Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-15
Placing the Crime Where 1t Belongs.

Governor Holiday. of Virginia, in his
late message to the Legislature OF that
State upon its assembling in Richmond
a few days ago, dwelt with great force
upon the stigma of reputation which
has been fastened upon the Old Domin-
ion, and in plain language he placed the
crime where it rightfully belongs. de
SAYS: Virginia has been accused OF at
tempting the mean crime of reputation.
Il has been charged-the facts here too
have gone into history and will show
that the Federal Government, or the
party directing its destinies, has used It's
patronage, power and money to hurry
her along that rugged and disreputable
way. If this be true, then if there be
any stigma it has been taken from our
commonwealth and fastened upon the
republic, and will be with difficulty, if
ever, erased"
These are words of truth and sober
ness. and they are worthy the careful at
tention of the people of the United
States. There is no doubt that the Fed
eral Government, by its exertions in be-
half of the Malone movement in Vir-
GINA, is directly responsible for the sue.
cess of reputation in that State, and it
is impossible to prevent the good name
of the United States at large from being
more or less affected thereby, even if
more serious consequences do not ensue.
For as Governor Holiday further says:
cit Ghe stigma OF repudiation) will
not disappear, nor die; but will bloom
out sooner or later in unmistakable dis
asters. Representative governments like
ours are based in consent and good faith ;
that faith once broken, the slow and
deadly poison penetrates into every de-
paTtment of the governmental, social,
and domestic being. If there be any
property especially sacred under such a
government, it is a public bond. 1t has
the impress of the States or the Re
publics seal. and its solemn promise to
perform. When broken, the virus of
the breach goes like a Damascus blade to
the seat of life Parties cannot save
either the State or the Republic guilty
of that great crime as well as folly. If
an uprising of the people does not call a
halt, and restore the government to its
ancient ways, then is the steady march
begun along that road where all repub-
lies hitherto have met their fate, Its
days are numbered, and the empire is
almost in sight.
Il cannot be denied that the Governor
of Virginia here expresses warnings of
great import which cannot be hastily dis
missed from consideration on the ground
that they are but the utterances of po-
litical leader, disappointed and embit-
tered over the defeat of his party. Wha'
he says is literally true. The United
States Government stands out to-day in
the eyes of the civilized world the avow-
ed friend of reputation and unfair deal
ing with creditors, and no nation nor
government can maintain healthy ex-
istence under such circumstances.
If the people do not heed the warnings
of Governor Holiday, and, as he sug-
gests, ''call halt and restore the govern
ment to its ancient ways" then, indeed,
are the days of the Republic of our
Fathers numbered. The empire may,
perhaps, not be actually in sight, and we
may continue to be republic in name
for some time yet to come, but it will
not be the republic founded by our fore
fathers, which had sterling honesty,
pure and simple, for its chief corner
stone. When our Republican admins
tration and our Republican Congress
made common cause with Malone and
reputation in Virginia to secure a mere
temporary patty advantage, they inflict-
ed blow upon the credit and fair fame
of the country likely to be much more
serious in its consequences than they
ever anticinated