The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-31
THO Hendtnstcrs' Crusade.

The resdiustcrs, realizing the gravity OF
Tho situaIion and the danger of being left
without "u bone of contention" ere long,
are improving their failing opportunity to
excite the people against any settlement OF
the State debt. We say that they oppose
anu settlement, because they know very well
that such terms as they arc willing to give
the bondholders would be fatty rejected by
the latter. Hence we say they are opposed
to any settlement, and that, we believe, en-
presses the truth in the case.
And 50 they are reviviug their old cru
SADIE against the bondholders, and would
have the people elect Legislature this
fall that would unsettle all that was done
hy the last Legislature, when gentlemen
like Speaker Allen, Mr.. Fickln, Senator
PhIegar, and Mr.. Fowler, who went to that
Legislature as readiusterS, acquieSce in
what has been done, and oppose any fur
Their agitation OF this subject, believing
that the credit and good name OF Virginia
cannot but suffer while this miserable con-
troversy is kept alive.
We have certainly secured as good terms
from the public creditors as could have been
expected. and all that reasonable men should
ask; and even il it were possible TO repeal
the present law and deprive those who shall
have availed themselves of its provisions
while it remains in force, that would not be
worth to Virginia in dollars and cents what
it would cost her in the blight that would
be brought upon her good name. nor would
it pay even in pecuniary point Of view.
Such backing and filling; such shutting and
evasion; such enacting and repeating; such
disreputable efforts as the forci6te readiust-
ers seem willing to make to rob the public
creditors, would degrade Virginia to the
lowest level. and make any man worthy OF
citizenship in an honest and time-honored
Commonwealth blush for his State.
We are really at loss to Know no" nleii
who would feel insulted il they were
charged with purpose OF forcing tlelf III
divldual creditors to accept Just what lney
were willing to give them in payment or
debt can advocate the policy Of "forcibIe
reimbursement" in State matters. We are
unable to draw the line, as they do, between
individual aud public honor, or to concede
that because State cannot be sold out and
forced to pay the money it has borrowed
and expended in improving its own domain
1t should DO what is not permitted to any
individual having prorerty-snap its fin
gers In the face Of its creditors and say,
Accept just what choose to give you, or
expect nothing"
Now, is it possible that majority OF the
good people Of Virginia can be induced TO
favor such policy as this? We do not be-
lieve they can. But in view OF the renewed
activity Of the leaders in the forcible read
justment crusade we think that every man
who can exert any influence in bis commu-
nifty should be at work to thwart the machi-
nations OF those with whom success in their
fight against public credit and public mo-
rality would be the destruction OF all that
a high-minded, patriotic people should hold
dear We cannot dissocate public aud pri-
vate morality, and the destruction OF one
would be heavy blow to the other; for
when the State sets the example OF repndia-
tion there will be thousands of her citizens
to plead it in their own case; and thus the
Pandora's box, full OF deadly evils, will be
opened in our midst.-Lynchburg Virgin
ian.