The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-13
Equal Justice.

Equal JuSuce.
All the official declarations which have
been made in relation to the paramount
question to be determined in the approach
ing election are absolutely meaningless.
The platform adopted by the Richmond
Convention conveys no definite idea Of what
is to be decided so far as State policy is con-
and the letter OF acceptance OF Col.
Holiday is equally Indefinite and unsatisfec-
tory. We can find nothing in the platform,
taking it as whole, to justify his assertion
that it 'sindicates a determination to re-
member the history of Virginia and to pre-
serve inyiolate the public faith and credit"
1t is very easy to incorporate such sentences
In party preambies and resolutions, and
round out high-sounding periods to capti-
vatc the superficial, but it is much more diff
ficult to interpret what 'public faith and
credit" mean in the light of the recent
"history of Virginia" There is nothing in
the legislation of the State within the past
decade to which we can appeal as indicative
of maintaining public faith and credit, but
much to condemn as in conflict with both,
and subycrsiye of the best interests of the
people.
The resolution In the platform referring
to the State debt says: I'VE therefore ear
nestly urge upon the Legislative and Ereca-
tire branches of the government the import
ancc of using all just and honorable means
of bringing about an adjustment OF the obli-
cations of the Commonwealth which, ll
bring the payment of interest upon ou r
tire Indebtedness within the resources OF e
State derived from the present rate OF ta p
ton, and do equal justice TO all classes Of r
creditors.'' We are at total loss to und r
stand what was in the minds of the COMM j.
tee that reported this resolution. How they
expect to make the creditors equal with the
present revenues of the State, which fail to
meet the demands of her liabilities by $780, 900
annually, exclusive of the diverted school
fund, without readiusting the funded debt or
absorbing the entire revenues dedicated to
the Public Schools by the Constitution, we
cannot see. There is an Indebtedness and
uncertainty conveyed in the language used
that demands explanation. 1t is not just OF
honorable to 60 before the people with such
duplicity They have been deluded and de-
ceived long enough. There is no excuse fol-
not clearly defining the purposes enter
tanned, and submitting to the voters def
mite proposition. 1t is a reflection upon
either the intelligence or honor Of those who
promulgated this platform, for if it was moi
intended to deceive, it is the most unfortu.
nate confederation OF sentences ever framed
And why do the politicians want to deceive
the question fairly than to dodge it, and leave
it source of veXation and contention fol
years to come? II it is the intention to as
sault the Public Schools, why not say so
Certainly it is legitimate to infer that such
Is the case, when it is declared that all classes
of the creditors of the State must be made
equal, and yet the taxes are not to be in
creased, unless readiustment of the funded
debt is effected. 1t is better to have this
matter understood at once, and to do So
every aspirant for legislative position should
be called upon to give his views OF both the
State Debt and Public School questions. We
confess to serious apprehension about the
latter interest. Col. Holiday, in his letter
before his nomination, was silent as to it
The Convention was silent on it. All the
arguments which have been presented to the
public in defence of the present arrange
ment Of the debt have located the cause O
the present embarrassment upon the Public
Schools. Men are aspiring to the Legisla
ture who are not friendly to them, and
would limit their support to the capitatior
tax alone, which would be tantamount to
their destruction.
There should be no further cyasions toll
Grated, and a demand made upon every one
who is seeking the suffrages OF the people
to give clear and satisfactory exposition o
his views and purposes in relation to boil
the important questions to which VIC hav,
referred.
We want to see all claims of the State'
creditors placed upon an equality-we wan
to see the Public Schools preserved in
healthy condition want all the revenue;
now designated for them by the Constitution
faithfully paid over, and no further diver
sion-and we do not want to see any fur
ther increase Of taxation, because the peopl'
are not in a condition to bear more, will
their present private debts pressing upol
them. And this will require readjust
ment Of the debt, so as to bring It within
the power of the present revenues to pay tn
interest upon the whole of it. Such too, i
the position of great ma ority of the voter
of the State, and it will be idle to attempt t,
selves and the Commonwealth.