The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-02-24

The Situation.
We publish on our first page letter ad-
dressed by Hon. j. F. Lewis, Chairman of |
the Republican State Committee, to Gen. |
Garfield, and on our inner form, an inter- |
view between Judge R. w. Hughes and |
Hon. Simon Cameron, both giving outlines |
OF what should be the Republican policy in
the approaching State campaign. Judge
Hughes.lik our correspondent of last week
who wrote over the signature OF "Republi-
can Debt-Payer," claims to be in favor of
meeting the obligations OF the State upon
terms acceptable to the creditors, without
controversy or hesitation. Mr.. Lewis has
been nominally Re-adjuster, but in no
sense repudiationist, and does not accept the
policy Of forcible re-adjustment nor approve
the more prominent idea presented by these
several writers, there is perfect harmony, as
there is In the entire Republican party. On
the isolated issue of the restoration OF the
State Constitution to its original provisions,
corresponding with the constitution and laws
OF the United States, and the reclamation OF
the rights, which, for partizan purposes,
have been abridged and denied by State ac-
tion through the agency of the Democratic
party, there could be no discord in the ranks
Of the Republican party. We are not dis
posed to overlook the vital Importance OF
this issue. 1t should address itself to the
sense of right and justice of every citizen
Of Virginia, and inspire the most earnest
activity in its presentation and defence, and
to its fair and legitimate discussion it is not
our purpose to be unmindful. The ques-
ton involved is an essential part of the
Republican creed, and no one in SYM
pathy with that party can be Indifferent
to it.
1t is not, however, inconsistent with the
advocacy of the interests growing out OF
this issue, for the Republicans of Virginia
to maintain the uniform action of their par
ty upon national and State credit. This
becomes especially pertinent in this canvass,
when the opportunity will be for the first
time presented for them to place themselves
on record, as an organization, in harmony
with the established principles and prac-
tees Of the National Republican party as
1t respects the debt obligations of the State.
Since the debt issue has been prominently
discussed in State contests, the Republi-
cans as party have presented no formal,
tangible line of policy in relation to it.
They have been as widely divided as have
been their political opponents, not so much
really upon the merits or dement's OF the
various propositions to adjust and dispose
Of the debt controversy, as with view to
opening the way for an suspicious opportu-
nifty to have restored to the people of the
Commonwealth the rights which have been
unjustly and wrongfully taken from them
for partizan ends.
There are now two Democratic organiza-
tions contending for supremacy, each COM
mitted to a line of policy as it affects State
credit. that the Republicans as party can
not endorse, without divorcing themselves
from the principles and practices of the ma
tional organization. The Re-adjusters have
frankly announced their purpose in the bill
passed by the Legislature and vetoed by the
Governor, known as the Riddlebergel
plan. That openly proposes to take from
the creditors about s12, 100000, which We
believe honestly belongs to them. 1t is moi
our purpose to discuss this measure, for oul
readers are familiar with the nature
of the proposition. 1t is, however, sup
ported by a policy that we think is in
finitely more Objectionable and reprehensi
BILE than the bill itself. To justify its pro
visions and to excuse its delinquencies,
shameful reduction Of property assessment
has been effected to sustain a plea OF pow
erty that does not exist, and an extravagan
and unfounded estimate of tax charges re
sorted to, to exaggerate the burdens which
bear upon the people. These two latter de
vices have been availed of to reconcile the
public judgment to the former-each al
: integral part of the policy to despoil thu
creditor, and yet not revolt the moral sens
Of the people; for an actual decrease OF prop
erty values, such as the re-assessments repre-
sent and an actual weight of obligation
such as the charge to the tax account o
$7,000,000 revenues collected under the in
ternal revenue laws, principally from whis
ky and tobacco, might operate as an excus
for cutting down debt, which we woult
be thus demonstrably unable to pay. /
would simply be a policy looking to thu
preservation of the life of the State
But even were this assumption correc
the more commendable and honorable
course would be to make an exhibit to tn
creditors, and ask for REIMBURSEMENT con
sistent with the facts and the sense of Sc
curity which would at once address itself tt
their understanding. But the assessment
bf 1881 do not represent the true wealth Of
the State, and hence the plea of poverty
by reason Of that false. The internal rev
enue tax collected off of whisky and tobac
co is not proper charge to the tax accoun
against the State, and consequently tn
burden it implies does not weigh upon thu
people.
The ''debt-payers," so called, or Fun
ucIB, ia buclI IcCCut duuICSSs W UO AOuA
elsewhere in this issue of the VIRGINIAN
have deliberately abandoned all pretensiol
Of fairness in the settlement of the ques
ton at, issue; have substantially endorsed ant
approved the policy adopted by the Read
justers in. their representation of the decreas
ed values Of the Commonwealth and the col
traction of the resources for tax purposes
) ,end attempt to shift the whole controversy
from the debt question to an issue between
the white and black races. They thus sur
render their much Wanted integrity, ant
align themselves with a reputation senti
ment much more palpable and inexcusabl'
than that embodied in the plan OF the Re
adjusters. This latter faction claim that the
State.does not owe more than 800, 100000 ant
that she is not able to pay more than pc
cent. interest on this amount This the.
agree and pledge themselves to pay. Th
other faction have denounced them as re
pudiators-have heretofore contended TO