Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-01
FRIDAY MORNING. APR. /. 1881.

The Republican party has gotten itself
into position as awkward as unexpected.
When the Democrats, after Malone went
over to the Republican side, quietly and,
for the sake of expediting the business of
the nation that they were called to trans
act, promptly acquiesced, the idea took pos
session of their opponents that all trouble
was over; that they could hold caucus,
nominate Riddleberger 1.-THE author of the
bill that cuts the State debt down one
third) in recognition of Mahone's services,
and that his election would be acquiesced
in as promptly as the rest had been. But
instead of the acquiescence came a storm
that was lille apprehended. The Repub-
Hcan party's main grip is the preservation
of the public credit. If Grant saved the
union they saved its credit, so they
claim, though to do this they have taxed
the people Of the United States up to the
throat latch. Their song, day in and day
out, has been that the Democratic party
would wreck the public credit. Their idea
of REIMBURSEMENT at the South is well illus
trvted by letter that was issued during
the last Presidential canvas by ex-Secreta-
ry Hamilton Fish, Levi P. Morton, Mr.
Garfeld's newly appointed minister to
France) Cyrus W. Field, John Jacob AS
tor and men Of like prominence, in which
they said: "Even in the payment of debts
'.contracted by themselves and for their
ssown advantage, Southern communities
shave not been conspicuous for their 6del-
ssity. Can it be expected that they will be
ssmore eager and scrupulous to pay, ac-
sscording to the letter and in any emergen-
s'cy, obligations created in putting down a
rebellion which they made and sustained?
ssThe men who expect such thing will
s'not be thought sagacious by the civilized
ssworld. Nay, more, transfer OF all care
ssof the public credit to party politically
sscontrolled by and dependent upon the
ssSouth will seem to all the world little
ssless than public proclamation that the
sspeople OF the United States are weary of
protecting its credit and paying its debts. -
And now to have to support one of the
very men whose method of paying public
debt the party processes to abhor; and to
have his record and that Of the new lad
ministration Senator" rung in their ears
day after day by the Democrats until the
country is forced to become familiar with
what they are doing, is enough to make
them heartily sick of their bargain. Nor
does their new ally better the matter for
them. Ha replies passionately to attacks
on himself and on his proteSe candidate.
but does not utter one word to show that
his party is not forcibly getting rid of
more than one-third Of the State debt.
One word to that effect would be worth
more to them than all he says for him.
SELF What is he to them compared with
the fall elections? They got him for tenn
porary use and expected to be soou done
with him, if the Democrats had not insisted
that he should be well shaken before ia
ken.
The party is now standing in full view
of the country as political organization,
that stands ready to make any trade with
any party; to ally itself with men whose
principles if carried out would repudiate
the United States debt, and to put aside
all its past professions in order to secure
present success. It is situation that
makes the leaders deadly sick at their po-
litical stomachs and they are showing it
plainly.