National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-22
Senator Johnston Answered.

The Richmond Wing comes to hand
with afive-column reply to the statements
and arguments of Senator Johnston on
Virginia affairs. We regret that we can
not publish it entire. 1t completely de-
molishes the false arithmetic and the
feeble reasoning based upon it which
cost the Virginia Bourbon Senator so
much time, paper, and ink. As the dis
cussion progresses, weshall draw from the
Hhig's magazine of facts, and, made up as
they are from the record, they will be
found unanswerable.
Senator Riddleberger's interview and
statement, which we publish this morn
ing, enters largely and carefully into
these matters, and we commend it to the
careful perusal of all who desire correct
information He makes it clear that the
assessments are honest and nearer by
thirty-fye per cent. to the value esti-
mated by the United States for census
purposes than are the assessments of any
other State in the Union.
The value of Senator Johnston's state
is stated by Mr. Riddleberger, that IN es-
timating the revenues of Virginia he for
got or did not understand the necessity
for stating the cost of their collection, or
the delinquences in the payment of taxes.
This exactly accounts for the sum he
thought Senator Malone had understated.
Again: Senator Johnston thinks fifty
cents on the hundred dollars ought now
to realize as much as forty cents did
before the war But he failed to recog-
nize the destruction of over $l5O,O0O,OOO
of property in slaves, or the depreciation
of real property He also neglected to
notice the abolition of the mill tax on
railroads, that formerly yielded great rev.
enues also the loss of the States share
of bank dividends. The Funder Senator
cited the receipts of 1879 80 asproof that
the revenues would exceed General
Mahone's estimate, Ordinary fairness
would have prompted him to say that of
these receipts about 100000 was from old
arrears, forming no part of the current
and usual revenues.
The Fundcr Bourbons have madly
appealed to the Republicans to keep
their honor unstained by running a
straight ticket in Virginia this year, in
stead of leaving the main body of Repub
lican voters free to vote as they would
prefer to do-for the Readjuster Liberals.
This they urge in behalf Of the good
name of the Republican party. The old
shell-back, moss-covered BourbOns are
so afraid that our radical party will be
tainted with Reputation that they cannot
sleep Of nights. But the few tools they
use for this business will be unable to
stop the mighty rush Of the political
waters toward union of liberal voters.
The shams of the bogus "debt-
payers" have been exploded by
General Malone. The official reply of
Senator Johnston has been riddled by
Riddleberger and cut into mince-meat
by the Wing. The Readjusters have
proven their case before the world as
honest men, with clear and honest pur-
pose, both in State and national affairs.
The Republicans of the North cannot
but admire their pluck, and trust their
patriotism. They can be trusted as neigh
bors and friends, and with a fair field
against the Bourbons they will establish
law and order in Virginia, satisfy public
creditors, and be the entering-wedge in
" the solid South" Let us aid them to
this result, and trust to the future to put
all true men into one national cause.