The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-11-13


have been delegated by the people to rep
resent them in the next Legislature will
enter upon the discharge OF their duties
with full sense of the grave responsibility
that rests upon them, remembering that
they are Virginians, the guardians of the
honor and credit of the Commonwealth,
and that they will address themselves to
the vital work before them, impressed with
the mighty import of whatever action they
may take, and that they hold in their hands
the destiny of the State for veal or VICE.
>----
The Philosophy Of the Situation.
Under this caption valued correspondent
suggested yesterday that the Republicans
elected to the Legislature should form them
selves into caucus; that the Conservative
Debt PAYERS form themselves into another
caucus, and white Repuditors form their eau.
Gus also, and that the Republicans shall al
low none of their members to vote save &C
cort]jpe to the conclusions arrived at after
deliberations in ca ucus for the promotion of
Marty ends. it is well said and shond be
adopted, Such plan will make the Repub-
cans really masters Of the situation and
will put it within their power not only to adj
vance their party aims, but render most eff
Gent service to politics generally in this State.
The Republican caucus should determine
what Republican interests demand at the
hands OF the Legislature Of Virginia. 1t
might demand for instance, that in the elect
ion of a United States senator the views OF
the republican party should be considered.
It might demand that the public free schools
should be put upon solid basis. beyond the
power of any disturbing influences. might
| demand the various other matters Of party
| interest which the action OF the Virginia
I, Legislature could effect. Now when it had
made out reasonable schedule of what it
was entitled to, it would be for the Debt
Payers caucus to determine WHETHER or not
| it would concede on its own part the de-
mands A wise direction of the Debt Pay
ers' caucus would give to the Republican
| caucus what was not unreasonable and thus
not only might wise and beneficial legislation
| be secured, but the votes of the Republicans
would in every instance be thrown in favor
of their party principles-to-wit: the main
tenance of public credit. Against one thing,
however we wish to caution our Republican
friends. Any unreasonable claims would
frstrate any proposed concert of action, and
would destroy the possibility of concerted
action, from which great good might arise in
various ways. 1t might in the matter of a
United States Senator, attempt to force upon
the Conservative Debt Payers caucus high
| " Objectionable Republican. Any such at
tempt would result in destroying any posi-
bility of COO, eratian. All that the Repnb-
licans ought reasonably to ask for in this
matter would be the election of a United
States Senator not hidebound and violent,
a man alive to the progressive spirit OF the
age and on the main questions of the day not
an extremist in Republican policy. Wise and
discreet action of this sort by both Del Pay
ers and Republicans would result in giving
to this State a new era of prosperity. State
The above article taken from the State
of the Stb. contains good deal of practi-
cal wisdom, and should be seriously consid-
cred by the Republican members OF the
Legislature. That necessity forces the pre-
sentation of such suggestions does not de-
tract from their intrinsic merit, nor should
it prevent an impartial consideration of their
import. 1t must be patent to every impair
tial mind that the partizan rule of the Con-
sentative party in Virginia has been detri-
mental to all of her material interests, and
has been the source OF the present difficult
1 ties and embarrassments which surround
the Commonwealth. Until the VALLEY
VIRGINIAN forced the debt issue to the
front in 1877, by urging the policy on the
part Of the Republicans OF abandoning any
organized contest for the office OF Govern or,
everything was made subordinate to the SUI
premaey of tile party. The bare meution
of any State policy that questioned the fidel-
ity of the Conservative party to State inter-
ests-the presentation of the fact of de-
felt in the revenues and an increase of the
debt each year of from 100000 to $500, 900
the robbery of the School fund-the squan-
dering of millions of dollars of assets-and
other matters of grave concern to the peo-
ple-were met by an appeal to popular pref
udice against what was called the SCALA
wags, carpet -baggers and negroes" In this
way the State was drifting on into certain
bankruptcy aud ruin. but the Conservative
party cared little for it so it held the con-
troll of the State government and parceled
out the revenues drawn from. the sweat of
people, among its retainers and special ia
vorites. We took the position as early as
1876 that these things had to be stopped, land
if the Republican party was in the way it
would step aside. and demand that the true
condition of the state should be faced. We
believed that two things would follow-tirst,
the settlement of the debt question and thus
stop the d. fault in interest, and second, the
disruption of the Conservative party. We
believe the debt will be finally settled sub
stantially upon the terms OF the McCulloch
Bill, because they are just, and it is to the
interest of all that it should be, and we have
the patent fact before us that the Conserva>
tive party is split in twain. leaving the de-
termination of the supremacy of either wing
in the Legislature with the Republican
members of that body.
If the State speaks by authority of the
more conservative of tn two wings of the
party with which it has heretofore been
identified, then its advances should be care
fully and favorably weighed. Those who
compose that wing are in sympathy with the
financial policy Of the Republican party as
it affects the government, and any mere
nominal differences as to the terms affe Ct
ing the State debt, should not separate
them. Indeed the payment of honest debts
of both State and Nation, is a cardinal prin-
cipal of the Republican faith, and while
some of the Republicans of the Legislature
may have been elected under the Dominalism
of e-adiusters, there is nothing practical
absolutely in the term. 1t is an utter inn
possibility to carry out any scheme of read
justment. The whole debt will have been
|
funded before the Legislature just elected
Hexpires. All efforts and propositions to
change the terms of the McCulloch Bill set
Element will be utterly futile, and so much
time wasted. The conditions of the settlement
will have been fully consummated, and
guarded by the State and Federal courts, it
will defy all legislative devices and crusades
to invalidate its integrity.
This fact settles all difficulty as to the re-
adjustment nominalism, puts the debt issue
beyond practical controversy, and leaves the
other considerations suggested by the State