Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-19

cause OF my rctof0ucos o"c DU fuuSu
to several Of tho medical gentlemen OF
Richmond for generous kindnesses not
to have hearty goodwill for the
whole frsteruisy in Richmond. And |
put It to tho Dispatch's learned mea
surer Of the import of words whether
"grinding boycott " is much more forci-
BILE than "A. Ii. C.'s" severely
alore." AS seen through my old
spectacles, the word severely" here
is somewhat significant.
In abiding to the boycott of the ply
sicians | only intended to intimate what
"A. Il. c." well knows--that the spirit
Of boycottism has ever been at the elbow
of man, and is one Of the most unmiti-
gated devils with which society has
bad to contend. We may indeed trace
the story Of civilization from its rude't
stages, and We shall find something
analogous to eur modern boycott from
the time of the carly Egyptians to the
time when narrow-minded men VINO
mistake themselves for statesmen are,
in the boycott spirit, triHing with the
destinies Of what might become the
healthiest and grandest fabric OF empire
the sun ever shone upon. And what Is
saddest of all, some Of the worst freaks
of the boycott devil have been displayed
in the name Of that Christianity whose
loveliest and divinest attributes are gem
tleness and tolerance.
But the evil of boycottism is one
thing and the method of suppressing
that evil is quite another thing. Nor
is it worth while to talk of suppressing
it by forcible means. Force is bad
word to put upon the ear of a working
man. 1t was that word, more than all
else together, | believe, which brought
the workilgmen Of the South to the.
field of strife in '6l, and enabled them
to plant upon the sands of Time undy-
ing testimony of their heroism and con-
stapcy. The troubles agitating our
country were not caused by working
men. The political wire-puliers, the
self.seekers, the section-haters, have
caused those troubles, and the work
inemen have had to feel the worst Ell
reets of them. Some reference to these
facts should be made by all those who
approach the word boycott, or at least
all such as come with reference to the
public good.
No: | have no war with thc physi-
clans association. Let men form as
sociations-the professional men, the
merchants, the mechanics-the more
the merrier, and if well regulated the
better for the hopes Of reasonable men.
But my critic, unwiltingly it may be,
gives me good ground for charge OF
boycottipg against himself. lie brings
the charge Of too much honesty against
me when be well knows that old-iaSh-
ioned honesty is at very heavy dis
count. In these appreclatiye days we
do rot choose men on account OF their
honesty. but rather for their supposed
well.considered knayery. And even
when we turn to our halls of
Justice we are growing fearful
that the days of Jehreys may some
day come back upon rs. hope
my friend will not whisper this story in
the ear Of my employers lest the bread
Of my family should be put at hazard.
But my critic is a Christian; as such
how can he intimate that dishonesty Is
needful to business success? Upon the
basis Of my own experience have
taught rather that strict integrity is
great help toward business success: !
am still Of the same opinion and !
think that if in this world Of ours
there is a character more lovable than
all others it is that Of very rich man
Of sound religious principles who uses
his money approximately in the interest
Of humanity.
But I have exceeded the bounds |
had proposed to myself, and like my
friend | Withdraw my humble name
from the public eye. j. X. h.
ASHLAND.