there
has been great diminution OF the feeling
OF affection in the country, speaking in re-
spect Of that sentiment towards Govern
ment. The practical has nearly supplanted
the sentimental in the national mind, and
Government is regarded more in reference
to its immediate advantages than to its be-
ing guardian OF the peace and security OF
the community. In the language OF the
day, the masses OF the body polite Ego
for the Government. They desire to reap
direct advantages irrespective OF the dam
gers to principle and law that may grow
out Of the precedents that are set by dis
pensing faYors and benefits detrimental to
the public welfare. therefore. for long
period, the people Of The States have been
looking to Washington and forgetting their
own local governments.
The North, with wisdom and forecast,
has managed better than the South, and the
comparison Of the amounts dsbursed by
the Federal Government at the North and
at the South tells the story. The poor
South, always distinguished for its love OF
political science and for its delight in po-
ltical discussion, has never failed to pro-
duce its brood Of divisions upon political
theories, and these have always kept alive
the discords which have prevented harmo-
ny; SO that, however great may have been
the propositions for works that promised
ho ;nfa naAi
ern conflicts rendered their success impos-
sible. Nevertheless, while this difficulty in
the way Of justice to the South showed that
it was less Sordid than the North, the South
had its political ambition, which was as
irrepressible in its aspirations for Federal
honors as was that northern sordidness
which struggled for appropriations and
contracts.
All tended TO- the diminution OF respect
for local government and devotion to that
confederate principle of States united for
their common good which was originally
the life and the conscience Of the nation
the guarantor of the purity and justice OF
the Government. States have not been re-
.spected. In the distribution OF the national
benefits there has been an entire absence OF
that impartiality which is the very life Of
justice.
The Fourth OF July, 177G, taught the no.
bic principles OF equity and equality in all
public acts and independence; which is
the noblest OF manly traits, in private LIE.
Neither equity nor equality has been carried
out; hence complaints and fraternal strife.
Personal independence has been Slapped by
general desire to live out OF the public
Treasury. This desire has grown so bold
that ps'rty principles and platforms are
direcr ed to that object. Parties arc demand
ing aye, acknowledgement Government
~ .oney, as il the Government was formed 10
make money and declare its value 1or popu-
lar use, that taxpayers might stop pay
ING taxes. and debtors pay up fner
debts, and finally the Government not pay
the notes it thus puts out, since they are,
according to the party leaders, TO be made
"redcemable in nothing" Even our poor
old Virginia has caught the disease OF de-
pendence on Government, and party with
in her borders is calling for ''more mo-
ney''-ior greenbackS, and plenty Of
item. Personal independence should have
died out everywhere else, one would think,
when men-even famed rs chiyalrous gen
tlemen-in Virginia are clauloring for GOV
eminent money. With hands stretched to-
wards the Government and consessing their
helplessness, confessing their apathy, they
cry out in the words OF tho daughter OF the
horse-leech, "Giye! give"
Times have indeed changed. The CEN
tennial Of the Fourtho OF July was the living
proof OF the fact The celebration OF that
day was amockery Of the first great day-of
its principles and its purposes-of its hon
estv and its virtue. a more heroic, disih-
terested, and devoted set OF men than those
who proclaimed liberty and the principles OF
human rights on the Fourth OF July, 1776,
never assembled together on earth. Amore
selfish, sordid, and calculating people than
those who projected and engineered the
Centennial celebration never projected nor
undertook anything.
The Fourth OF July now is no longer
what it was. As mere anniversary it will
do for public relief and diversion, but will
no longer subserve the purpose OF instill-
ing in mems minds good principles and en-
lighted freedom, with its grand obligations.
for the citizen.
The true point is that manly sentiment,
Ill 49, H., 49,. a.