The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-23
For the Dispatch.I
To the Readt listers OF Virginia.

voted the Readiuster ticket in 1879. and
under the same circumstances would do 80
again; but had not the remote,t idea that
| the leaders OF that party would introduce
their State matters into national politics. L
think that General Malone has oyerdone
the mark. Ii would have been SO much
| more noble and like a statesman to have
spoken out boldly and maufully. and adj
vlsed his party to unite their efforts with
the Funders In electing once more Demo-
cratic President. imagine the presiden-
| tIsl election has nothing TO do with the debt
| OF Virginia, and think it uustatesmanlke
| to play upon the preiudices OF patty, in
| stead OF appealing TO .heir honest convic-
| lions and better feelings to accomplish any
| political end.
There was no necessity for the proceed
ngs OF the 7th-Of.July Convention TO con-
slider or keep together the Readiuster
party, and think General Malone made a
great mistake in placing great many con-
scientious ReSdjusters in a doubtful posi-.
| ton, and in revealing in himself deficiency
| in those attributes that constitute gener-
Gus. manly leader A parry that will re.
sort 10 such means TO keep itself together
hardly deserves to be sustained by true,
loyal men. II is such noble thing to be a
good honest man, but so few people know
| how hard it is to be so. An intelligent
| man by astuteness and suagity OF MINERS
and careful manipulation OF certain
class OF men may elevate himself to a high
position; but there is as much difference
| between "A mau who uses only these means
tor promotion aud a true statesman who
rises by the worth that Is in him, whose
every action is instinct with virtue, honor,
truth, and love toward his fellows, a. there
| is between a rocket that goes up in a fash
and is then ob,cured, and the bright
| shining light OF star.
| What the people OF Vii ginia should desire
| is the election of Democratic President.
After that is accomplished come on! man
| fully and settle State matters.
The misfortune with our intelligent and
| leading men OF the present is, they are not
| broad enough in their views. All their
knowledge seems to centre on their own ag-
graDdizemcnt-thei own selfish aims and
elevation. II is terrible misuse they
make OF tue talent entrusted to them.
The Readiuster leaders enlisted the
sympathy OF The farming community
by espousing their cause against court.
house rings, and by a promise TO bring
about satisfactory settlement OF the State
! debt question and reduce the taxes. | am
farmer, and know something about pay
( ing taxes on poor land. / paid taxes on
land few years ago that was assessed at
nearly $4,000, which brought at public
sale the same year only $1,000, which made
my taxes about per cent. | honestly be-
lieve sat the State of Virginia cannot, rather
will not, pay IFS debt and my opinion is not
based upon the unwilingness of the people
to do so, but the inability Of the State TO do
so. Our agricultural interest is evidently
at low ebb. We cannot compete with the
West in anything we attempt to raise, and
our lands are depreciating every year, facts
which reveal our poverty; and more than
this, the people cannot have their desires
accomplished. Self-interest Is the ruling
passion Of the day, and any party that is
placed In power soon becomes so corrupt
as TO legislate and man9uyre only for its
own interest and perpetuity, regardless Of
the public good.
| We do not need sharp, astute men. We
have plenty Of them. A truly great man
cannot afford TO be considered snarp, keen
fellow. Sharpness is nothing but want OF
character, and a true. generous-bearted man
should dread the name as he would scan
dal.
l wish very much that General Malone
was q statesman, and would be liberal
enough not to draw too heavy upon the de-
votion OF his followers, and thereby lead
them into committing deeds that would
place them in an awkward position and
cause them 10 see their error when IL Is too
late to remedy the evil. Our people do not
understand each other, and there IL evil
IDENTIFY growing distance between the feel.
ings OF The different parties. Nearly all Of
the white Readjusters are men who follow
agriculture, and there has been On impress
sion among the lawyers aud the people OF
the cities that there Is not enough inielli-
gence In that class to qualify them for
participation in State and national affairs.
l(our legislators arc postlg iawyers.) There