Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03
HOW THE COUNTRY MAY PROSPER.
Cur Advantages. ana How They May
lie Uaed TO Our Profit.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
In compliance with your request, we
give you as briefly az We can our ideas
of the outlook, and how we can help
ourselves ANA make our advantages
blessings. We may make them curses.
our country enjoys physical advan-
taQes SURPRISING those OF any nation
known fin history. Within our limits
we have soil and climate adapted 20
the most abundant production or every
fruit of the earth; mineral resources thaI
are inexhaustible; rivers. inland lakes
and commercial facilities, promoting
trade among ourselves. and with other
nations.
our civilization and social life embrace
within themselves an the achievements
and attainments OF the present age OF
mankind in intelligence. refinement, art
science. and religion. I'm enterprise ana
invention and general human progress,
we are the pioneers Of the world. Ana
our RESPONSIBILITIES are as great as our
opportunities are wonderful. AT ms
moment we are I'm the fun realization Oh
an these blessings. and our Immediate
and remote future depends on the wise
Improvement Of them.
BUT right before us are dangers OF
is whether our argosy shall be wrecked
on rocks. or lost I'M quicksands. or so on
10 reach IT'S great destiny. The rocks
are radicalism and demagogy ana pater-
nal government The quicksands are
dobased currency and demoralzed
finance.
All of our business interests are IN a
state Of transition; from that OF the COM
monest digger and errand boy to that or
the highest and largest-farmer, manu-
facurer. and merchant. Power ana pro-
duction are being multiplied without Amll'
SPACE AMI time are almost annlnilalei Wy
rapid transit and iutercommunlcaton' an
old things are giving place 70 new; ouai-
ness centres are shifting, ana methoda
i'm everything changing. our country has
Tor years been running itself ~ spite OF
notifies and politicians. and is Durstlns
an unnatural restrictions. National banks
have overs,ayeI their time they We're
created to make "a market FOR tederal
hands and give our finances into the
hands of the government. They came or
extreme danger. and were KIND Oh
martial law. They are 10 De Ieloliheu
from stem 10 stern. with peace we
must have an the ways OF peace anu
the government must retire from lhe
banking business. Our business IS no"
hile-h0und and has been suffering
naroxvsrns in the form of panics. at ever
Shortening intervals. till they are become
almost chronic.
Tbe restoration Of State banks IS an
absolute necessity. Currencies must DE
nroyidel for localities and be- localled'
and State banks can best effect THIS, ul-
der Government regulation and control
Free banking. and not free sill
-
los and trusts are evils that must
he restrained. They have served a pur-
nose. and must give way. Free distribu-
ION and equal privileges are absolutely
necessary for our individual social ana
national growth To check healthy COM
petition rs against the first.
The completion OF the Nicaragua canal
,u1 he of imme9sureab.e Importance 20
our country. and clieny 10 the South.
-rhe very undertaking Of the work as a
| Grand. common work would unite and en-
,huso our people.
pllnd devotion and slavery 10 party de-
Grades mankind. dwarfs citizenship, ana
prepares the way for despotsm. True
rotriotism is in the responsibility ana IN
tepeudcnce Of the individual voter
We can 10 nothing better than give
von the words OF the foremost champion
~ our liberties Patrick Henry. embodied
| in our "BW of Rights" and over his
signature: -
"That 10 free government. or the
blessings OF liberty. can be preserved
to any people but by iirm adherence to
| ,usflce moderation temperance. frugal
a. and virtue: and by frequent recur-
| renca 10 fundamental princip cs.'
Referring 20 our separation from Eng
| land. he writes.
,.Whcther this Will prove a blessing OF
curse will depend upon the use our