The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-05-17
A Word in Seaso,i.

Saturday next to compare opinions In regard
to the financial condition Of Virginia. We
presume the movement is inisiatory to some
defined action in relation to the State cleo
ton which takes place in the fall, at which
a Governor and other State officers are to be
elected.
1t is very proper that the substantial inter-
ests which the farmers represent should have
due weight in all matters connected with
State legislation and administration. They
have been remiss in their duty in this re-
spect, and allowed the politicians to control
the vital affairs of the Commonwealth until
State credit has become seriously impaired,
and all material interests injuriously affect
ed. We are aware that causes, over which
no recent legislation could have had any in
fuence, have operated, in great degree, to
embarrass the people. Events, which it is
not profitable nor appropriate now to dis
cuss, have reyolutionized the Industrial sys-
tenn Of the South. destroyed values, without
liquidating obligations based upon those
values, and necessitated new order Of
things incompatible with the traditional
education of the people. While we may not
discuss them, we cannot be insensible to the
results realized. Yet, making due allow
ance for the embarrassments arising from
this source, we cannot close our eyes to the
fact that the management OF State affairs
for the past decade has been loose and profit.
gate, and directed more by spirit Of grovel-
ing seltishness than jealous consideration
Of the welfare of the people and the honor
of the Commonwealth. It has been the aim
Of the politicians to draw the attention Of the
masses away from the vital concerns Of
State by infiammatory appeals to passion,
and under the stimulus OF excitement totally
at war with judicial fairness, they have PEN
stoned upon the people legislature after
legislature, composed in great part of men
who have little practical identity with the
substantial interests which concern the class
of citizens who have determined to meet
here next Saturday. 1t has been voclfer-
ously assumed that the Caucus was essential
to State integrity and prosperity, and that
any impairment Of its machinery or revolt
against its mandates would prove fatal to
the Commonwealth, and inflict upon the
State political power that would revel in
the ruin OF the people. It is not our purpose
here to draw comparisons or discuss motives,
but we may be parGoned for asserting that
no party, we care not by what name 1t Is
called, or what its censtituent elements,
could have plunged Virginia into more de-
plorable condition, or inflicted upon her
porse evils than those she has now to endure.
And we are very sure that the remedy FOL
the ills we now have cannot be found in the
system that has inflicted them upon us, mol
can the farmers Of Augusta expect to revive
their dropping interests or devise a relief
from the embarrassments Of which they
complain, without repudiating the ma
chinery by which these wrongs have been
imposed.
Our purpose Is net so much in this article
to inveigh against party machinery, as t.
warn the gentlemen who may meet here on
the 10Th against any imprudent resolves
affecting State credit. They should keep
prominently in view the fact that there Il
more ways to ruin the State than one, and
that no more effectual method could be
adopted 70 that end than to institute move.
ment that might possibly be contorted
| into disposition to repudiate or impair the
obligations of the Commonwealth. We have
already realized the baneful effect of the
Stay Law, which many construed as being
the first step to evading the final adjustment
| OF legal contracts. We venture the asser-
ton that the effect Of that law was to de-
preciate the real estate Of Virginia TO q
greater aggregate amount than the entire
debt Of the State, thus causing the people to
| actually lose that amount without being re-
lieved of one copper of their obligations.
And so with the failure OF the State to pro-
vide for the interest on the debt as it now
exists. While the funding bill is deluston,
and is infected with the virus OF reputation,
infiicting all the odium OF that dishonor
without scintilla Of benefit, the failure to
meet the interest on the two-thirds nomi-
nally assumed has cost the State more than
the entire debt, and yet the debt is being in
creased every year at an enormous rate, be-
cause of defaulted interest.
It is question for such gentlemen as will
assemble in Staunton on Saturday next to
consider, whether it would be greater bur-
den to courageously determine to levy tax
sufficient to meet the entire interest and
create sinking fund, and with that deter
mination to Inspire confidence at home and
abroad, to be followed by activity in the real
estate market; or to aeitate project for
compromise, or substantial Reputation, with
consequent depreciation In values, to a
degree that would actually cover the State
debt, without reducing it copper We
will not advise upon this subject. We pre-
sent, very briefly, the two phases to the sub
ject, and leave It to the intelligence Of the
gentlemen who may assemble here to dis
pose OF as may seem best.
There is one thing, however, that we will
be positive about. That is, for the farmers
Of Virginia to determine that they will here
after give more attention to public affairs
than heretofore, and not leave 1t to the pro-
fessional politicians and whisky rings to de-
termine the destiny Of the Commonwealth.
We should not like to see them organized as
distinct class, for the purpose Of dominat-
ing every other interest. The mechanic, the
merchant. as we'll as the professional man,
have interests in common with the farmer.
The great fault has been that the most
worthy Of them have kept aloof from active
politics, and allowed the demagogues to
assume control, and direct party organiza-
lions for their own selfish ends, regardless Of
the primary object for which parties are
organized general welfare. II the gen.
tlemen who may meet In Staunton on next
Saturday shall resolve that In future they
will give scrutinizing attention to all the
primary proceedings which have relation to
the selection Of public servants, and will use
their influence to secure the services Of such
men only as have the intelligence to com.
prehend and the industry and disposition to
care for the substantial interests Of the Com.
monwealth, then they will have taken the
first and most important step In the work of
o. ~