The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-14
A Specimen Misrepresentation

"A specimen NllSItlleSOhItIAOA'
4 few days ago we gave for the benefit
OF all concerned the reasons why Virginia
could not pay all OF her debt. The New
York Tribune, instead Of letting its readers
know these reasons, commented upon them
as follows:
Are all Democratic promises made only
TO be broken? Here IS more evidence going
TO show that they are. Before the recent
elections the Bourbons in Virginia could
hardly find words TO express the horror
they iel, for the reputation views OF the
ReadjusterS. II Senator Malone and his
friends were defeated, they said. Virginia
would once more act In good faith toward
her creditors. The Readiuster defeat is
rot yet week old: but the Bourbons are
already arguing that they certainly cannot
be expected TO act in opposition to IMAM
cial policy twice approved by the voters OF
the state The Richmond Dispatch re-
marks that the Democratic party would be
.doubly damned ii it should pay the dis
owned millions. People who do not keep
their promises ought 10 avoid such sugges-
tive expressions"
The Tribune'S Introductory statements
are simple alsehoods-downright false
hoods. We do not often Use harsh words,
but in this case they are iustifiable. In
the platform upon which they stood du-
ring the recent campaign, the Democrats,
instead of expressing horror OF the re-
pudiatior views OF the ReadiuSters," or
promising that Virginia would, If the
Democrats succeeded, "once more act in
good faith toward her creditors" declared
i'm unequivocal terms their purpose 10 ac-
quesce in the RIDDLEBERGER settlement
aud carry II out in good faith. Upon every
stump the Democratic speakers endorsed
that declaration. In every Democratic
journal the same purpose was reiterated
day after day and week after week. Thou
sands OF the Readiusters of other years
voted with the Democrats this year. III
now the Democratic Legislature should
disgrace itself by disregarding the pledges
made to the voters by the Democratic State
Convention. by all the Democratic speak
ers. and by all the Democratic papers, the
Democratic party would indeed be " dou-
bly, damned"
the truth Of this matter. We have given
line upon line and precept upon pre-
cept" i'm regard to this subject OF the State
debt. We will add just now these few
general statements:
l. Virginia owes, including what she
set off to West Virginia over and above
what West Virginia justly owes, and in
Guiding outstanding coupons, and includ-
inc the thirteen millions disowned by the
RIDDLEBERGER bill, not less '0an .ttty mil
lions Of dollars. 1t were absolute folly to
promise to pay such debt. The whole
revenue OF the State would not suffice TO
pay the interest upon it.
2. Being compelled 10y the circumstances
OF the case-that is, because the State is
actually unable to pay the whole debt-to
repudiate a portion Of the debt, we deem
it wlsest, fairest, and least nlustiiiable, to
disown, first, that part of the debt uniustly
set of to West Virginia twelve years ago,
aud, secondly, that part disOwned by the
RIDDLEBERGgR bill. Why? Because for
twelve years Virginia has been regarded as
free from all that part OF her debt assigned
to West Virginia. To disown some other
portion Of the debt now, and pay some OF
the portion assigned to West Virginia,
would be to do two wrong acts instead OF
only one. The same remark is true OF the
portion dlsowned by the RIDDLEBERGER
bin SO far as reiundng has progressed un-
der that bill.
3. The voters have twice declared at The
polls that they will not pay more than thu
RIDDLEBERGER bill promises TO pay. i
now we disregard altogether the question
of good faith raised by the promise in thu
party platform TO acquiesce in that settle
ment, we must still see that for the new
Legislature to undertake to pay the dis
owned portions OF the debt would be to in
sure the reputation OF all the debt by tn
exasperated voters-yes, all OF 1t, even tn
part which the RmDLEpEaGER bin agree
to pay.
The last remark affords food for reflec
ton; and here is q good place to stop.