The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-04-19
Politicians VS.. the People.

THURSDAY. ............. APRIL 10, 1877
Politicians VS.. the People.
Active skirmishing is progressing along
the Democratic lines in the interest of the
various aspirants for the office of Governor
of Virginia. From the indications thus far
given, the old caucus system is to rule in the
selection, so far as the political managers can
compel it to do SO. We have seen no init
nation from Democratic sources that the peo-
pie or their interests arc to be consulted. No
reference is made to the grave questions of
State policy whichmust necessarily be affected
one way or the other, by the action of the Con-
vention; but it is assumed that the people
those who pay the taxes and bear the bur-
dens of government-will quietly submit to
anything that these self constituted leaders
may determine, and slavishly surrender their
rights and their manhood to the rulings of the
caucus. The State debt looms up in fright
full proportions-iti is being augmented year
~, to an enormous degree, by defaulted in
terest, and no provision has been made to
meet its Legal demands. The Legislature just
adjourned made no change in the act of as
sessment, and only improvised law of
doubtful expediency and still more doubtful
constitutionallty, known as the Moffett
punch bill, that makes pretense of Crap
pling with the oppressive obligations that
have been fastened upon the people. The
leaders of the party delude themselves that
the people are not thinking about such
things. AS we heard i. remarked the other
day, the Convention will not touch upon chat
subject, nor will the canvass be made with
reference to that important and vital ques-
ton. This, however, is delusion. The
people are thinking about it and great deal
more than the caucus wire-pullers dream of.
They know that when an interest bearing
debt is allowed to run year after year, with
out even adjusting the interest, it will soon
cover the security upon which it is based and
bankrupt the maker Of it. They know that
the State cannot, with impunity, ignore the
obligation to pay. The manner in which
all the interests Of the commonwealth have
been trifled with during the past decade-the
stay law, the funding bill and the failure to
pay interest as stipulated, have brought the
State into Misunderstanding real es-
tate to jan aggregate amount larger than the
whole debt, without being relieved from the
obligation. The annual revenues drawn from
the people have been necdlessly squandered,
new offices created, enlarged appropriations
made, when there was no necessity for them,
thus constituting constant drain upon the
energies and industry of the people, without
giving them anything in return. These
things have been growing worse every year
the debt has been increasing every year.
The money wrenched from the toll and
labor Of the people dissipated, without a
single benefit to show for 1t.
The people are thinking about all these
things. They are murmuring about them.
They are talking to each other seriously
about them, and enquiring one of the other,
If there is to be no end to this systematic
robbery of the industry of the State.
They want this debt question settled one
way or the other. They are going to de-
mand it. The caucus will not dare touch it.
The managers hope to pull the nominees
through by abusing "negroes, carpetbag-
gers and scalawags.' But fortunately that
business is played out. There has been
enough wrong and harm committed with
that as the excuse. The taxpayers, the til
lers OF the soil, the men whose property is
msrtgaged for the public debt, and whose
hard earnings have been so lavishly squan-
aered by proaigatc legislators, are going to
demand that some provision be made to adj
Just the debt, and relieve the Commonwealth
Of the terrible disgrace that stares her in the
face of reputation, or, what is the same
thing, failure to pay what she contracted to
pay.
Why, the legislation of Virginia-the work
State, and not the interests of the people
has caused depreciation in values more
than the entire debt twice told. The people
have been made to pay tile debt, or the
amount Of it, ever and over again, by. driving
immigration and capital away, and yet have
lC TO CONFRONT them all the Time.
And yet these political schemers think
that they can blind and delude the people
another four years. We. are much mistaken
in the temper and disposition of the tax
payers OF Virginia if they allow the caucus
TO press them. still lower down, and compel
them to finally repudiate the debt of the
Commonwealth, or, what is equally as bad,
fail to pay the interest contracted to be paid.
Universities can be endowed, where the rich
can be educated, not the poor man.; Agri-
cultural and Railroad Bureaux created,
where dilapidated politicians may be slowed
away on fat pay; the peoples money squan-
dered in per diem by the hundreds of thou
sand dollars on legislators who do nothing
and not one step taken to settle or arrange
the public debt, for the payment of which
the peoples proper ty is pledged. This is all
the fruit of the caucus. 1t sends men to the
Legislature, and puts others in high position,
not because they are capable and desire to
serve the people, but because they can run
the rings and rally the slums.
It is about time the people were waking
up. 1t is their business-not ours but it is
ours to warn them and labor for them, and
this we will do, if they will come up in ear
nest to the work.
It is question whether the Politicians or
the People are to rule. Heretofore the Poll
ticians have ridden upon the necks of the
people. It is about time the arrangement
were reversed.
A Suggestion.
We suggest to the Democrats of Virginia
that they dispense with the formallty OF q
Convention to nominate candidate for
Governor, and that the State Central Com
mittee present the name of Judge William
j. Robertson, of Charlottesville, in the name
of the people, and regardless OF party, to be