The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-09-15
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 hunted to the death. for being Bour-
hons-for utter disregard of the peo-
ple's rights, for, shameless dishonesty
at elections, for mean prescription OF
political opponents, for persistent en-
deavor to rob the school fund OF Vir-
ginia and to close up the common
schools, under pretense 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-payers. No
body is deceived, and the Republicans
of Virginia least of al. - - r5,--.-si
BY the Republicans of Virginia we
mean the men who are true to Repub- I
tlicans principles. It happens that q
ismaH fragment of the Republican vot-
ers 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 belief that
the Bourbon Democrats are to be pre-
Il
does more mischief than deliberate
treachery. 1t is unfortunate for these
men that their business and persona
relations with leading Bourbons, in
railroad management and otherwise,
supply a possible motive for sympathy
which other Republicans do not share.
Certain it is that they are acting pre-
cisely as they would act if they had
been hired, by hope of financial or 9TH
er favors, to help the Bourbon leaders.
| If their position is greatly misunder.
stood, the plain truth is that they are
wholly responsible. The Tribune does
not assume 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 Democracy.
The large majority of Republican
voters in Virginia oppose the 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-
cere and dishonest, and strive to hide
their purpose under very flimsy tricks
of phrase. They resolve that the debt
shall be paid-a after the creditors have
been forced to stand another scaling"
and that the taxes shall not be in
creased. 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 Bour-
bons are merely pretending a willing
ness to pay the State indebtedness, but
never mean to pay cent. No Repub-
lican has any reason to prefer these peo-
pie, 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 Republicans is plain. The
Bourbons have tried for years to rot
the people of the right of suffrage, and
the Anti-Bourbons have defended thai
right. The Bourbons have swindled al
elections and in the count, and the in
fiuence of the Anti-Bourbon leaders ha'
been shown in securing a fair count ano
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 disloyalty, and to have the chill
dren of the poor deprived of education
The Anti-Bourbons have steadfastly in
. sisted upon free popular education
, and have earned the gratitude and con
, fidence of Republicans by their course
, Yet when Republican voters propose Il
hunt down Virginia Bourbonism, all it
i Northern partisans cry out that thu
only question is one of debt-paying
+ and that the Republicans are repudiat
ors. That charge will not go far. Th,
t conduct of the Republican part,
3 in Congress, in every Northerl
State. and in every Southern
> State, proves that it is heartily in favo
D of honest payment of all public obliga
t tions. 1t has been persistently assaile,
| in Virginia and in every other Southern
{ State, because it,has made or tried t
l make provision for honest payment o
debts, and its record is established be
| yond question. The men who preten'
to doubt its fidelity to the public credit
= in State or Nation. know that they ar
= speaking falsely. 1t is their onl
: chance to deceive the people as to tn
p real nature of the contest in Virginia
= to save mean, proscriptive and dis
. loyal Bourbonism from overthrow, b
T falsely pretending that it means to pa
u debts That fraud will not succeed
e The Republican party gives its heart
u sympathy TO the men who propose t
8 put Bourbon Democracy under the soc
and prays that they may prevail.-h
. ]. Tribune.