The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-21


cratic party OF Virginia, than q reference to
the administration of our own State affairs.
For reform to be genuine. it must be institu-
ted by party that is itself capable of effect
ing the reform-that is itself free from the
blotch of foul corruption, and whose record
will give the assurance that it seeks the good
OF the people in the measures it proposes.
What is the history OF the Democratic
Conservative party in Virginia, that the peo-
pie should look to it with any hope of the
correction of any evils that may exist in
government? This State is pointed to as a
model of Democratic administration. 1t is
quoted all over the country as testimony to
the high integrity of the political party that
predominatcs. The simple assertion by. the
Democratic press that all is pure and lovely
here because of Democratic rule. and the de-
nunciation of every Southern State, as cor
rupt, that is under Republican control, is as
sumed to be true, and from this basis vol
umes have been written to show that wher-
ever the Democrats have power there is peace
and honesty, and wherever the Republicans
predominant, the reverse is the condition.
There never was q more brazen and nnscru-
pulous attempt to delude the people than the
claim that the administration of the affairs
Of Virginia, has been directed by economy,
honesty, and justice. The history of this
State since reconstruction, is a record of cX-
travagancc, reckless legislation, disregard of
the rights Of the people, and palpable dis
honesty. without parallclin the annals of
the country. We cannot elaborate in the
brief space of a newspaper article. We will
only refer,in condensed form, to some of the
counts in the Indictment against the Demo
cratic or Conservative party, and its admin
t:ation.
We had. in 1868, don't 81 5000 900 in as
sets, consisting of stocks, bonds and evidenc-
es OF debt. There is scarcely dollar of this
left, allliaving been frittercd away, and moth
ing to show for it, Our State debt was about
$35, 100000 1t is now more than SEQ, GoO. 900.
Here we have s25,oOo,ooo OF assets squandcr-
ed, and s25,000,OOO accumulated debt, max
ing $50, 000, 900 that the Conservative party
has substantially taken from the people.
The State Treasury has been robbed; the
sinking fund has been robbed, and while the
parties guilty OF the felony were arrested.
one OF them condemned to the peniten-
tlary, and the other released on the plea of
insanity, yet there has been no earnest effort
to discover the amount of the plumber, and
no steps taken to recover from the securities
OF the condemned officers one copper OF
the loss. A committee was appointed
to investigate the basement offices af-
ter the exposure of the Treasurer and
the Sinking Fund agent, and reported
that there was great carelessness apparent in
the method of conducting public business in
one Or two Of the Offices, but no truthful re-
port OF the amount the State was robbed of,
was ever made. 1t is believed by parties who
have looked into the affairs of the State with
reference to this subject, that the amount out
OF which the people have been swindled is
enormous, amounting to hundreds of thous-
ands OF dollars. Notwithstanding the con-
vlctloE OF one of the defrauders of the State. |
and the escape of another on the plea of in
sanity, whose guilt was as clear as daylight,
no effort has been made to recover one dollar
of the loss, although the securities are amply
able to pay.
This same Conservative party has funded
the State debt and compounded the interest,
for which new bonds have been issued, mort
gazing the peoples property as security
The leaders of the party will tell you that the
aggregate of the States liabilities is not over
10000, 0OO-they put it in round numbers at
$50. 900, 900. But they know there Is no truth
in this--that Virginia is as much bound
for the part of the public debt assigned to
West Virginia, as she is for that she assumed.
and that it will have to be paid or repudiated.
The Supreme Court of the United States has
decided the principle involved, and located
The whole debt with the original party to
The contract. We can easily show that it is
not less than sGO,O0O,OOo, and increasing
yearly, in defaulted interest to the amount
If $4,000, 900.
This is the work of the Democratic Con-
party of Virginia, which is put for
ward as the representative of the sreform''
of the age.
This very party has robbed the School
Fund OF S4O9, 900, to pay the interest on these
compound interest bonds, Issued in the in
crest OF the stock jobbers and gamblers
II Wall Street, made lawful by corrupt agcn- .
lies operating upon the Legislature in this {
State. ;
And, mark, this School Fun Il was sacred for
he purpose it was levied and collected, and
mperatively directed by the Constitution and
avs to be appropriated to the Public Free {
Schools of the State-the schools of the poor i
children emphatically. This enormous sum c
vas taken from the poor children of the State [
y. Democratic officials, and Illegally pelvert-
ID to the payment OF theintcrest on the bonds. t
leld by the gamblers and spectators in the /
esults OF the Funding Bill job, which is a
hargcd by Democrats to have been the is
ue OF bribery and corruption, and which c
barge we believe to be true. r
While the poor children of the State have t
zen robbed. in violation of the law and the /
of the means Of their education.
y high Democratic officials, the Democratic S
legislature has increased the apnuites to {
he University OF Virginia and the Military o
institute, where the advantage will never "
ccrue to the INDECENT, but must be necessa- G
ly shared by those who are able to educate L
"
These are ugly facts, and show the kind of
reform" the Democratic party of Virginia
as been ihaugurating. Q
But let lis look little further. and into q
he legislation Of reform Democracy. 1t en-
ITS law tiatrequires the poor man to work I
lie public roads for the rich mans benefit, q
nd then proposes a Constitutional amend t
ent to deprive the poor man of his vote if n
happens to fail to pay his poll tax, after &c
S time, which is money, has been taken for NJ
e public benefit, in which he has no prac. Ia
cal interest, for he travels on foot. The o.
.OnertV owner nav ho flalinora,t T., Ii, | III