National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-19

The people OF virginia have Already hau
two notable opportunities since the war to
redeem their state and to put themselves
fully on the road Of progress and prosperity.
The first Of these was In 1869; the second In
1870. On both occasions they promptly took
advantage OF the circumstances which so
plainly opened a new career to the COM
monwealth and her citizens, both times
vlndicating their intelligence, their indie
pendence, and their patriotism by bold
revolt against the Bourbonism begotten of
slavery and which is necessarily the enemy
Of all popular liberty. But, although vic
torious in 1869 and 1870, the Virginia masses
lost most Of the fruits of these successes.
BY the first they secured q liberal constitu-
tion, with complete restoration to the Union
upon terms which recognized all the results
of the war as iinalities; but the cunning
and unscrupulous politicians Of Bourbon
ism, ready in the assumption OF all the vir-
tues they lack and skilled in all the arts and
tactics Of faction, promptly pretended to
"acquiesce" in reconstruction, rushed to the
front as the most Jealous OF suddenly
converted Unionists, and easily regained
their old positions Of leadership, for which
the people cared little so long as this
leadership would execute their will. The
result, however, was that in the very hour
Of the defeat Of Bourbonism, BOurbons
seized the reins of power, with a reaction
AIRY and obstructive policy, which for ten
years practically replaced the ancient
shGckles upon Virginia. Free suffrage
was attacked, and tens Of thousands OF
voters, Of both colors, were DISTINGUISHED;
the free schools were closed by the thou
sand, and their funds diverted; and, not
wthstanding most burdensome taxation,
all the state institutions were Unsupported l.
the treasury was empty, even temporary
loans could not be negotiated for the neces.
stiles Of government, and the public debt
was increased at rate Of over million
dollars a year. Capital and enterprise fled
the commonwealth, and fourteen years
after the war Virginia was practically
worse off than when DAVIS fled from Rich
mond and Lee surrendered at Appoint.
toX.
Then came Virginia's second opportunity
in 1879, through the very force OF the eX.
trcmities which Bourbon folly and wicked
ness had brought to q crisis. Again the
aroused people asserted their will and
triumphed over Bourbouism. The public
finances were at once re.established upon
at least living basis; the rate and assess
ment Of taxation were reduced; the treas
ury was replenished, and all the charitable,
educational, and other institutions adc-
quately relieved; the free schools were re-
stored, and doubled both in numoer and
efficiency; the free ballot was again put in the
hands OF all men; and all the internal affairs
of the state were put upon footing which
led at once to marvellous growth of ma.
teral development, IN all things, in all
directions. From 1870 to 1888, both in-
elusive, Virginia made q greater stride
forward for common rights and interests
in her general wclfare-than had been ac-
complisbed in all the period between 1865
and 1879.
But in 1888 (the first time when the re-
stored suffrage was to be exercised in a
general state electon) the Bourbons again
loudly professed "acquiescence" in the
popular will. They soon found that this
revived "dodge" of 1869 could not be played
successfully second time upon the people;
and hence "the Danville campaign" Of
fraud, terrorism, blood, and massacre
again reversing the wheels Of progress and
subjecting Virginia to ruthless crew who
are not anarchists simply for the reason
that they are worse-representing foul
oligarchy Of oppression which breeds an
archists, and to which even anarchy itself
is preferable when no other recourse is left.
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And now Virginia has her third oppor-
tunity. 1t has not taken ten years this
time for BourbOnism to bring the state into
condition which demands revolution OF
reform. Less than three years has sufllced
for Bourbon blindness and laundering Ia
hurry the commonwealth and her people
into the ditch Of disaster. Within that
period Virginia has had no plague MOI
famine, no strikes nor riots, no earthquakes
nor cyclones-Only Bourbonism, the worst
blight Of all. From every section Of the
state, from all classes and colors, from
everybody, comes the one cry, "Never were
times so, hard before, never money SC
scarce,n In the midst OF the universal de-
preston an excessive Bourbon assessment
has increased taxation over $225, 900 year
Readjustment has been wrecked, at least
temporarily, by treacherous attempt al
reputation, and the consequence is O
financial cataclysm which involves the
state in multiplied litigation, with heavy
costs and damages which threatens the
treasury with utter exhaustion, and which
under legislative direction, has called forth
an extraordinary executive proclamation
TO the people to pay their taxes In cash "a
save the state from bankruptcy-to dOubly
repudiate the coupons receivable for taxes
and TO prescribe and boycott all who dare
use them The free schools of the current
year have closed with an average session
month or more shorter than for the year
before; the auditor has docked the arrears
due them by gross denial Of over $780,
600 heretofore recognized as payable In
quarterly installments OF $685. 900; and this
officer has 80 construed the school revenue
bills against the schools as 10 so delay and
embarTass their income that teachers have
been forced to sell their warrants and GER
tihcates for salary at heavy discounts
causing many TO abandon their profession
and many more to be eager to leave 1t for
any occupation that will support them.
The crownlng infamy and outrage is the
ballot-killing and ballot-box stullng bill,
whereby Bourbonsm has seized the whole
machinery Of registrations, elections, aud