Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-29
points to decline and deprayity as theil
legitimate offspring.

| points to decllne ana depraYlty hs tnelf
legitimate offspring.
" m fares the state 10 Fastening Ills n PROV,
Where vicious strife abounds and men decay"
Mankind, in some respects, are very
much like the bessts that perish, which
NAV be getting along quite well, but as
soon as the bnrs are let down or the gate
left open n commotion is perceptible,
and ali enter for the purpose OF depre-
dation. So with man. when the door is
opened the innate propensity for plum
/ der is auickened into activity, and the
/ baser the man the better are his chances
TO enter and do most harm. A conven-
ton in our present unsettled condition.
perpetuated by outside foes, can be
but little if any, better than n
mob at best ; and the capacity of
man for self.goyernment would be
brought TO serious doubt" Should we
be so far misled by greedy demagogues
rs 10 sanction il in this critical condition
of our autonomy? The vital forces Of
our being as state would be frittered
and bartered away by the Judases who
are ever grovelling in the political dregs
for the thirty pieces of silver. We now
have full corps OF Oificers-State,
county, and district-recently appointed
and quietly and harmoniously perform
ing their respective duties. One of the
consequences OF a convention would be
the breaking up of this official force and
an early stirring up Of society from its
foundations by another election. Be
sides the enormous expense of a cOnven-
ton. this new election and innumerable
incidental expenses and great loss
of time would be added to our
present burden, under whose weight.
along with our eternal revenue burdens,
we are sinking lower and lower. The
experienced and skilful physician avoids
drastric prescriptions when he knows
relief can be obtained by the homeopa-
THO method. Can there be so little pa
triotism, so much blindness, and such
feverish thirst for place. in a commu-
nifty on whom experience should have
impressed wholesome lessons of caution
and prudence, that there is a posi-
bility of resort TO the suicidal
expedient Of a convention for the
redress Of imaginary ills, when ample
remedy lies in legislation? Have We
lost that mercurial caste" attributed
TO the American people by Edmund
Burke, who said We "snuled :he APP
proach of tyranny in every tainted
breeze " Are we tired Of the small
modicum OF liberty with which we
have been grudgingly favored that we
are willing to intrust it to the discretion
of an irresponsible mob Have we lost
all sight and recollection of that last
memorable convention, when the seats
once distinguished by Madison and
Henry were desecrated by an Under
wood and his fit and plant followers ?
1t is a most preposterous idea chat our
depressed financial condition can be i'm
proved by a convention. The blunder-
ing practitioner who prescribes without
first diagnosing aggravates the disease.
We should first ascertain the cause ; !
then, if possible. apply the remedy. 1t |
is obvious that this lies without and be- /
yond our reach. The heavy hand of |
national legislation has been resting on /
and paralyzing our energies for the last /
twenty-five years. Our landlords don't |
live here, and when our rent is paid
it il not spent in our midst. The enor-
nous tribute paid to foster pet infant
industries that ought to be old |
enough to stand alone, the vast
sums paid as pensions, never return to
rs. Like the dew on the mountain, the
foam on the river, the spray on the /
it IS gone and forever. Haying
no time or space for details, and leaving
them to the care Of that leyel-headed
md most excellent Rustcus,' l feel
perfectly safe in asserting that our
remedy is not in our own hands, but in
he hands Of orr enemies-and this
being the case We had better bear the
lis we have with forti,ude than fly to
hose we know not of. SENEy.