The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-10-18
The Debt Settlement.

Attorney-G General Rlair, published on our
first page. relating to the debt question
and the persistency of the Bourbon law
yers and judges to unsettle it. No onewho
will read it, can arrive at any other con-
clusion than that there is determined pur-
pose on the part of the Bourbons to destroy
the force of the Riddleberger bill, and
that if Bourbon Legislature is elected
this fall, a vast stride will have been taken
to accomplish that end. The hostility to
that measure was never more intense than
it is at this moment with the leaders of
the defeated faction, and if power IS again
entrusted to tive have every reason to be-
lieve that the Riddleberger bill will remain
a dead letter on the statute book. Ger
tainly there would be no wisdom in COM
mitting this important and vital legisla-
tion for enforcement to those who opposed
it at every step and denounced its provis-
ions as reputation and robbery. There is
no safety for it-no practical benefits can
possibly be derived from it, if its friends
are not empowered to protect it and enact
such additional legislation as will fortify
it against the assaults of its known and
recorded enemies.
The Bourbon press and Bourbon speak
ers ring daily into the ears of the people
the declaration that the '.debt question is
settled - while the Bourbon lawyers and
judges are devising means and instltuting
proceedings to destroy its power and throw
the State into worse confusion than has
ever been experienced before. 1t is one Of
the ways they adopt to deceive the people
on this subject. They know that the re-
cord they have made on the debt question
has been condemned by an overwhelming
majority of the voters of the Common
wealth, and that if they cannot delude
them with the false assurance they give
that the .sdebt is settled the same YER
dict of condemnation must be announced
again. There is no deception too glaring,
adopt. if thereby they can again regain
power. They will give any assurance on
any subject-will declare for any measure,
however impracticable and extreme, if it
would be the means Of giving them the
control of the legislative branch of the
government and place at their command
the Treasurer's and Aditors' offices Of the
Commonwealth. With these secured, the
Executive Department would be powerless
except to register the will of the Leg
islature, or arrest by veto any vicious
legislation. So far as enforcing the Rid
dleberger. settlement by essential legis-
latiop rendered necessary by the obstructive
course Of Bourbon lawyers and judges, in
devising obstacles to it's successful oper-
alton, the Governor would have no author
ity and could accomplish nothing. The
election of a Bourbon Legislature would
be fatal blow to the Riddleberger bill
the debt question would then be in worse
condition than it has ever been before and
would entail upon the people a condition
Of suspense, uncertainty. confusion. and
probable disaster. far surprising anything
Of the kind that has ever before afflicted
them.
There is no security for the debt settle
ment except in a Readjuster Legislature.
This is sufficiently evidenced by the recital
of the Attorney General to which we have
referred. Let every one read it into whose
hands it may fall, and he will plainly see
that unless the friends of the Riddleber-
ger bill are empowered to protect it. it will
as certainly be practically imperative as
effect follows cause.
The prohibitory' amendment in Ohio
failed of being carried by 6O,2Ol. 1t re-
quired majority of the actual vote cast
to adopt it. Even had it been adopted by
popular vote, with Democratic Gov
ernor and Legislature, it would have been
a dead letter. 1t required that additional
legislation should be had to enforce it.
The MISUNDERSTANDING to do this was
not specified, and it is very certain the
Democratic Legislature elected on the 9TH
would never have tackled that question.
The fact is, a large proportion of the vote
cast for the amendment was from Demo-
made trade with prohibitionist Repub-
licans to vote for Hoadly, in consideration
of vote for the amendment We think
it quite likely both the prohibitionists Der
Sc, and the Republicans who favored the
amendment, will have learned thing or
two by this time and will not be caught
again by democratic phariseeism.
Attend to your registration at once
Don't put it off another day. Remember
that you are making this fight against rings
and organizations. and in behalf of your
own homestead, your own children and
your own pocket. If you think you can't
spare a day to 60 to the registrar, just
count up the difference between your taxes
under funder rule and what they are now.
and see if you are not indebted to the Read
justers for more than your days work will
come to. And you who do not own much
- T. II