Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-01
The Defeat vps Caused by the Debt
Question.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch:

TO the Editor of the Dispatch:
Permit an old man that spent much OF
bis time before and during the entire war
IN public life 10 add few words TO those Of
your numerous correspondents upon the
awful falling off OF the vote OF the Demo-
cratic party in the recent elections. The
tariff exercised some influence, but the
general feeling was to ignore ii, and very
properly, as a party measure. The Blair
educational bill had its weight, Tor the peo-
Die were anxious for its passage, and had
an expectation that the Democrats, haI ing
the power in Congress, would adopt it
that it, failure resulted from the timdpy OF
the party in the apprehension that they
might offend some OF their northern allies
and might somewhat cripple the dominant
tarifi.reiorm wing OF The party.
The repeal OF the internal revenue was
deeply cherished object with the purity in
Virginia and North Carolina. 1t had been
so bitter in deGuncistion Of this measure
.inat it was almost considered a. j t'cit
pledge to its repeal, aud the failure 10 re-
PEAL il was somewhat resented, and hai It's
results In the loss OF some votes.
But the grand obstacle 10 polling a tNli
vote, and that caused the great apathy, was
a deeper and more personal grievance that
every voter could feel and Understandable
wit, the carrying outthe Rlddlc6erger debt
settlement and the incidents and occur
rcnces growing out Of it. more than aught
else caused our defeat. We had suffered
overwhelming dCfeat upon the various
questions OF debt scttlem. mt when the state
was almost two thirds Democratic, until we
declared in our platform adopted at Lynch
burg, and subsequently reiterated, that
the RiddlcDergcr bill was lar ana
full settlement, and bound ourselves to
abide by il as 4 tinality. With this deciafa-
ton upon our lips, and the able aud skiiiul
management Of our peerless organizer and
leader, John ). Barbour, we achieved u
glorious victory. our officials have been
true to these pledges, and have hOnOra5ly,
| 20 far rs they could, carried them our, Dui
| difficulties bc>et Us on all sldes. The Fede-
| raj Court, after declaring the law con>tltu'
| tonal, in another branch OF the court be-
came hostile; the brides and Establishments
| Of the bopdholders ncld out inducements
| to the timid and ialtcring after failing IN
| hecioring ana bullliog. In consequence
MANY Of our newspapers were weakened,
| and were either neutral or faint in the adj
yocacy OF this measure; and Others OF The
| press flying the Democratic fllg, and iniln-
| cnlial journals in their sections, have DC
| clarcd unaltcrabic hostility 10 IL.
| The interest in this debt settlement per-
| vadipg the whole State Is not mere sentl-
ment, hut an abiding conviction, intensified
| by personal interest and belief that 1t Is
| lust and righteous, and that the autonomy
of the Commonwealth depends upon Its
| maintenance.
The apprehension that this settlement
would be disturbed Influenced the vote In
our late election more than all other causes
combined, aud II this he the true solution
Of tie problem 1t will be well to give some
assurance to the people that the Riddle
berger law will be rigidly aud faithfully
executed, OF a repetition Of our late defeat
awaits us in the elections next spring.
The Dispatch il doing noble work to pre-
vent such an undesirable result, and meet
ing the issue with an u1dismayed front.
BY all means, il il be necessary, advocate
the extra session Of the Legislature. as the
present Legislature, with their experience,
will be better abe to grapple with the SUBJ
ject than new one. cur success VIII be
greatly augmented by getting this question
entirely out OF the next canvass. Then the
numerous other side-iSsues will be OF little
| DeriI TO the party. SENSE.