The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-25

their due ~
tbe last reapportto III. 4 lEDEE would
have been elected President by TIE people.
The Leaders Are Waxing Up.
The following letter y from bold man..
abIeG speaker, and honored son Of Virginia
one who haa served BIS State In q high Office,
and has never been known to let the cali sof
duty pass UNDECIDED, His nersonsstyle and
sincere eioauence must make an impression
upon all who read his letter. We give u
without further prelude: Ts 81
81 TO the Dispatch In your issue Of Tues.
day last You call upon the leading ConserTa-
tive sneakers to confront the itinerant agi-
tat0rs who are preaching practical repudia-
fion and debauchifg the public sentiment
OF Virginia. You cannot proclaim this call
with too great emphasis aud urgency. Many
Influences combine 10 make the people
ready prey to the vicious but beguiitng arts
Of these demagogues. Their power Tor
mischief would have been trinng In ssthe
prosperous and happy days Of the common 2!
wealth. But now, In the poverty ana oe-
sDondency OF the Virginia people. THESE
public spouters 6nd the popular ear ready
TO listen to their welcome assurances OF re-
lief from specuniaryi burdens. When men
rise up in every part OF Virginia VINO nave
heretofore had some repute Tor interference
and honesty, and been thought worthy OF
nublic trust, and proclaim that it Is con.
sistent with tthe principles Of public
law and de!ensible In the. forum OF
public conscience for Virginia to pay
"a much or as little OF the pub
lie debt as she pleases; when the holders
OF the debt are denounced as vile oppres-
sora, and the spoIiations OF the war are
pleaded ss absolving the people from the
obligations OF the debt, it surprises no one
that these doctrines. ayouehed by preach
ers and lawyers, and garntshed by, cunning
appeals to the passions OF the mnltittide,
should find a ready ear among the 1mpoV-
erished and dispirited masses in Virginia.
The body OF the people are not to be
blamed for accepting such doctrines II
ayouched by men OF decent reputation for
political intelligence and honesty. The PEG.
Die have witnessed gigantic revolutions and
commissions wrought upon property ana all
forms Of public and private right by the
rude hand Of war. The speaker who, with
apparent claim to public confidence, goes
about unchallenged proclaiming that the
war wrought an dissolution from public
and private debts, will find ready converts.
II the falsebeod, crime, and injury to every
public and private interest which underlie
such doctrines be not exposed by coupe,
tent hands, how can an enlightened ana
honest public judgment be secured at the
polls
An intelligent stranger visiting Virginia
might well exclaim, "Why is it that a cri-
sis so full OF threatening to every material
and moral interest of Virginia is impend-
ing. vet the true men OF the State who are
competent for public discussion are striking
no blows for her deliyerance2" Before
these evil times no public issue fraught
with one-tenth of the import for veal or
woe which this possesses could have been
projected in Virginia without an uprising
OF the best debaters in every county 10 coun-
sci the people. There is no county IN Flr-
cinia where there are not several citizens
Competent to discuss this issue on the
county hustings, and to guide their neigh
bors to intelligent conclusions. Why are
such men standing by idle, not lifting their
fingers to avert the dread calamity and dis
grace which threaten the Commonwealth
Many OF these men have been heretofore
honored by their fellow-citizens with
public trusts. They have been favored
by educational training and experience with
ready and approved resources for public dis
cussion. The people have right to expect
counsel from them upon all grave public
topics. 1t is no excuse for such men to say
that they are not politicians. This very fact
enlarges the power OF such men to command
public confidence. Nor is it an excuse for
them to point to the vile arts and vile cha
racters to be confronted on the hastings.
This enhances the obligation upon the hon
est and patriotic citizen to strive to.rescue
his neighbors from such polluting influ-
ences. Nor Is it true that the pubiic-debt
settlement belongs 10 the class OF common
politics. 1t scars in the magnitude OF it's
import far above the places Of transient po-
litical issues. Its wise and honorable settle
ment is indispensable to the welfare OF
every interest of the citizen. 1t will vitality,
affect the value OF all property, the safe con-
duct of all industrial pursuits, the growth
OF all new material developments, the social
peace and morality Of every community,
the good name and self-respect OF all true
Virginians, and the honor and influence OF
Virginia at home and abroad.
Where in all the range OF social duty
can higher appeal be found to enlist the
aid and influence OF every patriotic Vir-
ginian? Does he not betray his State, bis
wife and children, bis neighbors and friends,
his property and business, ii he withholds
his influence, and hisyoice in such crisis
Ring out your appeal to every man in,
Virginia whose voice will command the
audience Of bis ,neighbors to give one day
to bis State upon the hustings. There are
not less than fifty men in Virginia, living
in various parts OF the, State, approved In
their communities for sound wisdom and
integrity, and known to, have no motives
except the public good, whose earnest
counsel in one day upon their county nus
tings would guide their communities to
salutary conclusions. Make your appeal to
these trusty citizens, as well as to the
!" leaders, LIDO not underrate the para.
mount duty OF the leaders to do battle in
this crisis. I cannot conceive how our SEN
ators, congressman, and prominent public
men can fail to come forward and fight
manfulIy for the truth. The man who is
now clothed with official honors and emolu-
ments, and lies supinely by, or gives forth
an uncertain sound upon this momentous
issue, must expect the ban of recreancy to
be placed upon him by all true Virginians.
faye, and twill be.-DiSpatch.
No labored Investigation is needed to
equip man to encounter the bald sophis-
tries OF these regulators. The truth lies
patent and palpable on the very surface.
Virginia owns about 3sO.OOO,00O OF taxa
BILE property. She owes about S39, 600, 900
OF debt contracted for public improvements
now held and used by her people. No
farmer who borrowed $1,000 before the
war and used it in improving his farm, still
held by him and worth $4,000, can be
called honest who pleads his losses by the
war as pretext to avoid the payment Of the
$1,000. Nor can Virginia escape lasting in