Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-12

session. As 1t received strong southern
support, hope for its passage next win
ter. In the mean time, II each OF THESE
towns had built manusl-labor schools In
stead of great hotels, thousands OF young
men might have been prepared for the less
important places. II the city Of Richmond
had put into manual schools the money
that is crystallized in her City Hall she
would have done an important service 10
her people and to the State. Hoping that
this discussion may bear fruit. call atten;
ton to q popular error a. to the vaiue o,
cheap labor. Low-priced labor Is required
in the fierce competition OF trade. but IL
never yet made nation great. The indi-
vidual wealth of China or India. after CEN
turtles of ceaseless toll, is not one fortieth
that OF our country. The last years re-
ceipts of the Pennsylvania company. large
ly derived from the transportation OF skill
ed laborers, their supplies and products,
exceeded the fiscal revenues of the CeleS-
tial Empire with its civilization OF thou
sand years and Its population OF two hun
bred millions, Skilled labor and savings
banks are the very scimetar and citadel OF
industrial dominion. In Europe the best
proof is found in France and Scotland.
We rightly boast of our southern progress
and yet the products of the single State OF
Massachusetts, which has neither ore nor
coal. sold for more in the markets OF the
world than all the coal. iron, cotton. and
agricultural products of our fifteen mn.
lions of people. Her savings banks held
three hundred millions of dollars, or three
hundred dollars for every man, woman.
and child depositor. This sum exceeds all
the banking capital south OF the ONO.
Add to this the five hundred and twenty
millions IN New York and we find that the Ia
borers of two States could give their checks
against all the assessed property, real anu
personal. in the two Nirginias. all our
mines. mills. cities, railroads. and farms:
or they could buy all the national and
State banks and banking companies. oil
the trust and insurance companies In the
United States of America. What grander
evidence of the endowment of labor by
intelligence could be found? What so
effective argument for the training of our
own labor? Does 1t seem little thing that
six months training would enable 100000
of our young men, 900 TO each county, TO
earn 81 more per day? And vet IN one
year this is $50 900, 000-a sum greater than
our State debt. Why should not 1l-l6
of our population turn TO manufacturers
without disturbing the general economy?
They would in ten years add 100000 900
to our circulation. Virginia is the transit
State of the Continent; the commerce OF
the North and the South must cross her
plains and the pralries must seek her
river lines and obey a law Interchangeable.
The trade of America must pay tribute at
her passes and her ports. She IL even
more fortunate in having all the conditions
of mineral wealth, soil and climate. and
labor TO make her the manufacturing State
of the South. Happy are the young men
who are born in such State and wise Will
be the policy that enables them TO gain
their full advantage. The highest BIRTH
right of man is the right to profitable EN-
ployment. and so much have inventions and
intelligence multiplied physical strength
that the average wages of mechanics has
already exceeded the profits of farming
or mercantile pursuits or OF the profeS-
sion. For myself accept the hateful ma
teralism of the times. have never been
tempted from my work-day life, and re-
ceiye 1t as most hopeful sign that our
young men at last turn from speech
making to money-making. The DIsPATca
has done much in the past to educate; to
encourage and inspire popular movements
May it not in the opening of this new era,
so much brighter with promise than
any epoch of tho past, impress upon
the people that the upbuilding of Viz
GINA must be by her own sons; SO
that no census shall hereafter record that
one sixth of all her children are beyond
her borders. Farms enough have been
mOrtgaged TO educate young men tor ele-
CANT leisure. Tears enough have been shed
at sending the fiirstborn of every house
hold TO seek q distant fortune. The new
dominion is better than the dream of the
past. Brighter than the glare of torch
light professions passing on into the night
are the glow or furnaces that VIII never
darGen, and the light of prosperity that
will touch every hearthstone. What Vir-
ginia needs is circulation, not perhaps the
imported and diluted currency of the dem
agogue, but the tides that press tho en-
larging arteries of life; tho red blood that
quickens the brain; the skill that organ
ICES the forces of rivers. and mines which
a kind Providence has placed at our COM
mand. II. G. PARSONS.
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