National Republican., 1881-08-08

u - -
resolves " that THE. CONSERVATIVES DEMO-
CRATIC PARTY PLEDGES ITSELF, AS PART OF
ITS POLICY, NOT TO INCREASE THE PRESENT
RATE OF TAxAuoNw
We had feared that in their too utter
honesty they might raise the taxes. We
knew, as all the world knows, that the
present rate of taxation runs the State
behind something more than million n
year, and that the present rate of interest
on what is recognized by Bourbon legis-
lation as the public debt has TO go un-
paid. There seemed but one way to cure
this wrong on the creditors, and that was
for somebody to pay the interest. AS the
present rate of taxation fails, as already
remarked, to meet the exigcncy, that rate
had to be increased, or some kind friend
would have to pay the deficit. That
friend has been found. It is the Con-
servative Democracy. No more repudia-
ton and no increased taxation. They
will pay more, but will not call on the
people for the additional sum they agree
TO pay. Then, of course, they intend 20
pay it themselves. Generous souls!
The Conservative Democrats of Vir-
ginia omitted all mention of the whip
ping-post and the capitation tax as in
struments of disfranchiscmcnt of voters.
So far as they have the power they will
maintain both of these Bourbon monu-
ments of tyranny and defiance of the
Fifteenth Amendment. They will con-
tinue to forever disfranchise any voter
who may be convicted of any public
otlcnsc, however slight, and punished by
the whip, thereby making it possible in
any ncgro-hating community to make a
wholesale disfranchisement of the blacks
upon pretense that they have stolen
melons and made assaults.
AS to the copitation tax as Quali6ca-
tion for voting, it is plain and deliberate
violation of the conditions upon which
Virginia was readmittcd to the Union.
The act of Congress admitting the State
was accepted by the people of Virginia,
and their honor is pledged to fulfill its
conditions. A reference to it will show
that the State re-entered the Union on
the express condition that she should
never deny the ballot to any qualified
citizen except for crime. The Fourteenth
Amendment provides for reduction of
representation where the suffrage is re-
stricted for other causes than crime, and
a State which has not agreed to the con-
| trary may make such restriction and pay
the penalty in reduced representation ;
but Virginia has tied her hands against
any tax qualification for voters by assent
ing to the act of admission.
On Wednesday the Republicans will
speak. The delegates to their State con-
vention have already been chosen. II is
well settled that the Liberal ticket of
Cameron, Lewis, and Blair is to be in
dorsed. There will be u cluster of bogus
delegates at Lynchburg, pretending TO be
claimants of seats, but only intended to
serve the purpose of confusion and mu-
tiny. OF course they will bluster, and
wrangle, and worry, and most likely
there will be bullying and buying by
Bourbon Democratic emissaries on the
outside: but they can do no harm to any
but themselves. The issue in Virginia
is between law and order and free
dom Of elections on one side, and reac-
tion, reprisal, and revenge on the other.
The Bourbons want to get even with
those who prevailed in the war. Under
confederate leadership they will be beaten
by a.unon of Liberal Readjuster Demo-
Gratis and Republicans. 1t is to be hoped
that egitimately- elected delegates to the
Lynchburg convention who are opposed
to coalition will not give any countenance
to disorganizers who present credentials
having no claim to regularity. Let every
thing be done decently and in order.
---e-
In q speech favoring thepayment of the
national debt in greenbacks, delivered at
1878, Major Daniel, the Bourbon candi-
date for Governor Of Virginia, said: THE
bondholders of the. e.United States, through
these transactions, were aggrandized in
three ways: First, by getting the enor-
nous sum of 81 on, $4,000 for nothing, save
the risk they took upon the survival ofthc
country; second, by getting interest in
coin, and third, by obtaining exemption
of this immense property from taxation.
For be it remembered that United
States bonds are exempt from taxation,
and that those best able to bear them share
not at all in the burdens to be borne"
In the event ofthe success of the Bour-
bon ticket, Major Daniel will probably
succeed the Hon. John w. Johnston in
the United States Senate.
JonN w. DANIEL the Bourbon candidate
for Governor Of Virginia and staff officer
Of Jubal a, Early in war and in politics.
denounced President Garfield in the last