The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-01
r.,ass Agitation.

cities. Assailing moneyed men as the OPP
nressors OF the people, it Is easy to include
the populations Of cities-where moneyed
men chiefly reside--as participates in Inc
crimes OF the rich In depressing the poor
and the people whose pursuits ana liVes are
rural. II is vulgar prejudice that Is thus
aro,,sed to resentment. 1t Is q narrow
minded view Of things that is played upon
with no sincere motive for the public gooa'
hut only to advance tue plans and ambt-
ton OF political tricksters.
4 Enlightened and generous men are free
from preiudices as to classes OF society
which, arc unavoidable and which are de-
pendent upon one another while their IN.
terests are sympathetic, and each and all OF
them anxious for the preservation OF puohc
order, the maintenance Of justice, and the
enforcement Of right.
In Virginia especially the commercial
classes are greatly In the minority. Inc
rural and agricultural classes govern the
state. 1t is not to be supposed that they
will deliberately wrong themselves by the
laws they make, and it is but just to say
that they have not afforded any proof OF
anything OF the kind. The tenor and spirit
. OF the laws OF Virginia are clearly marked
by the bias Of rural and agricultural sym
patty. /,
Look at the taxes. Richmond pays much
more than her share in proportion TO popu-
lation and wealth. There has been long an
effort made by the commercial people to I'M
pose taxes entirely upon the basis OF Udtue.
1t was ut one time supposed that the present
Constitution had secured that Just princl-.
ple, but provision was incorporated in it
that authorized the Legislature to tax
licenses and some other things. That
opened the door wide to increased impo-
sitions upon all commercial pursuits, and
the opportunity thus presented has been
made fearfully available. 1t is through this
proyision that the unequal taxes have been
imposed. And now the MoFFETT register
comes in to magnify this inequality by III
ereasing the burtheps Of taxation upon
towns and cities.
Still, the commercial communities have
quietly submitted, and are happy to do what
they can to provide for the public ob!iga-
tons and maintain the public credit. They
know that private credit cannot be good
!. where public credit is tainted, and they
give the highest proof of the noble faith and
public devotion that animate them.
And yet the disingcnuous agitators seek
10 array the country people against these
loyal citizens They are represented as fat
tening upon the labors and productions OF
the country people-as being luXurionsly
comfortable and entirely happy in their oc-
equations and in handling the productions
OF the land, which are steadily filing their
pockets and securing them qualifications
unknown to the rural inhabitants Of the
State.
Nothing could be more unjust or delu-
siye. There is no truth in the representa-
ton. The merchant is indispensable to the
farmer as much so as the farmer Is to him.
The competition amongst merchants. ira
ders, and manufacturers insures to the
farmer the lowest rates Of commissions and
the lowest prices OF goods and wares.
AS to the comparative comfort and hap
piness OF those who live in the cities and
those who live in the country, the advan-
tage is by no means in favor OF the dwell
ers in large towns and cities. The pursuits
in these seldom lead to fortune. The num-
Der OF failures compared with successes is
fearful. Nor are the bulk Of city people
blessed with anything like suchbenefits as
are found in the country. The rush, the
conflict, the constant struggle, that are seen
in the city populations leave those people
few hours Of real and healthy rest, while
they have no heavenly boon like that of
pure air, pure water, space to breathe in
and roam and feel those inspirations Of ma
ture which do so much to Undue man
with the spirit Of independence.
There is much more ease, abundance, Sc
curity, and peace in the country that men
may sigh for than there is OF any blessing
in the city that an intelligent dweller in the
country should envy. TO give u1 the coun
try for the city is like the dog that dropped
his meat in the stream and grasped at thu
shadow OF it upon the water. It is from
the country that cities have to be replen
ished, that their populations may not di'
out. Should we infer that man in his bod.
and mind is bappiest where he perishe
soonest? >.
1t is deiuslon to represent the people O.
the city as the beneticiaries OF rural labors
while those who perform the work OF pro
duction are cheated and oppressed. 1t il
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for :
purpose that is at war with the interests O.
both farmer and merchant. The farmer
should look upon every man who comes tc
him with this story as his enemy, and should
regard him with suspicion and disfayor.
There never was greater error than
that which supposes any other than the
most entirely mutual and beneficial rela.
tions between the inhabitants Of the coun.
try and the city. 1t is an ignorant view
that leads to the conclusion that these re-
lations are inharmonious and disadvantage
Gus. Heis an unprincipled agitator who,
for party purposes, endeavors to engender
feud between the two classes OF people.
The Cincinnati Southern railway is still
"a bother in the Queen City OF the Ohio. AS
E is always the case, now that u question is
raised as to appropriating more money tc
complete the road, charges are made about
Misrepresentation Of money under the com