Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-04
Virginia and Reputation.

sAAhc uV uouDt tiiel VIII tfy III again.
Virginia and Reputation.
The Virginia democratic convention. in session
In Richmond to-day, certainly ought not to 90
wrong for want of proper leadership. The abest
men OF the party are there, many of them occu-
plying commanding positions in the convention,
and many more as interested advisers The one
all-impOrtant subject to the convention the
party and the people OF the state. is the debt
question If the party plants itself upon proper
and honest principles with regard to this issue.
the personnel OF its ticket is matter of COM
parativeiy little Importance. The platform pre-
pared for presentation to the convention. as out
lined in the news dispatches from Richmond
this morning. pledges the party to maintain
the honor and faith of the state: denounces re-
quotation in any and every guse: declares that
tne rapidly increasing resources of the state are
sufiicent to meet the interest on her entire debt
maintain all her institutions and adequately
support the public schools. 1t would indeed be
misfortune to Virginia for the democratic party
which has had control of her affairs for wears to
iail just now in any part of its duty with regard
70 the public debt. 1t would be a crime on the
part OF that party, which should never. and
probably would never. be forgiven by the people
OF the state. Virginia is growing in population
and increasing in wealth. Northern capital is
now almost pouring into the state. to develop
ana build up resources which have hitherto re-
manned untouched and neglected Her mineral
lands are readily finding purchasers New rail-
ROADS are being constructed and factories and
ioundries are being built. Her future now
Aoons bright and promising. but a mis-
s~Ae Oh the people upon the vital
question OF the state debt will blight her pros
poets Just as surely as killing frost withers the
tehder bud The business men of Virginia pro-
Caaiin that the sentiment of the state is nm
sWerVingiy In favor of the payment of the debt
shd that 1t will so assert itself at the coming
election These assurances have been so fire.
quenfly and so vehemently made by the solid
men OF Virginia that capital. prOverbially timd
pas not waited for the final settlement of this
question. but has entered Virginia. trusting TO
The reputed honor of that people to deal fairly by
IT, 1t is especially important for the democrats
TO plant themselves squarely and honestly unon
The payment of the debt, in view of the POSSIBLE
ity of the manipulations of politicians
turning the coming republican convention
into an apparent Endorsement of the readiusters
The people must have fair chance to express
honestly pay the entire debt Should the coali-
uonlsts capture the republican convention then
IL Is TO the democratic platform and ticket alone
that the people can look for maintenance of the
public faith
mere Is no doubt as to what the republican
sentiment oil Virginia is on this question but
may not have an opportunity to declare
"seh- III choosing delegates wherever the
coaii'loiiists are defeated they resort to bolt
ana iorm conresting delegation This is
oe'hS 50 generally done that the action of the
convention VIII probably depend more upon the
compieHioh oil the preliminary organization
tilah upon the opinions of those who really elect
the delegates With so many contrasting dele
CATIONS the advantage of temporary contol
might be used to admit sufficient number to
IN TACT, override the real constituents of the
body. Hence, the democratic convention sboud
give to the people fair opportunity to vote for
paying the debt If they desire to do so and leave
the responsibility with them
III is generally agreed that the next Congress-
should make provision for the erection of new
Executive Mansion exclusively for the residence
OF the President and family. The White House
has served its time as the Executive residence.
FIX
tive business of the government. and. from its
location. is well adapted to that purpose, being
surrounded by the principal government depart
ments. The Presidents family ought to have
more privacy than they can enjoy domicled in
the same building where the President receives
everybody and transacts all his business The
grounds of the Presidential residence should be
rs exclusive and private as those of any private
property Under the present arrangement the
ladies' OF the Presidents family might as well go
INTO a public park for quiet walk as i'm the
white House grounds. which are usually open
10 everybody Congress should appropriate
money Tor the purchase of an eligible site and
the immediate erection Of an Executive mansion
that would afford Comfortable and eommodjous
nome To the Presidents family and ref,ect craa;,
upon TINS great and growing nation. The pres
eht mansion and its appointments are almost a
disgrace. "
The action OF the authorities of WASHINGTON I'm
stopping the erection of telegraph poles and re
quiring wires to be laid underground is
applauded by the New York Herald. and is com
mended as an example TO be followed in that
city.
''B' in another column makes some exce,Ient
suggestions in regard to the proposed Gar
field Memorial Hospital"
The feelings of ex-Surgeon General Hammond
are said TO be quite too deep for woris.-Sprinq-
fesd Republicans
Then why the mischief doesn't he keep still?