The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-12

rue rsssnss os our Cannsssts
{ Cd, csowrn usPaaAil.eLED ! Hisrtaa
B ForY;,ra sop FANATICS OFTEN TEACH TUE TUE. |
swrsr AND CONSERVATIVES 81 f;;s4
IES;a9yerror sey g ssy,s 81 iae s'ssA
The growth OF our country IN po ~ me
Hon and power Is wonderful. beloEe sne
close of this century, ~ our pIos.sas
GOES ol, at the ratio oil the past, our s nun,
6ers will exceed eighty millions. !. = sa :
lust source Oh pride TINT we nave no ~ ~ ~;
Come great by arts OF diplomacy, W
conquests gained by wars. Inc CURVES
we have taken are Dos those OF 'sS,rce, but
prisoners OF peace, drawn te our shores
hy the iesire.to enjoy wiz us the liberties
oS the land and the plenty which Proyi
dence has given Us. While the different M,
tions Of Europe watch with jealous and
hostile eyes the comparative progress ana
mower as each-whiie peace in the minds
/ OF its statesmen means armed neutrality al
WAYS threatening war--we have drawn
hon their population by beneticent iniiu-
ences more than the most successful IN arms
have been able to capture from those into
whose territories they have carried death
ana devastation. We have taken by lmml-
grafton from Germany greater numbers
| thar, that empire wrested from France in
| the last war between those Powers.
B,,t at this tiafe, Wheniso many facfsItend
| to 1ill our hearts with pride and gratitude,
! we are perpieSed BY the general depression
OF business, and the distress OF large classes
OF our citizens We now Feel the full cost
OF the late civil war, and the force OF the re-
| action which springs from wild specu!atFon.
| Our desire for wealth kas outstripped the
swift grewth OF our coxntry, and a eEeed
for gnia has tempted us to disregaTu the
| laws OF prudence, industry, and coca ouy,
and to grasp at wealth by schemes which
in the end have ptunged Us into many
publSc and private disasters. We ind
that habits OF extravaganza are more
easily acquired than cast Off. We are not
yet ready to admit the truth that we have
brought these evils upon ourselves, aud
that we must go back to the tried path
way by which our country reached its
greatness. This state Of affairs gives birth
TO Wild and conflicting schesnes about
,ainanceS, social order, and the policies OF
government. These discordart theories
range from the doctrines OF thecommunist,
4 who would oyeFturD our SOCIAL structures,
| to those Of the timid, half-hearted believers
in our Government, who wishsto 60 back to
restraints and powers eXerted by the mon
archs of Europe. Many fear that grave
evils will grow out. Of these conflicts Of
opinion. But those who have studied with
care the principles and workings OF our
political Institutions look upon them as
sources Of good rather than ori. They feel
al 10, 1x,
tive than all others, but that it has less to
fear from Wild theories or from party pas
sions.
Distress always makes discomfort, and
men who are. in trouble turn with interest
and hope to eQery proposed ,remedy. 1t is
our duty to treat their views with respect,
for, while their theories msy he false, their
sulerings aNCeal. 1t is wea that we are
taught by popular agitation the existence
of evils. 1t is necessary for those who have
charge OF public affairs to ie&rn what men
have in their minds, what views they hold,
at what endsthe aim. Wee gain many
truths from those who may hold mis-
taken opinions. One OF tie advantages
| we enjoy under Our form Of government
| is that we :ean let false :a;otlons cure
| themselves. 1t is not necessary for the
public safety to restrain freedom of speech.
IL Is SCTlhluSsSact tliuL Wutt Due luouatCus
Of Germany and Russia, with vast armies
under their eocstrol, are disturbed and en-
5dangered by she theories of Socialists or
other revolutionary assoclatiogc, we listen
| to them witho.n'fear. We allog. the utmost
freedom Of speech, and we reh- upon the
good sense OF our people to make HARM
Hess all appeals ito prejudice. 2: Elsewhere
the violent passions or insane .egotism OF
4 theorist may lead him to shoot mon.
arch and to shake State. Here be can only
Indulge. in violent defamation, !Waiich may
attract passing notice, and then he sinks
into hopeless cbsanr1ty. In Eu&ope his
teachings are deeaisd dangerous 10 social
order. Here they serve only to satisfy the
public OF the folly sef his views, and to
strengthen the public faith in the y&!ue OF
social order and OF time-tested truths. On
the whole, such men are useful TO us.
Their vanity dies out where no one cares
for their opinions. Without the aie Of
persecution they sink into pitiable helpless
ness. After 4 time the ti.ath gets through
their added brains that theIr speeches aud
writings only help the social system whiea
they seek to overthrow. Most OF. them be-
come industrious citizens, gain some pro-
perry, and abhor the idea Of sharing it with
less fortunate or more idle associates. The
feliies OF fanatics frequently teach wisdom
better than the words OF the Wise