The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-17


The same power that sat its foot on the Bar
bour bill will surely set its foot on any bin
repeating the McCulloch bill. The veto still
con fronts MS.
Third. The proper course for readjusters
to take in the next fall campaign seems rea-
sonably clear to my mind. Let us not force
any extreme or factious or fruitless issue
that will further divide our ranks and de-
prive US of all participation In the fruits Of
our labors. 1t is perfectly certain that
considerable portion Of our forces will not
go for repeal of the bill. To force such an
issue now will tend to drive all such to in
crease the strength and solidify the ranks OF
the late funcers. 1t will simply make
party OF ITEM and cause them to cobere as
such. 1t will open upon us the charge that.
after demanding readjustment we refuse to
take single step towards it, under the plea
that we wish to take longer one. 1t will
put us Oh our defense against the charge
that we are after political alignment, and
not after relief to the people. 1t will cause
our ranks to disintegrate under the square
defeat we thus provoke 1t will fast n on
US the odium of bad manage ment at least.
Imagine not that ! am per Sc the friend Of
this bill. | simply view it from the stand
point OF lS79-SO and not from that OF 1881
y, am acting on the presumption, too,
e-'ssS 'AAo AeA'ANAAies WILL SO T.. L
am now speaking after the passage and IN.
der the absolute execution of the bill. Last
winter spoke and acted prior to the passage
OF it, and while readjustment had practically
not been touched. The Allen amendment I
considered legislative outrage, and if re-
pealable it ought to be repealed. I think.
On this point there is some difference of
opinion, some able lawyers contending it
can be repealed at the pleasure of the State
now or hereafter. If this should be true it
may prove comparatively harmless.
Hoping you will agree with me in these
views, close by invoking your attention to |
the fact that if we are wise and yigiIant in
our course the public will not fail to note the
truth that every concession made in this bill
and every advantage it gives the people, is
our WoTk-the work of the readiusters-l
ana everything bad in it is the work of those
who opposed us. If they had united with
US in urging readjustment we could have
gotten all we wished. They steadily con
TENDED te1.i that we could pay SIS per cent.
With such testimony in their favor it is rath-
er wonder we succeeded in winning anv
concessions at all from them. | need not
enumerate my objections to the bill. I did
that in the House of Delegates. On the
question what readiuster should do, the
advantages of the bill should be considered
and weighed against the chances of getting
any other bill more so.
Such is the desire among the people to end
the agitation of this question, and to avert
the train OF evils which renewal of it would
Invite, that many of them will prefer to risk
this bill, unsatisfactory as it is, rather than
go back to worse one, with no clear proba-
bilty OF doing better, but with a certainty
that reopened and prolonged agitation will
De an experiment the tendency Of which will
be In every sense publicly and privately de-
oralizing.
Hastily, but very sincerely, your friend.
I. c.. FOWLER