The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-11-23

Confession Of the Richmondino Dispac-
clio.
Translated for the Daily Times.l

Translated Tor the DAILY limcs.I
The recent proposition of the bond
holders annoys us very much. We wish
they had not made it, We are at loss
for an argument against it. The neces-
sity for an argument against it arises from
the fact that we have determined to be
Numerically opposite to all that we have
ever been before.
If our files represented the successive
formations of the earth's crust, the geo.
logist (who is man that lives in the
ground) would be amazed at the sudden
and abrupt variations of species that
would meet him in a single fossiliferous
stratum. Our debt-paying organism In
1881 was as different from our non-debt-
paying organism in 1886 as the primitive
ancestor of the whale was from his pos
terity of the present day. We feel, in
deed, like a land animal that has become
a marine animal in the short space OF five
years, transformation for which, accord
ing to the scientists, millions Of icons
would hardly have been sufficient. Mil
lions of 9ons Just think of it. General
Washington has not been dead whole
aon yet, nor can even the eleventh
amendment claim that degree of antiq-
uity
Or perhaps we feel like an illustration
of Darwin's theory of reversion. In 1881
we were vertebrate of the first order;
our backbone was immense; but in 1886
we are a genuine jelly-fish, without a
trace of the vertebral column; and as to
our cerebral development-well, that is
not for us to discuss. We only know that
the influences of our environment have
been very active and efficient
But to the proposition:
THE STATE RETAINS ALL THAT SHE
NEEDS FOR HER ANNUAL EXPENDITURES,
AND WHAT REMAINS is to go to the bond
holders in the form of interest.
Could the State herself dictate any bet
ter terms, unless she means to repudiate
out and out We really do not see how
tie State can object, but, since we are re-
solved to be an director at all hazards,
and since it is perfectly clear that we can
not object in the name of the State, we
must reflect moment Couldn't we OBJ
ject in the name Of tie party? Eureka as
lea, though the Spaniards didn't under
stand a word of French The Riddle
berger settlement, acting through the
Lynchburg platform, cryStaIlized the
policy of the party. Now, when
polarized molecules arrange them
selves in regular forms, we call the pro-
cess crystallization. In Virginia certain
political molecules, under the crystallizing
force of the Lynchburg platform, have
placed themselves in certain relations to
the future; and if the political crystal
should be dissolved in the medium of a
sound public policy and new cOmbina
lions be made, some of these molecules |
might be left out In other words, GER |
tain slaty formations might be fractured;
and hence it is important, in the interest
of these molecules, that the present ar
should not be disturbed This |
will do to think over
We frequently speak of the people as if |
they were different from the party. But !
how can there be party without people? |
We say the Democratic party was once in |
favor of paying the debt, but tile people |
would not permit it. 1t follows, therefore, |
that the people whipped out the Demo |
cratic party, and, if so, it is the people |
and not the Democratic party that con-
trolls the State.
Now, if we admit the right and power
of the people to regulate the debt policy of
the State, why don't the people dictate who
shall be Governor, Senator, and soforth
We must confess the difficulty of our
position is somewhat serious from a logi- |
cal standpoint.
The fact is if the people and not the of
fceholders and oflice-seekers had control |
of this question it would be settled at
once on the liberal terms proposed by the
bondholders. The people are neither dis
honest nor unreasonable.
We must add by way of explanation
that we write our private reflections in a
foreign language so that the people can
:, Of ,tndorctond thoO D.r uurr