Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-03-30
8ailu &enIrbef Jsurnd.
Augusta. Wednesday Hsfaing, March 20.
Mahone's Pos1siop.

NLahone'D Position.
Senator llahone u viryipia having BE-
come prominent figure in politics. it is
we,l to understand his position. The dem
ocrats say he is rebel and repudiator.
whom the republicans have taken to their
arms. That he was . rebel and fought
in the Confederate army is true; that he
II . rebel now in sentiment even, is de-
MED BY him and not believed by the re-
puhlicans Of Virginia. who aided him to
gain the seat. which, he holds in the Sen
ate.
In regard to his position on the debt
question Of Virginia there never has been
any concealment. He has declared his
views plainly on that subject. Quite re-
Gently q . review of the debt question was
published by him, and from that and other
utterances his position upon that subject
IL found as stated in the Philadelphia
Press to be as follows:
"The debt obligations Of Virginia have
never been met since the war. The tax
levied has not sufficed to pay the interest
in full portion has defaulted; the prin-
cipal has remained undiminished and the
unpaid interest has accumulated various
funding bills have been passed which
have only turned the indebtedness over
into new form without making any more
effective provision for it; and 80 the debt
has gone on without the means in the
treasury to meet its requirements. The
explanation given is that the State tax is
not sufficient TO pay the cost of govern
ment and provide for the indebtedness !;
and 1t Is claimed that one of two alterna-
tives must follow-either q readjustment
Of the debt, or such an increase Of the
tax a. will produce revenue enough to
pay the interest and provide a sinking
fund for the principal.
Now all the democratic factions OF Vir-
ginia-both General Mahone's party and
the bourbon faction to which he is opposed
start of in their treatment Of the
debt with the proposition that the resources
Of the State will not bear any heavier
burden and that the tax levy must not be
increased. The bourbous who falsely
style themselves debt-payers have repeat
cdly voted against imposing any higher
rate Of tax. General Mahone's position.
as we understand it. is this He says that
he and his party will accept the debt OF
Virginia as it stood before the war; that.
like all parties in Virginia, they will set
of one third As fairly chargeable against
West Virginia; that they will not recog-
nize the interest which accumulated during
the war on the ground that payment was
rendered and declined; and that they will
acknowledge all the balance as the lawful
debt of the State. And in fulfilling its
obligations, they say that. after setting
aside enough to pay the necessary cost OF
the government and the schools, they will
faithfully apply all the remainder of the
revenues to the public creditor. And
this Is what is meant by readjustment.
In short. General Malone. as he him.
self defines his position. proposes to use
al the available resources of the State,
first to carry on the government as
economically as possible. and next 10
discharge the public indebtedness. It Is
said in answer that he is not right in claim
ing that the resources of the State will not
bear any heavier tax That is fair ques-
ton for examination. But whether he is
right or wrong in this assertion. the bour-
bons equally oppose any increase Of the
tax, and there Is no measure Of justice in
calling him q repudiator while they are
called debt-payers. On the main question
OF not levying any higher tax they agree
and the difference between them is that
he proposes to find out what that tax will
pay and then pay 1t. while they talk in a
vague way about paying the debt without
paying At ALL"
Now whatever opinions outsiders may
have in regard to Mr.. Mahone's stand
concerning the debt Of Virginia. all under
stand that 1t Is simply local issue-like
prohibition or license in some States-and
that the republican party assumes no re-
sponsibility for his acts or speech in re-
gard to IL. II belongs to Virginia to settle
this matter in her own way and she will do
10.
But 1t Is not whether Mr.. Malone has
been . rebel. or what may be his position
in regard to the debt of Virginia. that in
forests the republican party in his case.
II Is that he stands out boldly as former
rebel and democrat in opposition to that
bourbonism which rules the South with
an iron hand. refusing equal rights before
the law and free suffrage to the colored
people. and carrying out its illegal. un.
Just, and barbarous measures by the she'd
ding of innocent blood and terrorism far
more terrible than any which oppressed
ireland complains Of. On this great and
important question. Mr.. Malone agrees
with the republicans and they with him.
and we trust they will stand together until
tha so1id Soufh has been shSffored and