New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-08-04
PRICE -FOUR CENTS
THE VIRGINIA BOURBONS.

PbRsoSS NAMED FOR LEADERS ~ FIGHT
AGAINST MAHoNE-THr PLATFORM suDJEcr oF
UNEASY THoCGHT-ExPEDIENCY To HAVE oRRAr
wEiGHT-THE COLOR LINE.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUSHl
RICHMOND, Va, Aug. Sit now takes Yankee
ilve hours, instead of fonr years as formerly 70
make voluntary journey from Washington to
hlchmond The railroad passes through one Of the
poorest portions Of Virginia in agricultural
sense, although it is rich in historic interest and
reminiscence all the way from Fort Runyon. oppo-
site Washington, TO the capital Of Virginia and of
the late COnfedcracy. Most of the visible traces of
The War have disappeared in the intervening sixteen
years. The ruin of occasional earthwork tn.
wei-kept National cemeteries and the cerneteries
sometimes well kept, like that at Hollywood bnt
more often neglected. like that az Oakwood-in
which repose the remains of the thousands of Con-
federates who died were killed in and around
Richmond; the fine statue of Stonewall Jackson in
Capitol-square, and the mementoes gathered i'm
the Capitol itself; these about the only remind
ers OF the tremendous struggle which snrged
around Richmond for four wears
There is other however which should NOT bs
forgotten; one which thousands Of Union soldier.
and their friends are not likely TO forget-Libby
Prison. Ii is prison no longer although its win
dows are still guarded by the heavy iron bars he
hind which so man brave men watched anxiouslv
and waited wearily and hungrily for the hour Of
relief. The building is in state of great decrepi-
buhc, anu tue aftike0 TO It. which dpclare
that "a any person caught defacing this building
viii he punished according TO law are keen al
belt an unconscious satire. IL may interest Union
veterans who involuntarily visited Richmond and
endured the inhospltalties of this gloomy building
TO know that it IS used as a manufactory by
the " Southern Fertilizng Company" which is do
ing large business in the way turning out fertil
izers, much needed tonic for the exhausted soJ
IN many parts of Virginia.
Richmond is rapidly assuming importance as a
manufacturing centre. Extensive iron works of
various kinds tobacco factories Touring mills COON
erage shops, manufactures of agricultural imple-
ments etc. are in full operation aud all appear to
be doing 1ourishing business. The merchants I'm
general trade say that their business good. Some
public improvements are under way and Others more
important are projected. Altogether the material
prospects of the city appear to be excellent and
Richmond is said to be yearly losing of its pro-
vincal character, and perhaps also some of its dis
tlnctive characteristics as typical Southern city,
TIE POLITICAL POT ALREADY BOILING.
The political pot beginning TO boil and the in
dications are that the summer and fall campaign
will be hot and bitter one in spite of the fact that
only State officers and Legislature are to be elected
The Legislature TO be chosen will elect a United
States Senator to succeed Mr. Johnston and this fact
will lend additional interest and vgor 10 the contest
Besides 1t is conceded on all hands that the coming
election must definitely decide what shall be the final
action of the State in regard 10 its public
| debt. The Ant-Bourbons or Readjusters are gen.
orally admitted 10 have gained something by putting
their ticket in the field early. Their candidates for
| State officers and seven eight other prominent
speakers, including Riddleberger Captain Wise. a
son of the late Henry AWise, and Congressman-eect
| Paul. began a canvass of the State month ago. and
have already visited most of the counties IN South
westerIs Virginia, There have also been some meet
ings held in important towns in other parts of the
/ State, and the reports published in The Hhi0.
the AniBOurbon organ, indicate that these gather
| ngs have been generally large and enthusiastic
The BourbOns or Conservatives as they like to be
called declare on the other hand that the Anti
Bourbon meetings have been insignificant in attend
ance and devoid of enthusiasm.
The fact that the Bourbons have felt il wise in
advance of the nomination Of their own ticket. to
send speakers into the field TO meet and divide
time" with the anti-BourbOn orators leads one 20
suspect that the latter have met with greater en-
| couragement than their opponents are willing to
admit.
BoURBoNs DISCUSSING THEIR PLATFORM.
The Bourbon or Conservative State Convention is
to be held in this city tomorrow and a good many
of the delegates and several candidates are already
on the ground. Much quiet canvassing in behalf of
the various candidates has already been done and
there have also been much thought and discussion
bestowed by the leaders upon the subject of plat
form. The latter problem has been the most diff
cult and il is putting the matter mildly to say that
the leaders have been in very great perplexity over
it. They have been considerably divided in opinion
two points; first, TO what position il would be
expeiient TO take regarding the State debt and
second, as TO whether it would not be expedient to
advocate an amendment TO the Consultation SO "a
not 10 require the payment of capitation tax IA
prerequisite to voting. Among the leaders are some
strong men who believe that Virginia is amply able
to pay all her outstanding obligations and who as
matter of principle advocate full payment; while
fIora 10Th rlaoA H. oil
willing TO adopt the Rddleberger bin itself in
order they express it, ito take the wind out of
the sails" of their opponents 1t is probably not IN
fair to express the Judgment after talking with Con-
servatves of all shades of opinion on this subject
that in whatever position is taken the majority viii
be governed by questions of political expediency;
and the same may be said of the other question of
the capitation tax.
Last night member of the committee to which
the work of preparing platform had been confded
said 1--WE will declare in favor of paying every
dollar of the $33, 100000 that the State owes and
in favor of unfying the debt, that there will be
preferred holders and difference in the rate of
interest, n reduction of which rate, however We
will favor We will not favor the Constitutional
amendment 70 abolish the payment of the capltatiop
tax a prerequisite TO voting"
SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR.
As for the Gubernatorial nomination. " the woods
are full Of candidates and dark horses" Few of
the men whose names one hears mentioned are
known outside of Virginia. One Of the most promi-
nent candidates is ex-Congressman John Goode Of
the Norfolk District. Mr.. Goode was a member of
the Convention which passed the Virginia ordi-
nance of secession, and voted for it; he
served in the Confederate Congress from