Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-30
THURSDAY. DECEMBER 30, 1885,
The Democratic Party and the Debt

In its issue Of yesterday the index- Appeal
ssvs in one column that II believes an
extra session TO be almost certain" but OPP
poses the cali Of one, and IN the next col
umn talks rs follows:
0But We saw In all sincerity, and with
solemnity. the Democratic party OF virginia
must settle the debt or must relinquish the
responsibility Of government to some or
ganization that WILL"
But bow can the Democratic party settle
the debt question unless through the Legs
lsture, And how can the members OF the
Legislature settle the debt question unless
that body be convened, Why wait until
next winter for legislations Are the Demo-
cratic candidates for the Legislature to 20
before the people next fall and tell them that
they were unable to settle the debt question
as members Of the last Legislature, but IL
the people will elect them to the next
Legislature they will deal with that ques-
ton in q practical manner and settle 1t in
jifyi
We beg our Petersburg contemporary to
come down TO this mundane sphere, and to
bear It In mind that in all probability nine
tenths Of the Democrats who will run for
the Legislature next fall in Democratic
counties are members Of the present Legis-
Iature, and that therefore they cannot be
expected to take the stump and tell the
voters to their faces that the incomretents
OF 1856 propose 10 become the competents
OF 1888, II only they be allowed on oppor-
iuniiy to show that they have learned 40
much In one year as that they can settle in
1883 Q debt which in January, 1887, they
declared they could not settle. For their
refusal to call an extra session would Ger.
tainly be held TO be equivalent TO q declara-
ton that they considered themselves I'm.
equal to the task Of settling the questions
growing ont OF the State debt.
Whence are the members OF the Legsls-
ture 10 procure In 1888 plan Of settlement
not to be had In 1877 Are they expected
TO plead ignorance and incompetency on
their own part, and to call upon the voters
10 enlighten them and render them compe-
tenty What will the Republicans say when
the Democrats enter up such pleaI How
would the Democratic party fare II it should
90 into an election for members Of the LIE.
gislature with the debt question standing
lust rs It does at this momenti Andis II
not almost absolutely certain that debt com.
plications will increase between now and
next Novemberf
Our Petersburg contemporary will reply
that 1t does not expect settlement OF the
debt to be made IN accordance with the
pledges made by the Democratic party In
1883, 1884, and 1886, but would have new
Legislature elected ready to promise to pay
at least thirty millions OF principal and to
agree to such other terms touching the IN.
terest as the bondholders, after the most
earnest persuasion on our part, shall in
their mercy propose. This is the enter
tainment TO which our Petersburg con-
Temporary would invite the people
OF Virginia, and it is because the
present Legislature is supposed to be in
favor OF adhering TO the RIDDLEBERGER bill,
and Of so leglslating as TO render It's pro-
visions Elective, that the Inder-Appeai
W, "a have the debt question turned over
10 next Legislature. But here we come
I'M the same old objection and obstruc'
tion-namely, the improbability that the
people will again charge the Democratic
marty with the duty Of settling the State
debt II that party shall shirk that duty al
this time. Why not now, II at all!
The representatives Of the Republican
Marty will be In the Legislature In full
force II an extra session be held, and viii
be compelled TO record their votes for 81
against whatever propositions may come
up. They will be challenged TO offer com
peting propositions il any they have; and
IL they fail to offer any they will go before
the voters next fall at disadvantage.
We remind the reader, In conclusion
that the Legislature ought to be convened
in extra session 10 revise the Code, II there
were no other reason fol- its meeting.