National Republican., 1881-08-08
The Virginia Bourbons.

The old, original, only, dyed.in-thc-
wool, yard-wi Virginia Bourbon goods
were on display in the late so-called Con
servative Democratic State Convention -
at Richmond. And here a few recollec-
tions as to names. These proud Bourbons
are not as fearful of the use of the name of
Democracy" as they were for some time
after the war. The collapse of the confeder-
acy was not well calculated to strengthen
the old leaders, who had brought on
the war, and they purred coneiliatorily
under the gentle name Of "Conserva-
tives." 1t was their desire to have it
understood that they were non-parti-
sans" bent solely on promoting the best
interests of the State and accepting the
Bituations-if any were to be had. They
wanted the votes of native whites who
were tired Of and disgusted with the
Democratic leadership, which had
stupidity thrown slavery into the
flames of civil war and burned it
up, leaving the Nation under the political
control of the Republican North. If
there was anything these Conservative
managers wanted particularly understood
it was that they were not recognizing
the Democratic party. They wanted the
General Government to understand that
theirs was new DEAL and that they
need not be watched, as they would have
TO be if they were really the Democracy
"of the old kind, brass-mounted." If
they were to be suspected of Democracy
sy,o L., 4. Il. 4
not be in their Federal relations. In those
affairs their hearts rather inclined to the
/ Radicals-that is to say, in Il conservative
way. They favored conservative
policy by the Republicans-a sort
Of mild fierceness on the part
of the General Government To-.
ward the States. They would oppose
the Republican party, but they were not
Democrats. These thin DISCUSSES, the
wearing of which seemed confession of
the bad repute into which the Demo-
'cratic party of Virginia had fallen, hav-
ing been worn somewhat threadbare,
have now been patched with the real old
Bouf Oon Democratic cloth. The State
convention at Richmond adopted plat
form in which the party holding tits thus
described: THE Conservative Demo-
cratic party of Virglnia-democrat in
its Federal relations and conservative
in its State policy"
The old, worn-out phrases in which the
convention recites some portions of the
bill of rights and advocates honest men
for Office is about as explicit as was the
reply of Bird-o'- Freedom Sawin, candi-
date for the Presidency in lS4S, who
authorized his friends to say that Oh the
much-agtated subject of slavery he was
"right."
But on the questions upon which the
people of Virginia are divided the plat.
form is most interesting. The Bour.
bons smitc themselves on their breasts
and thank God they are not as other men
on the question Of the State debt-no,
not even as their poor, wicked Read
juster neighbors But let us see how
they differ. They condemn reputation
in every shape and form" The usual
word "manner" Immediately after the
word "shape" was probably omitted un.
Intentionally. They will endeavor to Sc
cure q settlement Of the public debt, and
they favor uniiying the same so that all
creditors may be treated alike. This
is a reflection upon their own legislation
which unjustly discriminates between
the holders of different classes of indebt.
edness. 1t should be remembered that
The Bourbons have thus far had their own
way in legislation, the Readiusters hay
ing been unable to secure the Bourbon
Governors approval to any measure Of
theirs. The platform declares that "the
several classes of the debt now existing
should be unified, SO that equality, which
is equity, may control in the annual pay
ment of the interest and the ultimate
payment of the principal" The holders
of Virginia bonds do not complain Sc
much of inequality in the payment by the
Virginia Bourbon Funders Of the annua
interest as Of the painfully equal manner
in which they are all cheated by the failure
in payment. The platform-makers are NJ
good at refunding their promises to tho
people as they are az rciunding debt anC
interest. They say eve will use all tho
lawful and constitutional means in oui
power 10 secure settlement upon the
basis Of three per cent bond,' Thos,
means may be supposed to be the con
sent and manipulatiohs ION commission
of Hugh McCulloch and his brazen brood
of brokers. But the dear old Bourbon
check comes up most smiling when /