Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-05-25
THE MEETING SATURDAY.


It is rather strange that just as, accord
ing to their own preamble, "the popular
heart begins to be cheered by signs OF a re-
turn Of prosperity to the country at large
a meeting of farmers held in Augusta
one of the wealthiest counties of Virginia
should adopt preamble of a most despair
ing tinge and a series Of resolutions I'D
which the only mention of the State DEBT
is way not to pay it. Perhaps the tug
ging at the coat tails of the meetlng ny
two or three well known and aspiring al
vocates of reputation as a secondary
method, secondary to adjustment" not
to payment) will best account for it. In
the preamble the meeting speaks OF itself,
as 'swe, the farmers of Augusta which
is mistake, general meeting of the far~
mers of Augusta would, we are certain,
vote down one-half of the resolutions
| passed.
We have not space to day to comment
| on the folly to which these resolutions
point-the suicidal folly. Mississippi tried
reputation and its history is. known
throughout the land, Illinois, that young
and live Western State tried reputation,
and the result was that there wasn't
steam engine in the State for twelve years,
all public growth ceased and at the end of
the twelve wears she had to assume the
payment of the debt and all the accumula-
ted interest. Pennsylvania and Maryland
both tried the same suspension" and the
| - e, n rn0rRhQnf
alike was so disastrous that all haste was
made to resume and pay the accumulated
interest. So much much for the benefit
reputation brings to State.
But there.is no feeling for reputation
with Augusta farmers. The subject Of
light taxes, to be brought on by an sad
justment'' of the State debt is being agi-
tated, chiefly by three or four men who
want to 90 to the legislature. They know
there can't be any adjustment by any Law
of the legislature, They know that in the
last three years, as many offers OF adjust
ment have been officially presented by the
legislature to the creditors for acceptance
and they declined to accept and the legis
lature can't make them accept. They arr
trlfing with those farmers who are earn
est and do mean we'll, when they tell them
that there is any way out of the debt ex
cept paying or repudiating it. The Stat
, debt is no larger question than a man
farm. If a hurricane was topass over TIN
farm of Col. SAMUEL A. EAST, the respec
ted and well-to-do farmer who moved tn
, organization of the meeting Saturday, ant
the Colonel was to start around next morn
!, ing and demand of all his creditors to Gu
, down (''adjust'') the face of his obligation
> or take nothing, he would lose standing a
once. Nobody would want to lend hin
money to get his farm into condition again
y But if he were to frankly say II can't pa
now. not even all the interest, but if you wi
!, wait until the farm is in good conditlo
again will pay every dollar very di'
p ferent feeling would be held with regar
;, to him. And that is the whole case in
3 nutshell.
1t is matter of fact that no individu
nor party success can be permanent, base
!, on questionable moral action, and unique
F tionably bad public policy. Those gentl
;, men who expect to run in' to the legl
nature or other public position on prop
a sition hurtful to the public interes
), whether they be Conservative, Radical
!, Independent, are the moths ola brief sun
J. mer, generally dying with burnt wings.