Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-27
organ. claim that The Republican party
is the Peoples party.


Jusssrs--Issser frsm Cofsin - ssS'
woonnouRxr, BorETouBr Co.,
June Is, 1885.
To he Editor offhs DispascA:
NV Dear Shiny attention has been
called 10 the following slip cut from the
Washington Post, which / think de-
mands 4 response from those Read
justers who thought that the "hiddie-
berger bill" embraced the whole
amount that Virginia Justly owed her
creditors, and that its passage had for
ever taken the debt question out OF pol
itics and who furthermore thought
that the reimbursement Of the debt ques-
ton should not and did not Justify them
in joining . party whose attitude and
whose acts towards Virginia and the
south were subversive Of the rights
guaranteed by the Constitution and hui
initiating in its intentions to people
who had quietly and in good faith
scquiesced in a settlement of all former
diiIerences---difIerence that had stained
many battle-fields with the blood Of as
gallant and true patriots as ever in the
worlds history fought for what they
deemed their rights:
STATE PoLITrcs IN VIRGINIA. Rich.
yond. June 81. 1t 10 said here to-day tnat
the Reedjusters who deserted Generai Ma-
hone have determined TO run an indepen-
dent ticket against both the Democratic
and Republican tickets for state oiiicers'
unless the Democrats take up John f. MAS
sey as their candidate for Governor.
cannot and do not pretend to speak
for any one but myself, but as an ORR
ginsl Readjuster I claim the right OF
self-dsfence, and would kindly and re,
spectfully ask my brother-Readjust-
ers--that gallant band who in the last
State elections firmly stood TO their
principles, and "would not bend the
pregnant hinges Of the knee that thrift
might follow fawning "-if there are
any just grounds for the allegations
contained in the above-quoted para
graph. Has failure to get Office, ne
elect or mismanagement on the part OF
the Democratic party, wrought such q
change in their sentiments as to
Justify any one in saying that in GER
tain event they would run an independ-
ent ticket in the ensuing important
election, and thus hazard the success of
the Democratic party? That party in
whose intact supremacy lies the hope
of peace and prosperity for Virginia,
and which has so fully demonstrated
its determination to sustain the settle
ment you were mainly instrumental in
making of the debt question? l can
not believe it. The high and patriotic
principles which prompted the "Big
Four" TO sink every feeling Of selfish
ness and stand manfully, firmly, proud
ly for Virginia's rights and Virginia's
honor, cannot and will not be sacrificed
to selfish feeling OF chagrin or disap-
pointment either by themselves or such
as myself-the humble followers of
their lead.
1t is idle and unjust to charge the
last Legislature with unsettling the debt
question by " tinkering on the Riddle
berger BILL" They carried out the
pledge given at the Lynchburg Conven-
ton to do all they could to strengthen
the bill and remedy its defects, and if
their efforts were unsuccessful, let the
Supreme Court Of the United States and
the few disturbers Of the State law be
held responsible, and not the Demo-
cratic party.
Then where lies the point of differ
ence no~ between the Readjusters who
prefer Democratic principles to Repub-
lican practice, and the period two years
gone by, when they themselves led the
sway for freemen 81? The same enemy
is to be confronted, the same princi-
pies are in existence, and the highest
offices in the State are to be filled by
the votes of the people and if there
be difference it is that Of an increased
necessity for united action. There can
DO no point of difference, unless it
arises from personal and selfish con-
siderations, and the men who but a
short time since Sc effectively proved
their truth and loyalty to Virginia and
Virginia's dearest interests should not
be subjected to even the suspicion OF
such suicidal selfishness as is intimated
in the quoted article that induced this
reply from your obedient servant,
CORBIN NJ. REYNOLDS.