The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-06


spects respectable. But when it attacks the best
interests Of Virginia and misdrects all its ability
INTO channels adverse to her welfare as we'll as
her honor, the editor of the TirginiGn must look
for no quarter from We do accuse him of
violating not only the civil service rules. which
the President is enforcing against all officers OF
the Government, but also Of advocating that
which cannot fail to be obnoxious to an admins
traton and party whose leading tenet is the in
volatility of the public debt of the country, and
necessarily OF the debts of the States. Editing
paper which takes violent sides in any public
issue, while the editor of the Virgainn continues
to be postmaster OF Stanton, is violation OF the
spirit if not the letter of the rule adopted An
editor has always been looked upon in Virginia
at least leader in the party his paper repre-
sents. and his influence when actively employed
Is greater than that OF any osner embe Of the
Republican party of Virginia. and he should
either drop the leadership OF his party and cease
to direct its course, or drop his office.
But suppose that we should call upon our peo-
pie to refuse to pay their share of the interest
the public debt of the United States, which is
great deal more per capita than the interest on
the debt of Virginia, what would Mr.. Yost's party
say to that? Would not the cry OF traitor and
beck, and where would we find ourselves? Yet
that debt was piled up for our subjugation and
in paying it we are paying the price of our
/ abasement. It is forced from us at the point of
the bayonet, and we can neither repudiate nor
readiust it; nor do we desire to do either. The
payment of the debt has now become as necessary
to our happiness as it is to the happiness of the
North, and the South will always willingly give
her quota OF taxes for that purpose We merely
recall the fact of its being forced upon us now to
show how inconsistent Mr. Yost and other read
busters are in straining at the State gnat when
they can all swallow the huge Federal camel with
out a grimace.
If to pay the Federal debt without murmur be
duty OF American citizenship then is the pay
ment OF our own State debt one of the highest
obligations OF patriotism that could devolve upon
US as Vlrgnians.-Rtchmond STATE, Sept. l.
We differ with the State as to the con-
struction it gives to the Civil Service order,
as we differed with it in the canvass that re-
suited in the Inauguration of the administra-
ton that issued it. The Interpretation given
by our contemporary, if carried out, would
make it disreputable for any man to accept
Federal position, and then support the au-
thority that conferred it. The order was
designed to discountcnance machine poll
tics, to interdict the use of official position
to manipulate and control rings and eau
cuses, and thereby debase political contests
to the bad purposes Of professional politi-
clans. 1t was never intended to Interfere
with the legitimate discus sion of public
questions and policies, either State or Ma
tional. 1t required no sacrifice for the editor
OF the VIRGINIAN to conform to it. He
rarely ever attends political MEETINGS, much
less seeks to control them. lie never pre-
sumes any right Or authority by reason of
the official position he holds, and is entirely
divorced from politics in the discharge of
| the official duties Of that position, as are
those subordinate to him. We declined the
| position of delegate to the Cincinnati Con-
vention, because we did not believe in the
policy of Federal officers participating in
such deliberations. giving our reasons pub
licly at the time for so doing, and urging
upon other Federal officials the proprcty of
similar action.
AS we differ with the State as to the mean.
ing of the Civil Service order, we also differ
with it as to what is the honorable policy
to pursue in Virginia. We DO not believe it
is honorable" to maintain fraudulent
act OF legislation, such as is asserted by good
democratic authority the Funding Bill is,
nor do we believe in the right and power of
one legislature to bind subsequent ones, as
to the revenues OF the State, and to absorb
the sovereignty of the people. We not only
do not appreciate tho - honor T" connected
with the conception and passage of that acss,
but we do not understand the 'honor %
that is maintained in its operation. 1t Is
not honorable to promise to pay the in
terest on the public obligations, and then
defaultin payment to the amount of 500, 1000
annually. When the Constitution expressly
appropriates certain amount of revenues,
defining specifically the class and character
of the taxes that shall be devoted to the Pub
lie Free Schools, it is not honorable to
violate the Constitution in diverting that
Fund to another object never contemplated
by that instrument. 1t is not 6 honorable -
to discriminate between the holders Of the
obligations Of the State, preferring one class
which procured their evidences of debt by
specializing upon the poverty and distress of
the State, and protesting another class, that
were the original creditors of the State, and
shared in her misfortuncs.
We believe the Funding Bill to be a fraud,
and we oppose it as such. We believe it to
be obnoxious to the inherent sovereignty OF
the people, and oppose it as such. We be-
lieve it to be unconstitutional, and oppose it
| do ottSii' wv huoW ~ 10 AAiluAuOoo VIZ ioo
operations and ruinous to the best interests
of the State, and because of this we oppose it.
No National Congress would ever dare to
legislate to take away from subsequent Con-
crosses for thirty-four years the control of
the revenues of the nation. No National
Congress would ever dare to degrade one
class of debts and prefer another, both OF
equal original dignity. No administration
would ever dare to violate the National Con-
stitution by robbing' an institution OF the
highest public necessity to satisfy stock
gamblers and spectators.
There is therefore no analogy between the
National and State debts, and the legislation
regulating them.
We disciaim all pretensions to leadership
in the Republican party Of Virginia, nor has
our identity with the Republican party any
thing to do with the issues now before the
people Of Virginia. We discuss them purely
as citizen of Virginia, and not as Repub-
lican Or office-holder. The acceptance of a
commission under the National Government
does not destroy that citizenship, nor does it
imply the forfeiture of any of the rights OF
citizenship.
We differ with the State as to the proper
method to maintain the honor of Virginia,
and do justice to all of her creditors We
do not question the motives of our cotempo-
rary, but cannot agree with his arguments or
conclusions. So differing, we prefer to be-
lieve that the channel of thought we encour-
age and the means we advocate to consum-
mate an honorable solution of present COM
plications are better adapted to the end we
both have in view. So we must agree to
disagree for the present, ana await results,
to vindicate OF. condemn our respective views
of State policy
While we shall be pleased at all times TO
accept the cooperation of the State in sus-
tanning the National Administration, we
cannot recognize it as our leader until it
fully identifies itself with the Republican
party. 1t might be supposed that it speaks
by authority when it lectures us as to our
duty as Federal office-holder, and assumes
to cOnstsue administration orders, independ.