Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-08-25
BOurbOns and Their Allies.

1t has never been regarded as proof
of wisdom in the ostrich that. when
hOtly pursued, it hid its head in the
sand. The Virginia Bourbons and their
Northern apolOgists are pursuing the
same course. The world knows that.
they are pursued, and deserve to be hnnt-
ed to the death, for being Bourbons-
for utter disregard of the peoples rights,
for shameless dishonesty at elections,
for mean prescription of political oppo-
nents, for persistent endeavor to rob the
school fund Of Virginia, and to close up
the common schools, under pretence of
anxiety for the credit Of the State. When
hotly hunted, these pitiful creatures
thrust their heads into the sand, and
pretend that they are merely debt-pay-
ers. Nobody is deceived, and the Re-
publicans Of Virginia least of all.
By the Republicans of Virginia we
mean the men who are true to Repubi-
can principles. 1t happens that a small
fragment Of the Republican voters. un-
der the influence of Msssrs. Wickham.
Jorgensen and Dezendorf, are serving as
tail to-the Bourbon kite. The Tribune
does not impugn their motives. 1t IS
conceivable that they may be honest In
the tbelief tEat the Bourbon Democrats
are to be preferred Fanatical error some
times does more mischief than deliberate
treachery. 1t is unfortunate for these
men that their business and personal
relations with leading Bourbons, in.
railroad management and otherwise,
supply possible motive for sympathy
which other Republicans do not share.
Certain it is that they are acting pre-
cisely rs they would act if they had been
hired, by hope of financial or other IA
yors, to help the Bourbon leaders. II
their position is greatly misunderstood,
the plain truth is that they are wholly
responsible. The Tribune does not as
sHme that they are acting from improper
motives, but it would be folly to ignore
the fact that they are doing everything
in their power to help the Bourbon Dem
ocracy.
The large majority of Republican Yo-
ters in Virginia oppose he-Bourbons,
resolutely and unsparingly. They say,
as to the debt question, and prove CON
clusively from the acts and declarations
of the Bourbons themselves, that there
is no real difference between them and
the worst of the Readjusters, excepting
that the Bourbon politicians are insin-
eere and dishonest, and strive to hide
their purposes under very fiimsy tricks
of phrase. They resolve that the debt
shall be paid-after the creditors have
been forced to stand another scaling
and that the taxes shall not be increased.
If that means anything, it means that
the school fund is to be robbed, and the
public schools closed. Mr.. Daniel insists
that it does not mean that, and the more
charitable inference is that it means
nothing-that the Bourbons are merely
pretending willingness to pay the State
Indebtedness, but never mean to pay a
cent. No Republican has any reason to
prefer these people, whether they are
merely insincere, and dishonest, or at
heart determined to break up the public
schools.
AS to every other matter at issue, the
duty of the Republicans is plain. The
BOHrbons have tried for years to rob the
people of the right of suffrage, and the
Anti-BOurbOns have defended that
right. The BOurbons have sWiudled at
elections and in the count, and the intiu-
ence of the Anti-Bourbon leaders has
been shown in securing fair count anc
an honest vote. The Bourbons have
suppressed free and loyal public schools,
wherever they could, wishing to have
the children Of the rich brought up in
and to have the children of
the poor deprived of education. The
have steadfastly insisted
upon free popular education, and have
earned the gratitude and confidence Of
by their course.
Yet when Republican voters propose
to hunt down Virginia Beurbonism, all
its Northern partisans cry out that the
only question is one Of debt-paying, and
that the Republicans are repndiatOrs
uftb Cud1 20 VIII HOs ~ IoAs 4uC COI-
duct of the Republican party In Con-
gress. in every Northern State, and in
every Southern State, proves that it is.
heartily in favor of honest payment Of
all public obligations. 1t has been per.
assailed in Virginia and in
every other Southern State, because it
has made or tried to make provision fer
honest payment Of debts, and its record
is established beyond question. The
men who pretend to doubt its fidelity to
the public credit, in State or Nation,
know that they are speaking falsely. II
is their only chance to deceive the peo-
pie as to the real nature of the contest
in Virginia-to save mean, proscrip-
tive and disloyal Bourbonism from over
throw, by falsely pretending that it
means to pay debts. That fraud will
not succeed The Republican party gives
its hearty sympathy to the men who
propose to put Bourbon Democracy un-
der the sod. and prays that they may
Y. Tribune.