Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-03-21
"a FEARFUL RECORD


cord made by the Democratic legislature
at Richmond. We can we'll see that this
record may be considered Fearful to any
friend of the continuance of the One Man
power of William Malone in Virginia,
but why our contemporary should mourn
over it is not clear. Malone and his gang
have cut off more Republican heads since
they got into power than the whole DEM
ocratic legislature has IN its hundred days
session. But here is what our neighbor
says, after a vivid description of the re-
suits of Democratic rule that preceded
Malone:
Two years of Coalition administration changed
all this. The debt complication was untanged; a
basis of settlement was effected, which is now &C
cepted as just and equitable even by the party that
opposed it; the treasury was replenished; public
credit restored the moneys diverted from the pub
lie schools restored to them the number of schools
and pupils more than doubled; the system put in
healthy and successful operation; taxes reduced !;
a surplus of nearly $200000e in the treasury to be
applied to the payment of interest on the public
debt as fast as funding under the bill readlustng
the debt was ccelted by the creditors; capital
flowed into the State; dead wealth was converted
into active values: the people cheerful and hope
full and future as promising as that OF any state
in the Union.
This was the condition in 1888, when the Bour-
bons again came into possession OF the Legislative
Department of the government. No sooner was
this power secured and the General Assembly con
vened than systematic purpose was manifested to
rob the Executive Department OF its constitutional
functions ard absorb them into the Legislative;
legally elected representatives were deprived of
their seats to make way for partisan pretenders
who were in sympathy with the revolutionary pro-
gramme which had been publicly mapped out; the
laws and Constitution were disregarded, and in a
delirium of parliZan madness, every device that
desperate ingenuity could suggest was awaited OF
to undo all the good that has been done. The funds
in the Treasury dedicated to the payment OF inter
est on the public debt, which had been accumulated
under the wise administration of the Coalition,
were invaded to meet the demands OF partizan In
vestgations OF public officers, to find pretext to
make make places for Bourbon henchmen. and in
the wild and reckless hunt for Office personal char
acter and public interests were alike disregarded
and 10 assault considered too violent, if it could
contribute to the malign and mercenary end in
view.
Now let US look at it. When the Dem
ocrat1c party took hold last January at the
expiration of the term of the Mahoneites.
they found exactly $14OO,O00. The
retiring party boasted of the condition
they had left the government in under the
operation of the Riddleberger bill. How
did it turn out? They had SO bungled
with the enactment of the Riddleberger
bill that it would not hold water. The
first notification the Democrats had OF the
practical operation of these blunders was
that coupon holders were paying their
taxes with them. The sum of $4,000 had
to be paid out of the Treasury for coupons.
This much as a beginning, But this
was due to their lack of knowledge OF
legislation doubtless, and excited no
comment. But soon there commenced
coming along judgments in the courts
against the state for broken contracts:
the famous Kendall bond contract $4,000
the Central Asylum and others. all
amounting to some $44 600. The State
Treasury was still being called on to settle
up for the incapacity of those who had
just turned over the government. Both
in rendering the Riddleberger bill opera
tive and in economy, the government of
the Coalition had been a fraud aud de-
fusion. 1t had not Even successfully got
ten rid of the State debt, but left the real
work on the Riddleberger bill to be done
by tie Democrats. 1t had held an extra
session of the legislature at cost of $50
900 to the people, and even with that had
not completed the work for which it was
elected-to successfully readjust the State
debt. 1t had stopped the payment, to
great extent, of interest and full treasu-
ry followed of necessity. There was no
way to avoid full treasury under these
circumstances unless they had stolen the
money out of it. But they did not cut
down the expenses of the State one dollar.
They boasted that they had made the
State prison self sustaining, but it now
turns out that it was run at loss OF
10000 per annum. The MANAGEMENT of
the government was extravagant and
to-day there is hanging over their State
Auditor a suit to compel tie return OF
exhorbitaEt fees for collection paid his
brother-in-law by him, under the ad-
vice and counsel of their Attorney-Gene-
raj of the State. There was neither wis
dom nor economy in the M anagement of
the govern ment BY the Coalition party.
The Democratic legislature has exhibit
ted systematic purpose to rob the Ex-
ecutive Department of its constitutional
functions,' has it? The constitutional
function of the Executive of Virginia is
to yield prompt obedience to the will of
the People when indicated to him by two
thirds of their representatives. 1t is
function which it would cost him his Off
cial head to omit, and he has wisely, if
unwillingly. fulfilled it. The People of
Virginia by their voice at the ballot box
have expressed the determination to see
that thas & vernon does do this. This is
not the Coalition legislature of 'S2. If
any one wants to know what the Coalition
priced the constitutional functions of the
Governor for, let them read the report of
the committee in the kendall bond con-
tract investigation, page 5. They will
find that H. II. Riddleberger. now U. s.
Senator, offered resolution in the Vir-
ginia Senate, April Goth. 80. to give the
Governor the extra unconstitutional func-
tion of Uetoing the action of the COMMISSION
ers of the Sinking Fund. in order that the
contract might be given to che highest bid
der for the benefit of his political party. The
People of Virginia demand that a Cover
nor who can be used for partizan purposes
shall have every function not vested in
him by the constitution stripped from him.
A Governor who can approve bill sent
by his party and veto the same bill sent
by another political party. as Gov. Came
ron did in the charitable institution bills