Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-10-07

WEST VIRGINIA AN EMPIRE OF WEALTH,

At an interview in Chicago Monday,
Hon. James q. Blaine expressed himself
on the subject of Mahoneism more freely
and forcibly than he has hitherto done IN
any public utterance. He said: 81 have
not seen Nirginian for months, nor have
| written word 10 the State. AT the
same time il is due To frankncss that L
should express my entire sympathy with
the straight Republican movement In that
State
"You are opposed, then, to the Malone
movement?"
.'Yes. and always have been. think
it was great political blundcr 10 unite
the Republican party with the Readjust-
ers. The Republican party has always
been devoted To upholding the public faith
and this fact contributed powerfully to
the victory of 1850. To turn right around.
and join the population wing OF the Vir-
yinia Democracy seemed 10 me the last
degree of folly for the Republicans"
'What would YOU have advised in 1881,
when the split came in the Virginia De-
mocracy?"
~ would have advised, and did advise
so far rs il was my business, that the Re-
publicanS all hold to their own standard,
and not become complicated with any
theories OF reputation. la that way good
men of all parties would have been drawn
To us
GLOW was the Garfield cabinet on the
cabnet?" qucrel the reporter.
Divided" said Mr.. Blaine. "Divided
about rs evenly as seven men can be di-
yided on the question. and therefore no
positive or effective thing was done In the
| early stage II. the campaign, and the trag-
edy of July removed IL from considera-
ton"
"Nyhv do YOU think Virginia should not
Ge expected to pay the whole debt rs other
States have donc!"
"Principally because she was torn and
dismcmbercd by the war. and her ability
to pay was very greatly impaired. No
other State of the Confcdcracy suffered rs
Virginia did. No other State was mutilat-
ed AS she was. West Virginia, which
was torn from her In the violence OF war
rs a war measure, is M empire of wealth
lost forever To the old State. No equal
area in this country is SO rich in natural
resources as West Virginia. Its people
desire the ncw State and shonld have II,
but the loss to the old State Is very great"
"What do you think will be the end OF
it all?"
Il do not kLow," said Mr.. Blaine, "but
| should be glad To see the general gov
ernment aid Virginia In some practical
way in settling her debt. When we were
at war with Mexico and dismembe rcdher
territory we made her an allowance Of
many millions of dollars, and | think we
could afford to be equally just and gener-
! Gus TO one of our own States that we us
membercd for our own advantage"
Would thar not strike the country rs q
novel propositiony" wv
"lt might, but its novelty would not
impeaCh its Justice" said Mr.. Blaine.
"Anothcr consideration would weigh
powerfully with me, and that Is the fact
# Virginia's cession Of all the nortl.
west territory for the common veal nearly
hundred years ago. have thought OF
| this matter a great deal since the debt agi-
tation began in Virginia last year. l have
asked myself why Virginia alone OF all
the ConfcGcratcs States should be made to
suffer dispoiment and ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
That which would bring lasting relief and
prosperity To Virginia would be the verIest
trihe for the general government TO con-
| Cedc."
"Do you think West Virginia ought TO
pay share of the debt?"
"Undcr all the circumstances do not,
nor do ! believe there Ia n State In the
Union situated as w. Virginia Is that
would assume aay portion Of the Virginia
! dehS You must remember that we dill
not erect the State Of West Virginia 10
| obligc the inhabitants. We did IL as a war
measure for the benefit Of the whole
Union, and the State of Virginia bore the
! costly sacrifice alone. IL Is not, In my
! judgement, fair or right that Virginia
alone should be made the victim for the
sins of the dead Confederacy."