Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-07
raary Stories.

All professors Of English literature should
take the New York Tribune, and Its politi.
cal editorials should he made part Of the
English course in all our universities.
These editorials preserve style OF dlction
and method Of thought that are fast pass
ing away and are connecting link bc-
tween "BEowuLR and CHAUcEa and the
present. They preserve In all their purity,
or iwpurity, the exaggerated methods OF
expression and The quaint ideas Of genera
ton that is nearly gone, and should any
thing happen to the Tribune there would
be serious hiatus IN the history Of the de-
velorment OF English. Without the 1ri-
bune the future professor OF English will
be completely mysti6ed, and the gradual
evolution Of English win be an hard TO
prove as is the gradual evolution Of any
thing else. The Tribune Of Friday. under
the caption OF "wby 1t is Not Trusted"
c.it," the Democratic party, Is the 1rs-
tunes bugaboo.) says:
On the other hand, the southern States
nrc controlled by men who have little
knowledge OF the diversified industries,
the commerce, and the progressive thought
OF the North, and even less sympathy than
knowledge. The men chosen by that sec
ton are incompetent, 10 the very nature OF
things, to direct legislation for the compll-
Gated interests and the progressive c'viliza-
ton OF the northern States. The
great body Of Democratic voters cling to
the old Democratic heresies Of free trade
simply because they were Democratic In the
days when that party had power. SO OF
Statc-rights notions. so OF prejudices
against national banks and internal i'm
proyements; these are all mere blind and
obsolete prejudices inherited from state
OF things long past. Yet they control the
great body Of Democratic voters.
A more dangerous evil still Is the pas
sionate and yindictive spirit which has
come down 10 rs from uprooted slavery
and defeated rebellion, and which sways q
great many voters and leaders. This spirit
desires something else more than the pub
lie prosperity. II would with fierce loy
vote down Republicanism, even II 1t abso-
lutely knew that the consequence would be
public calamity and incalculable private
distress. That is the spirit which sacrificed
everything IN struggle for the disruption
Of the Union. II lives TO-DAY, and rules
the Democratic party, and II fights savagely
aud blindly for the overthrow. OF institu-
tons and measures established by the loyal
people Of the North, simply because they
were so established.
Now there IL not one word OF truth in
tbis-no more than there is in the state.
ment that the moon Is made Of green cheese.
But because it Is not true-becsuse 1t Is a
fairy story it does not follow that II Is not
valuable. Some Of the most absurd folk
lore we ever read has been OF incalculable
value to the philologist. The HARRIsoNs,
the MARcBs. the PRICES, the VALENTINES.
the GARNETTs Of fifty years hence will
not take any money for authenticated
copies OF such paragraphs as we have
quoted from the Tribune. These and SINH
lar paragraphs illustrate the very genius
Of nineteenth century creduliiy and by
perbole, and when compared with the ut
lerances Of the majority OF the other papers
Of the country will fix positively the date
" ben the most marked departure from
alegory was made and true progress In
tlirectness Of expression began.