The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-07-07
The Virginia Readjusters.

The general interest in the Readjust-
ers' party and movement in Virginia is
not surprising. The Bourbon rule
throughout 1.-The South is virtually q
mere dogged resistance to the influences
which would restore the prosperity OF
that part of the country. The primary
and essential condition of sectional har-
mony is fair play, and especially a free
vote and an honest count in the South
ern States AS long as it is known that
"the South" is kept "solid'' by Demo-
cratic fraud and violence in order to
control the 1873 Electoral votes, which,
with those of two or three Northern
States, would give the Southern Demo-
Gratis control of the Government, so
long our National politics must be re-
dictionary and sectional. This situation
also injuriously affects all minor politics
by necess.tating strict party discipline
to insure success in the general cleo
tion. How to change this situation,
therefore. has long been the problem.
The reasons why citizens of the South
ern States do not care to ally themselves
with the colored citizens under the Re-
publican name have been obvious Yet
IL was plain that the color line must
mark the division between the parties
so long as dishonest elections were the
Democratic policy. But whenever q
party of white native citizens should ap-
pear in any State honestly resolved to
protect and befriend the colored vote,
instead of ostracizing aud suppressing
it, chance for political breakup
would be opened.
This is precisely the chance which
the Readjusters' party in Virginia offers.
1t takes its name from n proposition to
re-adjust the old State debt by assum-
ing two-thirds of it, and leaving the
other third to West Virginia, providing
for the payment of the interest equally
to all holders, at a rate which the reve-
nues of the State will warrant. This is
Reputation just so far as the rate which
the revenues will warrant differs from
the rate pledged. The duty of the
State is to make the revenues warrant
payment according to the pledge. This
can be done only by taxation; but the
Bourbon party, while denouDcing the
Readjusters, does not propose the nee
essary increase of taxation. In thissit-
uation, and to secure the support of the
colored voters, the Readjusters propose
to repeal the capitation tax, which has
disfranchised great numbers of the
poor colored citizens, to defend free
vote, and TO secure a fair count. In
other words, the party proposes to give
the colored citizens fair play. As the
Readjusters are composed large OF
1.-THE plain people," they are naturally
very strong, and the attraction which
they offer to Republicans, especially
colored Republicans, is very powerful.
1t is an alliance of the kind which has
been long foreseen as the only kind un-
der which the "solid South" is likely to
dissolve, offering an alternative which
has been presented to Republicans in
many Southern Congressional districts,
of foregoing the honest financial policy
of the Republican party in order to Sc.
cure other advantages which seem to
many such Republicans much more
pressing.
The Readjusters' platform contains a
cordial and liberal resolution to
strengthen the general good under
standing of the country by honestly
maintaining equal rights, and by prom
ising hearty welcome and perfect
liberty of every kind to all who choose
to throw in their fortunes with those Of
Virginia. 1t is frank and significant
declaration, which no Democratic plat
form in the Southern States has con-
tanned, and the conduct of the Read
justers has not belied their words
They are Democrats who voted for Han
cock, but who have broken with the
regular State organization of their
party; and while there is undoubtedly
the usual proportion of self-seeking and
hypocrisy among them which are famil-
lar in all parties, they show a practical
sympathy with the fundamental Re-
publican policy of honest elections
which contrasts most favorably with the
action of the Bourbon Democrats. who
are certainly no less selfish, and infinite
ly more reactionary. The letter of u
late correspondent in Missouri, an ex-
Confederate soldier, says plainly that
the essential significance of the Read
juster movement is not financial, but
political. 1t is the insurrection of the
younger Southern voters, who are
weary and impatient of a domination
which paralyses "the South" and rs
the debt question has become subordi-
nate, it can hardly be doubted that the
Readjusters who welcomed colored
delegates to their Convention, and
nominated anNold Union man and Re-
publican as Lieutenant Governor, will
have a strong Republican support as
the best practicable policy in the actual
situation.-HGrper's Weekly.