Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-17
FRIDAY. DECEMBER II, 1886
What Is TO Be Done ?

General Assembly TO be held for the puf-
pose OF making the RiDDLEBERGER bill
finality on the debt question, we do mol
place ourselves under any obligation TO un.
dcrtake to do the work OF that body. The
Legislature will be convened, II at all, TO
consider tie subject Id all Its phases.
and do what IL shall decide TO be best
Tor the interests OF the Commonwealth.
There are several papers In Virginia--very
few indeed. we are glad TO say that advo-
cate new settlement. These might rel-
sonably be called upon to formulate new
bill, and to let the public know what they
expect and desire the Legislature 10 do.
They seem 10 he laboriDg under the i'm
preston that the bondbolders have SUBJ
United new proposition, but they havenot
been able to let the public know what
The proposition Is. The Second Audi
tor in his last pamphlet upon this
subject states at ten millions OF dol
lars the amount OF bonds owned by the
holders represented in the Council OF For
eign bondholders in London. Who is to
speak for the rest OF the bondbolders? In
1he alleged new proposition no rate OF in
ferest Is fixed. and 20 amount OF principal
il stated. Now, what sort OF business
proposition is thati Surely the persons
who call for new settlement are the proper
ones to be called upon to let the public
know as 10 that proposition what Is he
least amount OF principal they des're the
Legislature TO assume, aud what the least
amount Of interest they would be willing
10 accept.
our contemporary OF the Portsmouth
Times must accept the foregoing as our
response TO the questions which IL says we
have failed heretofore TO answer.
The Danyile Register quotes the follow
ing lines from the D'Sputch:
"The impression grows stronger day by
dsy that the Democrats Will be too cautions.
provid, Mt, and far.seeiDg TO allow the party
10 60 into an election for new Legislature
without having done something more than
they have heretofore done TO put Quletus
upon debt questions"
And then comments as follows:
ave had honestly supposed, until we
il was In favor Of letting the question
severely alone and TO come before the peo-
pie again on the Riddleberger bill. We
certainly had no idea 10 misstate the propo-
siiion OF an esteem-d contemporary whom
we Nave always found TO be fair and gen.
tlemanly and courteous"
We are clad to learn that the Register
has not committed itself TO any scheme.
We expect 1t soon 10 be in line with nine
teutbs OF the Democratic papers In Vir-
ginia.
just here, we give place to paragraph
from the Petersburg inde1-Appeai:
"Good for Copeland, Of the Danville
Register He draws the Bible on the Dis.
patch, and refers that esteemed contempo-
rary TO Matthew tx, IS, to show that the
debt question can't be settled by pl'ching
up the Rt6dl, bel ger bull. NO man putteth
q piece Of new cloth unto an old garment;
for that which is pun In 10 I'LL II up taketh
from the garment. and the rent is made
worse Isn't that sound doctrine, aud
isn't that good authority, or is IT necessary
10 have the formally Of conventional
saequiescence before It can be receiVedy
A little more scriptural lie on their backs,
Brother Copeland, for some OF these kid
dlebergeiiies haven't been to sunday school
for tong time"
ON one point the Rockingham Register
says forcibly:
'The Republican papers OF Virginia,
without a single exception, so far as our
knowledge extends, aided by about three
Democratic oLes, have recently filled their
columns with arguments howing, or trying
10 show, the people that IL Is TO their inter
est buy aud use coupons in paying their
taxes.
ave say the conflict Is bound to come
ana come VI will, IL IT is possible for these
new spapers TO lead the people to follow
them. The people will have TO decide
whom they will iollow-thesc men who
would open up this question, or those who
would stand by the RiddlebeTger bill, TO
winch both parties are pledged. We say TO
our brethren OF the press, agitate this ques-
lion. Urge the people moi to be led by
politicians into aiding in opening up this
question again
be factions for redress OF all these grlofs
And will set this foot OF mine as far
As who gossfafthest-
end to the people we say. Stand by your
pledges-stand by Virginia-standf for your
own best intereis--by standing for the
RlddieberPer bill. There is ample diff.
ference between the two great parties OF
our country TO divide Us In our party reli-
fions-iei us stand together for Virginia as
against the bondholders, coupon peddlers,
brokers, and their allies-let them come
from whatsoever quarter they may"