Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-17

| institutions rest. To make the people
virtuous and intelligent they mnst be
| educated. To leave them in ignorance
is to render them unsafe depositarics of
political power, or. in other words, is
to neglect the highest duty Of citizen
ship.
The liberation of some seven millions
OF illitcrate negroes, and their invest
ment with the elective franchise, has
opened up source Of danger to the
southern Statess which can hardly be
overestimatcd. Recent events in vir-
ginis have abundantly proven this fact.
How b. this danger to sbe metz All
thoughtful men must admit that the
only efficient remedy is by making war
on the ignorance which is its true cause.
For the southern States, in their inn
poverished condition, TO attempt TO up
root this great evil, by their unaided
efforts, would involve a taxation bor-
dering on coDfiscation. This fact is re-
cognized on all hands, and Congress now
offers TO appropriate ABOUT seventy mil
lions Of dollars in series Of annual in
stalments in aid Of the great work Of
enlightenment of those who have become
such important factors in our politics.
The bill has passed the Senate, and now
awaits the concurrent action Of the
House Of Representatives.
And yet, strange to say, rumor af-
firms that some Of the representatives,
or more properly, misrepresentation of
the South, arc opposed to this benefi-
cent measure. 1t is to be hoped there
is some mistake on this point. In view
Of this rumor it is proper that the press
and the people shall give prompt and
emphatic expression to their sentiments
and demand that those who profess to
be their representatives shall yield ODE
dicnce to their wishes. Representatives
are servants not masters OF the people.
They are sent to Congress to reflect the
wishes and advance the interests Of the
people. They must be made to under
stand the full force of this great truth.
Their crotchets and antediluvian notions
must not be allowed to stand in the way
of the welfare of the people. The peo-
pie Of Virginia are tired OF hairsplitting
Instructions. They have awakened to |
a lively sense of the fact that the adj
of government is practi- |
cal affair, to be regulated by common
sense and business principles.
The people of Richmond have before |
their eyes a practical illustration of the
absurdity of political metaphysics and
sky-scraping distractions every time
they cast their eyes down the'channel |
Of the noble river which gives them
such imperfect access to the sea. For
near half century the so-called repre-
,entatives of their district in Congress
voted against every appro-
Driation by the Federal Government
or the improvement of the navigation
If the James. But for this short
sighted folly land everybody now adj
nits it was folly Richmond would
ave had now clear and unobstructed
hannel to deep water adequate to all
he purposes Of commerce.
Shall we now repeat this folly in an
ther form? Shall we allow the canker
ignorance to destroy the foundations of
ur free institutions? Shall we by re-
scting the proffered aid of Congress
the power by which adven-
nrers like Malone threaten the welfare
{ Virginia? The answer of the people
j, No! a thousand times no.
Very respectful ly yours, &C.,
ALEXANDER III. III. STUART.