National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-11
MAHoNEs MANIFESTO.
what The Press OF the Country Has te Say
Abouf II.


General Nahones manifesto on the Virginia debt
question commands attention throughout the
country: The general tenor of the comment Is
10 is conceded that he makes strong case, and
that, If his statement OF the facts cannot be sue
cessfully contested, he yindicateS himself ana
turns the tables of repudiatiOn upon his Bourbon
opponents.
Down to this point the Virginia controversy has
before the country at large been matter OF cpl
thets General Malone has been ShgmatIZed as q
repudiator; the Bourbons have trumpeted tnenl-
selves as debtpayers; and the country, wltnout
knowledge or inquiry, has suffered Itself 70 De
largely imposed upon. Now this pretenSion is 70
be brought to the crucial test of critical examlna-
ton and absolute proof The time has gone by for
hippant assertion and wanton calumny IL comes
to the exact citation of record to the attest of his
tory, and to the demonstration of deeds. General
Malone challenges the issue, and his antagonists
must unhorSe him on the statement of facts or be
themselves OyerthTown.
The questions as to the selfstyled Bourbon Debt
payers are simply these Did did they not, i'll re-
funding, scale or repudiate portion of the debt?
Did or did they not promise to pay the debt when
they knew the revenues were entirely inadequate
to fulfill their pledges? Did or did they not dis
tinetly and repeatedly refuse to increase the tax,
when an increase of the tax absolutely the
only way of keeping their promises and meeting
the requirements? Do or do they not stand to-day
in favor of readustment of the debt? the precise
position which in their opponents they denounce
as reputation. General Malone says they dld ana
do just these things. This is question of fact 1t
is susceptible of direct and conclusive proof from
the records. If General Malone is right in his
statements the Bourbon Debt-payers are branded
guilty of false pretenses Ii he Is wrong let them
bring on the evidence and then he will stand con-
demned.
To keep on denouncing him as the repudiator in
the face of this statement without answering 1t Is
simply puerile 1t is to confess that no answer can
be made. All parties in Virginia agree that the
debt shall not be paid it originally stood. All
parties agree that il must be readjusted to the new
order of things All parties agree that the State
pays as much in taxes as ii will bear. The differ
ence is simply in this, that the BOurbons have
prated about the public honor and protesSed to
pay the debt when they were absolutely refusing
to provide the means and doing nothing; while
the Malone party, oil the other hand, propose to
ascertain and recognize all that they believe TO be
the legitimate debt ofthe State and then faithfully
apply all the surplus revenue. beyond the strict re-
quirement of the government and the schools, to
its payment.
We may hold that Virginia ought TO pay more.
We may think that no party there comes up TO the
true standard. That is a question which stands by
itself But as between the different parties. Gen
eral Malone shows that he has been more honest,
direct, and square than those who, with pnarisaic
outcry, have claimed to have more honor than he.
And if this isn't So let have the tangible proof
Don't let US put the brand of chief repudiatOr
upon the wrong party.-PiilddelphiG Press, jan
udJy 10.