National Republican., 1884-06-19


part of her public debt which nigh
presumptively be represented by tho terri
tory taken from her. III IL be said In answer
to such suggestion that 1t would be
faircr for West Virginia to assume
the proportional obligation thus indi-
her people are not held to such obligation.
The public improvements for which the debt
was In large part incurred had not been Sc
far completed as to benefit West Virginia
when the civil war began, their advantages
being mainly confined to tho tide-water and
Piedmont sections of tho state. There is
indeed neither moral nor legal responsibility
resting upon West Virginia for any part Of
the debt of the old state.
In determining tho relative obligations Of
the national government aud of the govern
ment Of West Virginia, concerning the debt.
IL is of the first Importance to remember that
the new state was not primarily organized
and admitted to the union for tho benefit of
her own people, but in far larger degi 20 for
the benefit of the people of the whole union.
Tho organic law would not have boen
strained, legal ilctious would not have beon
invented, contradictory theories would not
have been INDUCED, If groat national
interest had not demanded the creation of
West Virginia. II it had not been apparent
that the organization of West Virginia was
an advantage to the loyal cause; IL the
border state policy of Mr.. Lincoln 50
riRdly adhered to throughout the contest. b I'd
not required this link for tho completioiN3Jf
its chain, the wishes of the people most di-
rectly involved would mover have had the
slightest attention from the congress of the
United States Strong and equitable as was
the case OF West Virginia, irritating and
undesirable as her relations to the older state
might bo, advantageous to the people as the
new government might prove, these consider
ations would not of themselves have offered
an nata tpHn 10 mn
OF congress for an hour at that critical period.
They would have been brushed aside and
disregardod with that cool indifference by
which all great legislative bodies proves how
easy IL Is TO endure tho misery of other
people. West Virginia indeed got only
what was equitably due, and what she was
entitled to claim by the natural right of
lf-government. Tho war brought good
fortune to her as conspicuously as it brought
i'll fortune to the older state from which she
was wrenched. West Virginia is to be con-
graduated, and her credtablo career and
untiring enterprise since she assumed tho
responsibilities of self-government show how
well she deserved the boon. But the wounds
inflicted on the mother state by her separa-
tion will never bo healed until Virginia is
relieved from the odium of having been
specially selected from the eleven seeding
states for the punishment that struck at
once against her prosperity and against her
pride of empire.
Nor should it be forgotten that the state of
Virginia before the war might we'll be
regarded as the creditor, and not the debtor,
of the national government. Ono of her
earliest acts of patriotism as an independent
state was the cession to the general govern
ment of her superb domain on the north side
of the Ohio river, from tho sale of which
more than ono hundred millions of dollars
have been paid into the national treasury.
A suggestive contrast is presented to-day be-
| tween the condition of Virginia and the condi-
| tion of Texas and Florida. 1t was the
aggressive disunionism of the two latter
states which aided powerfully in dra gging
| Virginia into rebellion. But for the urgency
| of the seven original confederates states, in
which Texas and Florida were numbered,
| Virginia loyalists would have been able to
hold their state firm in her national allie
glance. Since the war Texas has travelled the
highway to wealth and power founded on
tho ownership of her public lands, of which
the national government could have deprived
her with as littlo difficulty as was
found in dividing Virginia Florida has
likewise enjoyed general prosperity, and
secured rapid development from tho resources
of land which the national government had
Which she vas Sisrn not hS Soppff2Sa t5f cr acts of
rebellion. Truethearted Americans rejoice
in the prosperity of these states, which adorn
| the southern border of the republic; but they
cannot help seeing, and seeing with regret,
how differently the ancient commonwealth
of Virginia has fared at the hands of tho
national government
If the hurt to Virginia were of general
character, which could not be specified or
defined, her case might be passed over with
| the plea of ddmn,tm dbsque djHrjd. But, un-
fortunately, or it may be fortunately, the
detriment to her public credit can be stated
with substantial precision, and can be traced
directly to her despoilment. That took from
her the power to pay her debt. If the harm
| resulting therofrom were confined to tho
state and to tho holders Of her securi-
ties, tho national government might
the more easily disregard the
equities of the case. But Yirginia's
embarrassment is of widespread concern,
and injuriously affects the public credit OF
other states. Nor can it be said that the
precedent of aiding Virginia could be quoted
for aid to every state that might get into
financial trouble. 1t could be quoted only
for the case-whch will perhaps never again
occur-where the national government shall
strip the state of large and valuable part OF
| her territory, and thus take from her the
ability to meet her obligations. The prece-
| dent might then be quoted, and should be
unhesitatngly followed.
| In the formal and necessarily austere ad-
ministration Of public affairs there is little
room for the interposition of sentiment. Yet
sentiment has his place. We stimulate the
ardor of patriotism by tho more display of Il
flag which has no material force, but which
is emblematic of all material force
and typifes tho glory of the nation,
| We stir the ambition Of the living ! y
rearing costly monuments t. tie
heroic dead. 1t may surely L,
pardoned if Americans shall feel deep per.
sonal interest in the good name aud good
fortune of q state go closely identified with
| the early renown of the republic. q state with
whose soil is mingled the dust Of those to
whom all states and all generations are
debtors-the father of his country the author
of the declaration of independence, tho chief
protector of the national constitution.
A Single Fact Is Wor III IA Ship-Load OF
| Argument"
| Mr.. W. b. Lathrop, OF south Easton, Mass under
date of Jan 7, 1854 says: MY father had for years
au eating cancer on his underlp which had been
| his under lip down TO the gums and was feeding
itself the inside of his cheek. aud the surgeons
said horrible death was soon to come We gave
him uine bottles of Swifs Specific aud he has bee
entirely cured 1t has created great excitement in
| this section"
| Treatise on blood and skin diseases mailed free.
| Tho Swift Specific company, drawer 8, Atlanta,
| Ga, 1859 West Twenty-third street, New York, and
| 1905 Chestnut street. Philadelphia.
| Ssr-yu91RN This BELT o. I,ys ....
| >@@55tttls eSl9sfSM Tho cure Of deIangc6,,