The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-14
Monday. November i 1888.
Saturday afternoon the dispatches

Saturday afternoon the dispatches con-
veyed to US the information that Virginia
state bonds had declined six per cent 1t
could hardly be called unexpected because
it was but the natural outcome of repudia-
ton success in that state. but it should have
at least the effect of bringing northern re-
publicans to q realizing sense of what they
had done. The same dispatches which
told us of the victory of the regulators
gave news of the election of state ticket
in Minnesota, ticket running on a repu-
tiators platform. In both states the repub-
licans were successful and IN BOTH the only
issue was the refusal to pay just debts. 1t
has generally been esteemed dishonora-
BILE and dishonest thing for great state to
repudiate its debts, simply because it had
the legal power to do so, and it has been
seldom that this power has been exercised:
bat it has been left for the republican party
to adopt that dishonest and dishonorable
method Of securing votes for the sake of
securing to the party one state.
And the bonds of that state drop six per
cent. the moment they are successful.
Virginia had fair name, which all true
Virginians would have given their lives
to see kept untarnished. She had always
held her head high among her sister states,
and claimed position which her many IL
lustrious sons had justly won for her.
But now there has been a republican
victory in that state, and her bonds at
once decline six per cent.
When the war of the rebellion bro Ike
out Virginia seceeded reluctantly, fearful
ly. Her history was the history of the
constitution, and her past was interviewed
with that of the Union. When that war
was over she came back joyfully, gladly,
and her every act since has been free
and eager support of the Union, the con-
stitution and the law. She has been loyal
throughout and has given her best en-
deavor to promote once more an
era of good fellowship through
out the Union. But in the eyes of
politicians she had damning
blot upon her; blot they could never for
give. She was governed wisely and well;
she was mindful of the laws and obedient
to the constitution; she was trying to pay |
her debts. But she was doing all this
under democratic government; it was |
democrats who were showing themselves |
patriotic and loyal. So the republican |
party conspired together as to how it |
could change all this. it said Virginia
must become republican, cost what it may.
Malone had come up in Virginia as
demagogue seeking power For the sake
Of that power he was willing to commit
the state to any policy; himself to advoca
ting any scheme. All he wanted was political
he cared nothing as to the
means by which it was secured. To this
end he advocated a partial reputation of
she state debt, and on that platform
succeeded in electing himself to the
United States senate, although the demo-
rats were strong enough to keep him
rom carrying out his entire desires in the
tate. He went to the senate to find him
elf the possessor of the deciding vote in
hat body. The opportunity suggested
tself at once to both Malone and the re-
publican administration. Ii
He sold his vote to the republicans, and
hey gave him all the aid that the basest !
se of the spoils system could give, to Ma j
one in his attempt to dishonor his native l
tate. The contest was hard fought, but J
was hopeless. The republican admins !
ration did all that any administration +
ould do TO aid reputation Federal e
Ulcers were appointed or dismissed as ]
semed to best advance the cause, and the !
Ill power of republican money and adj c
illustrative influence was turned to the t