The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-04-22

Lei IT ne DOIHt III UlHu lndN VIZ hh''
nothing TO say in regard to the effects Of
recent education upon the negro, the in
huencc Of politics, or even his religion.
II is solely as an economic element IN our
social organization "a a producer ana q
consumer that we have endeavOred to
state lis relation to the present condition
Of the State.
MANY ~sanguinc and well informed peo-
pie believe that, If p%erchNnce the State
debt we're paid, prosperity would once
more return to her borders. There never
wa a greater mistake. II the State did
not unc a dollar this would not make
the lands produce any better, nor would
it cause an increase in the price Of her
grain, tobacco, or cattle. II a little more
capital were thereby enticed into the
state, it would not have the slightest
effect upon the present unreliable cOndi-
ton OF he labor. More than this II all
the Indebtedness of all the farmers was
~extinguished in a single day, the relief
afforded would be temporary. They
would only be piled with new temptations
and by the same necessities to make new
debts. Let US suppose that by some sud
den and exceptional interp0sitiOn in their
behalf they were o only freed from
debt, bur actually supplied with a reason
able surplus of funds. II would only be
= question Of time, # the present system
be per~c'ercd in, when this very surplus
would lr forced to quit taeir hands, and
! leave thr state to pay for the productions
of other more thriving communities. The
reason of this is twOfold. No State can
ever accumulate wealth unless she can
produce within her own borders its repre-
sentative in surplus values. And in the
case OF Virginia the agrirullurist is at the
mercy Of the protected manufacturer who,
with the aid Of the middle man. gets
all the profits Of his labor
We have thus given a hurried outline
Of the troubles that now weigh upon the
agricultural, and, OF necessity, other in
terests Of Virgins. What, then, is the
remedy? Nothing but the advent Of a
| dense white population will meet the de-
mands Of the case. 1t were needless 10
90 into a discussion Of the social and
| csthciic questions suggested by such a
change I'm the character Of our population
az would result. We are considering the
physical necessities Of Virginia only. The
geographical relations OF our State re-
quire that her resources should be de
yclOped, and inasmuch as this cannot
be done under the present system, some
/ other power must he summoned 10 her
aid. such q change as Is here suggested
would result IN a subdivision Of her vast
| area Of wasted and unCultiyated lands
| The process described at the opening Of
this article, whereby the wilderness Is
made to blossom as the rose, would
begin al once, with results as then de-
! picicd. But how are We TO entice this
! population, how induce the stranger to
] fOIsake bis frcside AZ home for the IN
| occupied barreas Of old Virginia. The
subject Of immigration has, these many
years, been upon the minds of both
people and rulers, but unfortunately has
not been reduced to practical results and
the State must either 60 on hoping
against hope for better days, or adopt
some new and vigorous policy in this di-
I rcctiOn. And here the writer ventures
with difi1ence to hint what this policy
should be. but would leave to wiser heads
the execution Of its details. The state
| should once more become a great land
holder. She should own all those waste
| and uncultiyated arears described above.
The present prOprictOrs, who are really
the poorer because they own so much un-
productive property, should be induced
! 10 sell this surplus of land to the State,
taking her bonds in payment. The state
would then be able 10 compete with the
West in cheapncss Of her lands sell them
at low price 90 bona tide settlers, and
upon certain conditions. The result
would be that she would not only be
creating for herself new sources Of taxa
| ton, but the remnant left in possession
Of The original owner would be greatly
enhanced in value. The new settlers
would then derive their titles from the
/ Land Office Of the State, and not he
| Obliged, As now, to spend their money in
/ establishing what may at last prove titles
Of very doubtful character. Could this
or some kindred scheme be perfected
and made practicable the state
would in time be enabled to re-
deem her land bonds, having sold
in the meantime land sufficient to
| paya moderate interest TO those who
hold them. BY this means the larger
! land holders would be relieved Of taxa
ton Of The COS: Of fencing, the road tax
and the other expenses incident to the
township system. These all would be
diminished as the population increased.
The schools would be better supported,
the roads made better, and the farce OF al
tempting to preserve the latter under the
| present system be abolished. In = word,
population is manure to a poor and
sparsely settled country, and manure is
the only bank from which the cultivation
of the soil should seek relief 1t Is his
wealth, and wealth is everything. But
! whatever scheme or device may be adopt
Ell. II must b. plain to the mind of any in
te!igenl observer that the agricultural re-
sources Of Virginia can never be
thoroughly developed until she gets rid
Of the negro As her sole dependence for
recovering and working her outlying and
barren 'ands.
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