New-York tribune., 1876-11-25
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
THE PROsTRATE SOUTH.


c,p,rAr DRIVEN AWAY BY DIsHONEsTY-A MIS-
SOURI, coUNTY's REGULATION OF IT'S BONDS.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune
SIR; One of the most effective campaign
aries Of Mr. Tden's friends for mercy on the Pros
trate South and deverance from her mighty oppressor
the Republican party II is cry peculiarly elective
because tine South PROSTATE and because appeals 10
the magnanimity OF the conquerOr II is argued ana
most Instly that with Of prosperity 10 inc
South the wheels OF commerce and Of business VIII roi
on I'm their OLD and pleasant and profitable ruts Oi
ing all this think il would be well to look LOT Vne ios
lost rlits through business as well as Deinocl'uo
glass and a letter received by this morning opens
Euoh view to my mind In the course OF my business !
wrote 10 the Treasurer Of Pettis County, Missouri ask
ing where aud by whom the interest on the bonds OF ms
county due Nov l. 1876, would be paid, and received
the following answer: . ~, ,o7e
DEAR SIR: For the frat tmo Potts County viii not
pay the coupons of her bonds due Nov l. Ihe people
N mass convention have decided not to pay any more IN
terest until the validity Of the county ana townslP
bonds has been decided by the u > supreme O9,m@
Petts County WIN pay all honest debts; hence the courts
must decide the case Yours truly 1rrv, Treasurer
Petts County Missouri Is crossed by four railroads
sedala--a t.riying town-is the county seat ana 'e
crossing place of the railroads. without the rarOauS IL
Is fair to that Pets County would sun nave Doeh
In the baewood and three Of the four roads coud not
have been built without the money realized by the sae
OF the bonds alluded to by the Treasurer which were
issued for that purpose. For one road @3OOVOO was
issued and il is fair to that for the three roads at
FEAST 5000 900 realized by Petts County from oa-
talists. Now the people Of Petts County got that
100000 upon fair square business transaction much
as YOU or would get money note, except that IN
their case IL was community that being Oenented
and positively enriched by the loan. No Will doubt
that the money was advanced TO Pets County in full
faith that the people of that county would honestly ana
honorably discharge the obligation Mark the result
the interest paid for six seven years, until on the
eve of an expected Democratic triumph the people, in
" mass convention decide for the rst' time not to
meet their obligations until compelled 20. C an HONEST
and honorable business man, OF Whatever pouSid olh pm
ion he may he apply any terms to such wrttched ana
dshonOrable trekery but stealing IL Is shalneInl,
trste condition of the south precisely such con
duct and other. The whole tone OF the rulers OF inc
South before and since the war; has been OI the same
character. II needs argument to prove the case.
Mississippi before the wax Is an example, ana Hel @
highest position The Solid South" in spite OF hs
rascality Mr. Tlden has been br9nSht up ma III an aU
phere that would choke him II nc had ever uaeL 20
uttered such sentiments, but his whole sympales anu
public course were eDsteI Ou - .e sle % S tiO f
for the with which they threw on oolkatoiS i4l
money loaned to them in good lutL ana upon tueiI
honor That Is why the Son5a Is pr4Srasf AM Reon o
any Democrat invest in Pettis County bonds iOHty
Not bit of II, although Petts County Mo- Is Dem,
Ocratic through and through ana IhoIOugh ilouod i
with the truly Democratic idea OF borrowing money anu
1nnniiE EVERYWHERE wipe out all records of rascaly
Reputation and dshOnOrable tnei ana caai anu laoO
will flow them in such quantities that ther present
prostration will disappear rapidly that business cNl
fzation and Christianity w4 take such leap Forward
fbut we will All be amazed. The democratic party may
divert attention Om the real facts oi the case by thel IN
cessaut aber about tn "blOOdy SHIRT" local govern
mentD corruption" reform" DC, but the bloody
shirt never made the "sOd South race OF repudi-
atOrs local government will not IN the future more
than in the past aud present. make them honest ana non
orable; corruption" in money matters cannot DC
taught or impaired TO them ana the true reform 70
would be to raise nigh upon the standard OF the Demo
cratic party aud the nation 1--WE know OF 10 way TO
discharge a debt but to pay it," l. W. b
Netc- York. Nov. 10, 1876.