Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-30


this magnificent city. is a pride to the
whole South, OF which for four long and
ever memorable years u was the capital
and the centre. or the many evidences OF
rapid progress 10 be. seen on all Sides. IL
IL not my purpose to speak. II Is proper
however, TO express qualification, which
should be shared by every southerner.
that here In our ancient capital. this IN
stitution for the education OF physicians
and surgeons has taken already so high
"a stand. and that there Is no need OF
going farther North TO secure a medical
diploma. whose value IS recognized
throughout the Union. When first saw
I thrfcity oftkichmond IL was under vastly
different auspices and amid other sur
roundings than those that greet us to-
night Ii was thirty-six years ago. Vir-
GINA had called for aid. and across her
southern border North Carolina poured
her troops like an Alpine torrent. AZ
mat time l was a lad OF H. cadet ~
military institute. The troops need
Ing such instruction IA 1t was thougnt
We couid give. L was, IKE many others
assigned TO duty by the Governor. anu
entered this state attached 10 one OF the
North Carolina regiments. -. a.
To-day it is hard TO realize INA, ane
scene Is the same. Lee and jackson are
glorious memories now. Announcer nag
foats from the flagstaff on your Capitol.
From yon river. the fleets OF IRON nave
fed" and where the long lines OF H.
fantry stood the green "grave-grass
dead
MEN ARE NOT SATISFIED.
Yet | must say 10 you. my young friends.
that not In 1851 was there greater unrest
In the minds OF the masses or your lel-
low-citiZens North and South. East ana
West than there Is at this moment OF
deep. dreamless apparent peace. Inc
hearts OF men are strangely moved within
them for the masses are not Sausheu
with existing conditions. No one con-
Tor
eliminate, like that OF 1851, In armed
strife, but all the signs that history mas
ever given of great imnerdlng changes
are with us. None are lacking. Condl-
tons will not. cannot remain as they are
he assured of that.
There are men to whom the present
status is very comfortable. They denounce
any statement that all others are not as
fully satisfied as themselves.
The conflict of ideas the conflict OF IN
terests is more intense and more reai AZ
every point of contact than that Wnlch
Mr. Seward proclaimed an 'lrrepresslule
conflict" in lSG0. At Cooper Institute
Mr.. Lincoln truly declared 10 q startled
generation that the Union could not re-
main half bond and half free. III Is
equally true now that this government
cannot be governed partly by freemen ana
partly by an oligarchy of wealth. one or
the other must be sole masters OF the
republic
THE FORCES EVENLY DIVIDED.
In the press. on the hastings, in the
close converse OF neigh5or with nelgnoor
the conflict OF ideas Is gong on. ~ M, 10
becoming more and more intense. The
forces are nearly evenly divided, ana
both sides are looking for reinforcement
10 the generation that is arriving q man
hood. for your weight Will deciue the
issue.
What are these contending forces and
what Is the true issue? Is II the tariH {.
That is a party issue, over when elthtr
side predicts beneficial results IL IL W!iis'
and disastrous consequences II IL lails-
and, alternately, one or the otitI Wis ~
and with better or worse conditions the
country goes on. Is II the silver issue
the financial question: That Is nearer the
mark. yet that question is rather o" III
cident, a symptom. Phase WIN Sus
eested remedies and not the disease IL
self Nor vet is it the conflict between
labor and capital. nor the old, old strus-
gle between states rights and the CEN
Trailing tendencies of the Federal Gov
ernment The vital question lies deeper
than any of these.
THE VITAL QUESTION.
The vital question which this country
is called upon TO determine anu 'V G,aii 10
the determination of which we are inteiil-
gently. il may be. or blindly. IL may De-
groping our way is. Where shall me aG-
tual governing power reside Shaii ~ =.
be in men or in money II is MOI /" ny"
evitable question whose determination
settles ALI others The nature OF gov
eminent is not determined by ITS forms
and titles. These usually remain un-
changed long after the governing pomt.
has become vested elsewhere. Nhat DoolS
n If on parchment we shall continue 70
read that "All political power Is Vesttu
in and derived from the people an BY
eminent of right originates from tnc P,o,
pie. is founded upon their VIII only,, anu
lis instituted solely for the goou Oh the
whole" If il is not living potenliai
actual truth? If. as a matter OF Iaet'
great corporations, through their agents,
whether lobbyists or members Oh Sie
of that body. so that the choice OF the
corporations. and not the genuine cholce
of the people, is sent TO the feuerai nan
of ambassadors to slt as Sen ,ar'i, ton 49,,
Congress. then the parchment declaration
is a haunting lie. If gigantic comblha-
tions of wealth can elect or control ma
iorities in State Legislatures OF III Nol In
gress so as to shape legislation, II tieS
can be potent in the noiiiiildtl1} ,han ne
ton of Federal or State officials, tneh me
real governing power vests In money, ~.
In men. and your boosted repupiic Is uut
a once beauteous form from Wnlch lhe
spirit has already departed. ~ ,,tioh
should be pondered and understood win
a full grasp OF its meaning anu all me
consequences which must now from tne
displacement of the centre OF gravity III
government.
LEGISLATION AND THE MONEA
POWER.
If the control of legislation is so highly
profitable and important to the money
power il will be an irreparable calamity
10 the toiling masses TO lose IL. II tiIe
advocates of popular government WIN,
they in turn, still less than the money
power. can rest easy in the victory win
the organic law remaining as II is. EHpe-
rieuce has shown its weakness and It's IN
sufiiciency. There are many points requlI-
ing amendments. 1t would be tedious, per-
hans beyond my power, 10 point out any
except the most obvious. The election OF
United States senators by state leglsla-
lures has been so often perVerslon or
the popular choice ana conees noes,
the public sentiment TO confer upon the
people of each State, instead Of its Legis-
lature. the election of its Federal senators
is confined 10 no party ana 10 no sectloh.
The bill TO amend the Constitution IN thal
respect has passed the lower house OF
Congress more than once, and once, at
least by unanimous vote. The corpora
tions have so far been able TO prevent ts
passage by the Senate itself. The Federal
Judiciary by its mode OF appointment,
especially lays itself open to the grasp or
great monopolies and combinations, whose
influence in such matters is asserted 10
have become almost irresistible or recent
wears The life tenure of once, placing
the occupants of the Federal bench be
You'd reach Of public complaint, If their
trust is abused. and the fnallty or their
power as interpreters of the Constitution
and statutes. combine to make ii essen.
tial to the great monopolies TO control
the appointments i'm this branch of the
government There are unquestionably
many able and spotless men on the Fede-
raj bench to-day, but it has been asserted.
and il must be confessed that 1t is ra-
pidly becoming the rule TO fill such posi-
lions with men whose life work has been
that Of counsel for great corporations, and
whose entire training Is calculated to bias
them unon all questions upOn which cor