The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-29

Our Consistency.
- wklo o. yesterdsy seems 70 sn'nk
- i hss MADE good point upon us. IL
,re1aee Ia an exsstiag msnner concesuinR an
s1iIfSrl1, which appeared In the Dsspdscn
e my 1, ls77. II says:
8. But Ne DO kBow that upon the very gay
ga (eocrsl usboue's letter appeared ~
ss77 n vhyeh be gave shape and force 10
-. rreseut policy OF rexdiusiment, the
nsunfeA. n 10 article written BY ifs pres
sect eIltor.s outlined policy In respect 10
g. .aeht - strangely IN cousonancc WIN
fsenersl NshoAc's letter thsi 1t was gene.
rsliv supposed funti, the Dispatch denied 10
thaf he wsiter OF that article bad seen tne
Iettcr before IT, publication, and nad thus
sought by anticipating It to take the vino
ont q Il and break It's force. Even auer
the letter appeared the Dispatch announced
inst q saw 10 II nothing TO disapprove.
Whist may have led the Dispatch to change
IT, views soon after, and ever since 70
keep 40 fierce nght against the very poicy
Of which II claimed to be an independent
and original author, We do not Know.
The best answer TO this charge Is the
editorial itself. We reproduce that editorial
IA full--every line and word OF 1t. It's as
follows:
The Conservative nominee for Governor,
whoever he may be, will doubtless take DIS
position upon whatever platform the au-
vust Convention may adopt. II the Con-
vention considers the public-debt question,
md makes an issue upon II. the nominee
will either have TO decline the nomination
or 10 defend the action OF the Convention.
But we do not suppose the Convention Is
going TO insert any such plank IN us plat
form. II Is mot a question upon which the
peooje of Virginia are divided by party
lines. Some OF the best Conservatives 10
Virginia, and some OF the wisest men 10 our
party, are 10 favor OF REIMBURSEMENT OF tne
public debt.
Whilst we confess that we DO not Know
how this IL 10 be done, nor any means
whereby we can improve our condition, yet
we have too much respect for such men as
Colonel 4. ]. Armstrong, Frank Rufin,
and thousands OF other good Conservatives,
TO desire to put them out OF our party. NOR
do we suppose that the several candidates
for the Office Of Governor will take the
trouble to drive off from their support
every man who wishes 10 devise some
means OF stopping the increase OF the pup
lie debt. II Il as certain as anything can De
Thar the people OF Virginia will not submit
IA any increase OF the laud.tax or personal
property tax. Ii Is equally as certain tbat
at present the State Is getting into Geot
more deeply every year.
II will be wise for the Legislature OF vir-
pjpia to devise some means for improving
this state OF things. But the Legislature
will be composed OF both Republicans ana
Conservatives. Why should they not unlle
10 do whatever is best for the interests OF
the Slater Why should such question De
made party question? We need not say
more at present.
There Is nothing in that editorial incon'
sistent with our present position. We en-
dorse its spirit in full this very day. we
are constantly trying to keep the Demo-
Gratis Of Virginia from dividing themselves
into two parties upon the public'debf ques.
ton. Not only were "some OF the best
Conservatives 10 Virginia, and some OF the
wisest rien in our party" "iD favor OF re-
adjustment OF the public debt" in 1877,
but they afterwards devised scheme OF
rexdjustment which we believe General
MALONE would have been glad to approve
in 1877. They devised plan OF readjust-
ment which, though it was cut short In lis
operation by the efforts Of the Mozarters
and the results OF last years election, has
this year saved to the State large sum OF
money, and II 1t had been carried out IN
good faith would have enabled her TO pay
the interest upon all her public debt With
out I" ANY increase OF the land. or personal
property tax "-an increase to which we
are as much opposed now as we were then.
We will not now dwell upon the advantages
which would have resulted to Vtrginiafr from
the ratification Of the McCuLL0CH act, see
ing that that act has expired by the limita-
tious contained 10 itself; but we will say
that we are as anxious now as we were on
the 7th Of July, 1877, for the Legislature
to "devlse some means for improving the
existing +" state OF things"
The reader will see for himself that there
is no inconsistency between our present po-
stion and our position In 1877. 1t is Gene
raj MAHOSB who has changed ground. Eigh-
teen months after the above article appeared
In the Dispatch, General MALONE declared
utfuStu iu iuSoi Va eSeS"S Va i""N1"S'
meut which proposed to recognize over
$32, 00O, 900 as the debt OF Virginia, whereas
he Is now understood to be in favor Of RID
DLEBERGER's reputation scheme.
The Gubernatorial Convention OF 1877
adopted a platform strictly pursuing the
line Of policy indicated in the editorial
above quoted, and declared for such re-
adjustment Of the State debt as would rem
der IL possible for the State to pay her in
terest without increasing her taxes. This
policy was carried out by the Legislature
when it adopted the McCUlAecH bill.
We stand by our editorial Of 1877. There
Is nothing Ia 1t which we wish to retract or
alter. We kave not changed our position
in the least. We never expressed willing
ness to repudiate any OF The public debt.
The only scheme OF rekddustment now
before the public ought TO be called q repu-
sdiation scheme; and this Is the RIDDLE
BERGER bill. We are ready and willing to
support any plan Of readsastment which
shall secure the approval Of the bondhold.
ers. We are opposed to aByscheme OF re-
rudiatiop, We shall never advocate nor
countenance Nforcible Radjustment,"
which Is euphemism for "eepudiation (" /;
but not much ef eupheniam after all.
Being guided bg the polar-sar Of justice,
e,shall not render ourselves liable to the
charge Of Inconsistency.
-
&arATupp Evpr xS-AryaN Dhiladat.