Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-10-14
THE DEBT OF VIRGINIA.
REASONS WHY Mr., BLAINE's SUGGESTIONS
SHOULD DE ACTED ON.
1, ~ Nax, yo,t Mail and Evnraes

REASONS WHY Mr.. BLAINE's SUGGESTIONS
SHOULD BE ACTED ON.
From the New York Mail and Express.
Hon. Alexander r. Boteler, of West
Virginia, talked with Mail and Express
reporter, in the rotunda of the windsor
Hotel to-day, about the debt question OF
the Virginias, ard the work OF the Tariff
Commission, of which Mr.. Boteler is a
member. The condition of the Old Do
minion and her offspring being what was
nearest the old Virginian's heart, the
conversation was principally upon that
subject, Mr.. BOtelcr saying: ""rhe propo-
sition of James q. Blaine to take large
sum from the National Treasury and help
the Virginians out of the debt difficulty
is, in my opinion, 4 reasonable and just
proposition, springing from a disinterest-
ed, laree-hearted man. Mr.. Blaine has
been down in our State and among our
people. He has seen their simplicity and
their earnestness, and l believe that he
his made the proposal aJ what must nave
been good deal of sacrifice to his polltlc-
nj prospects. DO not know how the peo-
pie have criticised the idea, but | believe
it must make Mr.. Blaine somewhat un-
popular in the North as well as in some
of the Southern States"
TsDo YOU not think it would be showing
TOO much favOritiSm towards Virginia, or
nerbaps that if it were done other States
would make 4 demand on the National
Treasury" suggested the reporter.
"From my way of thinking | should
say emphatically, no. And why? Be
cause Virginia and West Virginia have
not had anything to speak of heretofore.
The vast grants that have been given 10
other States by the national government,
either directly for educational purposes
or indirectly to the railroads, have been
of great benefit. Then, again, Virginia
has conceded valuable territory and rights
for the benefit of others as we'll us herself.
But she has derived little benefit. Again,
the way in which the difficulty was ere
ated, by forcing the States apart, is in my
Judgment an argument i'll favor OF the
loan. Virginia never wanted TO leave the
Union. She was forced out, and ut the
convention, when the ordinance of seces-
sion was passed, soon after the Presidents
proclamation, half of the members were
in tears-so Ballard Preston told me-"
''You say IAN argument in favor of the
loan: > would it not be a gift?"
IL
a loan in a different form. West Virginia
has always claimed that she did not owe
any part of the debt, because the money
was expended in internal improvements
in Old Virginia. But leaving this out of
the question, the people of Old and New
Virginia are anxious to pay and will pay
all their debts. What is more they will
be able to pay everything when the re-
sources are developed. These are of i'll
calculable vastncss. West of the Alle@ha-
MES is one mass of coal OF all kinds, mex
hauStable in this generation. In addition
to this there is all the iron ore, rich in
percentage as any found on this continent
that millions of collars of capital may
geek To handle. There is also great wealth
in the richer lumberS that are in this re-
gion-immrnSe trees of cherry and the
different varieties of walnuts which are
fortunes as soon as saved. IOu may
think that | am too sanguine, but l have
seen what have been talking about, and
the resources of the State cannot be over
estimated. Taking these facts in cOnncc-
ton with the revolution that has taken
place in the feelings OF the people, and |
think it makes the future look much
brighter than it ever has done in the his
tory of the State.
Before tue VIII INC YOUNG lliClI Ni'l lIpC
care TO work. Now from force of circum-
stances the public sentiment has changed
10 such an extent that it is considered dis
honorable not to work, From these facts
| reason that a little encouragement from
the national government in the settle
ment of what is most distressing diff
Guilty will do such good that it will not
only benefit Il people who are still too
proud to beg, but will reflect credit upon
the nation
Mr.. Botelcr was urged to talk about the
work of the Tariff Commission, but he
would only say this much: II have been
surprised TO find that the desire for free
trade is prevalent in the North, New
England especially, while in the South
they are all for protection. In New Eng
land the feeling is to take the cash right
out of ones pocket and pay the expenses
of the government, and in the South that
4 tariff for revenue-not for revenue on
", bnt for revenue-slOuld be imposed.
In other words that the revenue necessary
for the government should be raised by Il
protection of those industries which need
nursing, and that such manufacturers
that are able to stand alone should be al
lowed to do so. The farther South We
went the stronger this feeling was. But
YOU must not ask what | think the COM
mission will recommend to the govern
ment, because it would be unfair To OK
press an opinion before all the testimony
has been heard