The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-05-14
Which /?


energy and extravaganza Of the declara-
ions of the Democratic press in favor OF
3he "Riddleberger bill or nothing. With
5he Dispatch in the lead. the 'bondhold-
ers'' and brokers. and coupon clip
pers. . are regarded as public enemies,
and all the resources of the English Ian
guage employed TO express the holy hor-
ror of these whlom -'debt-payers" and
last ditch dollar writers, for the creditors
Of the State. With the exception Of the
Disputcb. not one of them has ever dis
cussed the deot question intelligentiy.
But a short time ago, all of them assumed
that the Riddleberger bill was highway
robbery, " and SO fierce were their denun-
Citations of the projectors and supporters
of that measure that the Northern people
were lead to believe that one-half of the |
voters of Virginia were 'rogHes aud |
syindlers. They never adduced an ar
gument or an array of legitimate and per-
tinent facts TO Justify their conclusions |
1t WAS empty acknowledgements
assertion to delude the outside world into
the belief that they were making a sa-
prene and heroic effort to save the State
from the disgrace OF Reputation. They
were willing to sacrifice every other inter
est, according 10 their assumed virtue and
love for the rights Of the b0ndholders, to
preserve Vlrgiilia's honor, so imperilled
by the terms and conditions Of the Rid
l. all bl1
were cleaying the air aud narrowing the
public ear with their protestations OF
''honor' and honesty they were COM
mitted to "a policy that would have as
certainly worked Reputation as effect fol-
lows cause The revenues were made
quate to the debt statement they defended
as involving the honor Of Virginia, yet
they had not the courage to meet Its de-
mands'by tax bill commensurate with its
requirements. They never condescended TO
discuss the merits Of the conflicting posi-
tioM of the contending parties. 1t was
enough for them that they could pose be-
| fore the outside world. which was lgno-
rant OF The conditions of The debt and the
State. as the champions OF publlc hohor
and honesty and hold up their opponents
as ''rogues and swindlers7 and highway
robbers. . They could not refute single
proposition contained in the Riddleberger
bill They could rot defend the inception
OF the contamination of the measures they
supported. But with extravagant voclf-
Grafton they proclaimed everywhere and
TO everybody, that the honor Of the State
was in jeopardy in the enactment and en-
forcement of the Riddleberger bill, and its
patrons and friends the enemies OF the
State and violators of public faith
These high sounding assurances are now
relegated to the past. Those who gave
them utterance not only demand the
''Riddleberger bill or nothing" but scout
| the decisions of the courts, and have
openly declared that il that measure is
not accepted by the creditors, they Will
favor the Reputation Of the whole debt,
and this in face Of the fact that repudia-
ton is impossible, as to the bonds, until
they are due, ard it is as impossible as to
the coupons, as they are the utterance OF a
self-executing contract. With the single
exception named aboye,-We have seen no
argument or fact emanating from a Dem
ocratic paper having a legitimate bearing
on the merits of the question, or impart-
ing information to the people. They are
as reckless now as. they were when de-
nouncing what they now declare for. as
''highway robbery and are entitled to
just the same consideration from the
taxi payers and bondholders as they were
then.
The contrast presented to this inconsis-
tent record. by the Republicans is conspic-
1 uously striking They have proposed tC
repudiate nothing They have simply
made q calm, connected, exhaustive state
ment of what Virginia really owes, and
formulated a method to pay it. They pre-
sent their proposition, as practicable and
feasible, and impregnated with the ele.
ments of fairness and equity. They claim
that it's acceptance is what justice to the
State demands and the interests of the
creditors ought to c0ncede. They bring II
within the rulings Of the courts-propose
to respect their determinations. and in no
way or form to contravene their DEGREES
They fortify their position and plan by
facts, and arguments based upon facts
which are unassailable and irrefutable
They challenge discussion and invite
scrutiny into every statement and condi-
ton which comprise the measure of theil
suggestion and enactment.
; Which viii the people trust? Which
will they empower to carry into effect
the measure that each assays to approve
The party which formulated the laws that
constitute the proposed settlement, OF
the party which opposed them at every
stage of their progress, and finally de
nounced them as highway robbery =
We all know the history Of the last Legs-
lature in regard to this matter-how its
asserverations of a purpose to enforce the
Riddleberger settlement, resulted in It's
unsettlement, which will necessitate fur
: ther legislation to restore the VltalIzlns
enactments to their normal condition and
force. All know that through stupidity
, OF design acts were passed which threat
: ened the defeat of the whole scheme Of
: REIMBURSEMENT and opened afresh the ave
: nues to the courts, in effectt to uproot and
: destroy that which the people believe al
f honorable and equitable settlement.
! The welfare and interests OF Virginia
are involved in the final disposition o.
the whole matter 1t has nothing to d.
= with national politics. 1t is foreign to TIT
supervision, ENHANCEMENT CT patronage O.
the national government 1t would be
out of place for any interference to be in
. voked from any other source than the PEG
pie of Virginia 1t is their affair. The
public schools, charitablea -instlt
; State autonomy are involvM. Tbs deyel
! opment, progress and prosperityT0f TIN
Commonwealth are implicated These en-
compass enough to forbid any irrelevan
influences or improper interposition to bt
r. invited. And it is for the people to sa.
q which of the parties to the controyers.
a has furnished the best assurance of abil
ity and disposition to master the subjec