The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-16
m.THE CIRCULATION OF THE Dis
PATCH Ii LARGER THAN THE COMBINED
CIRCULATION Oh AL THE OTHER DAILY
NEWSPAPERS OF THE CITY.
LETrERs TO TIE EDITOR.
IS The order or the Day " in the House for /
e'cieck Menday.


To he Efitor of the Dispatch:
The Soldiers Home will be discussed
and. | suppose, decided tomorrow at
O'Clock. The Senate passed this bill unap
imously. after careful examination, on th,
27th OF February. III this bill fails to pas,
in the House we will never have Soldiers
Home In this State. The blu bas been pre-
pared with care, examined by best legs
minds. and endorsed by soldiers OF thu
highest reputation. :.
Everything seems suspicious. Contri'
buttons are coming In freely from the
North, and some from the South. The
amounts are small, but they show how the
heart Is. The formation OF associations oil
southern veterans also has bad quite an inn
petus OF late.
The Legislature Is called upon TO lay The
cornerstone to appoint board OF trlis-
tees--men well known throughout the
Union. A small sum is asked 20 give con-
fidence 20 the undertaking. Without money
the Boards hands will be tied. No sensi'
BILE man will lease an establishment for five
or ten years. fit II up at great expense,
collect two or three hundred men, or per-
hans five hundred men, within its walls,
with only the uncertainty OF voluntary
suppHes. The South made the strange
mistake Of supposing that great war
could be carried on with patriotism alone.
The patriotism lasted q year, and the fail
urc OF money defeated the undertaking.
The only possible objection 10 the bill
by the Legislature Is that money is de-
msnded. The demands Of humanity are
SUPERIOR even 20 the obligations OF educa-
ton. The 100000 appropriated to the
soldiers by this Legislature In February
last was in the form Of adebt. past due, to
500 men. The existence OF the " Home !"
will prevent similar appropriation In the
future. There will be hereafter general,
systematic plan for aiding these poor fel-
lows. IL will be known exactly what Is
needed and how best TO supply the need.
Virginia will be disgraccd by failure in
this matter. While outsiders are willing
TO help, she will be showing narrow poll
CIV. Who has visited the Soldiers Home
at Hampton without feeling his heart
swell with admiration for the peo-
pie who support this Home? We cannot,
IL Is true, initiate the hospitality OF the
rich, but the generous hospitality OF the
poor will be enjoyed by the recipients Just
as much. To be acquitted OF ingratitude
TO brave men, we must do our best to help
them. Patriotism is OF Heaven, and it is
fostered by the highest earthly virtues.
The nation that will not encourage and
cultivate it must be sensual and seryile.
No people can he great who are not pa
sriotic. The patriotism OF the South in the
late war shed more glory upon her than all
che cotton that ever grew upon her soil. or
oil the gold and silver ever dug from her
mines. Can the "House" refuse to give
a few dollars to aid IN the cultivation Of
patriotismy
/ had a man under my command for
three years who was equal TO the best man
that ever stood In the front rank of Frede-
rick the Greats army. After the war his
health gave way, and he went TO the poor |
house. begged him to share my lot and |
live with me. He did not wish to be de-
pendent. He now occupies grave in |
a. Potter's" field. Several MANNED soldiers !
arc now In our almshouse. Is this proper |
treatment for men who wear honorable |
scars in defence OF this city and the honor |
OF this Slater al speak as unto wise men,
Judge ye." ARTILLERY.
RichmORd. March Is. 1884.