The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-27

not dreamed OF DIV tnOSe WHO are Ciitt-
t-ring about public mendicancy. as a
false excuse for ali open, palpahlr, fla-
grant reputation OF $l3 900. 900 Of just and
honest debt.
The Work Before Us.
The time has come for the Republicans
Of Virginia not only to vindicate their de-
votion to the State, but free themselves
from the charges which are daily heralded
against them Of having caused the present
complications arising from the debt qnes-
tion. To escape the responsibility OF the
leplorable condition into which the DEM
,cratic party has brought the Common
wealth. the newspapers of that persuasion
ire constantly reirerating the falsehood that
the Republican party has be en- the instiga
ror of al the ills to which Virginia is heir
1t requires a very brief reference to the
past to stamp such all-gati ons as they de
-erve to BE-. pit" 1877, it WAS considered
treason to the Conservative party todiscnss
he question of the stare debt before the
people. In every contest that was made
from 1869 to 1877, the only prominent top
cs which were brought to the attention "f
The voters were the negro. the capet-ba
YER aud the scalawag.' aud negro rul"
South arolna and Louisiana Instead
Il dressing themselves TO home affairs
LEWIS ng ways aud means t" meet the "i'li-
cations of the Commonwealth and protect
IN. public credit. the passions of the people
we're in1amed by appealing to race pr'J'l-
| Ices and sectional hates, that the power 81
| hat party might be perp'tutte'l. IL III IL
| rerr,l not thai tn public r. venues were >hor
each YER from 6)1.00l L" sS00.00o that tie
| l,fault in interest was an annual rrc' rd
| that the public schools were de- ca, lug
| hlt reputation stared the people in the
ice, as IL r-snlt of such party madness
vet it was ersistrd in as the only means
IF preserv ny the life of party that had
neither principle nor policy. us it affected
he welfare OF the state. To guide 1t. Ia
1877 tie Rep ,blicans determined. ii posi-
H.. To put ii stop to tn = folly to arrest this
fatal polic,, and to do sn determined to re
tire from the ii Ill as an organiZaton-and
force the settlement of the debt question.
rhis determination was carried into effect
But the result they desired has not as yet
Ieen attained. Although the Legislature.
| the Governor, tile Courts, and all the ma
,.hinery and pa ronage of the State Govern
nrnt have been in the unchallenged control
Of the Conservative party. the debt qaeS-
| ton is IA far from settle ent to-day as II
was in 1877. with one faction of that party
openly proelaming its purpose TO repudlate
| $1,000 600 of what is justly due the cred
| itors, and the other faction hesitating
whether it will accept such proposition.
or even strike deeper and more fatal blow
at the credit and honor of the Common
wealth. In no way. shape or form is the
| Repu lican party responsible for this condi-
ion of things. As an organization it has
never had any authority to assert which
could in the least determine the question in
controversy or shape legislation affecting ii,
and it is the most tiagrant gratdity for the
Democratic press to attempt to shift the
| responsibility from their OWE shoulders to
those of the Republicans.
We now propose different policy, in
view of the utter hOpelessness of IA final and
satisfactory disposition of the debt issue
through the in>trumentality Of the Demo
pratic party, or either of its factions. We
propose. through the Republican organiza-
ton. to force a seHi M. MT of this matter
and to force il in such manner and upon
such terms as will prove alike honorable I"
the State and acceptable to the creditors.
We believe the ime and he circ INSTANCES
ire ripe for the inIerpp>iii"n OF the Rrpub-
| Ii AN party to save the Commonwealth
from the blighn IF rrpudiat on, vlndIcate tl'
| ii itlIty of the Republicans to the wrlfar.
# the State. AS well AS their devotion /"
the settled pole, of the national orglniza-
lion. If the contamination We drsle i, moi
realized. aid the debi question finally. h"il-
'rabl, aud forever disposed of. then the r. :
| -ponslbilitN will have to resi- with those VII"
,ref-r 81 subordinate the welfare of tn,
Commonwealth to par lzan hates. and ia
,ite untold wrongs upon the people rathei
| han surrender their race r.i'nlceS. TIN
| Republicans have been b,.lirI and Il. :
BOUNCED long enough for thu sins If ll
Democratic parry. anl they propose no"
Is. bring heir l"id pr"fes-"n- for Iirgni,
'onor to Ii- test and force Them To prove
their faith hy their ks.
The debt question must be settled or W.
| gina will halt ir her career of d..vtl ,p-
nemt /; aud W can see no way Ia effect thai
| ty The work is before Us and if our advice
mas amy weight with the constituent ele
ments of the party, it will be taken hold of
With full purpose TO bring it to success
| fnl and honorable is-ue.