National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-15

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The Virginia Usurpers.
The governor of the Mexican state OF
Oaxaca, having once made official returns
Of the results Of federal election within
his jurisdiction, at so early date that 1t
was manifestly impossible for him to have
received and canvasscd the votes, he gave
the heroic explanation that he had omitted
that formal ceremony altogether, because
his firm conviction of the patriotic senti-
ments Of his people enabled him to antici-
pate the rcsultsl Virginia is certainly one
of the American states In which the OlXaca
method OF reaching results practically pre-
walls. There is pretended count, indeed,
but 1t IS one not omitted, because 1t appears
more~lecent, to the outside world at least,
that there should be count in accordance
with the foreordained and previously an-
nounced results. Massacre and terrorism In
Misplaced the present Virginia usurpers in
power. In 1854 they controlled results by
force and fraud, and last year. taking en-
tire possession, under color OF law, OF the
machinery OF registration, election, and
returns, they declared their reign perpetual.
But, Is It g.? Nay, verify, for already through
out the bourbon ridden state there are
rapidly gathering and growing signs OF one
of those popular cyclones which always,
everywhere, appals force and contounds
fraud. The usurpers themselves are at
war with each other; their organs are in
fierce discord their adhorents are IN re-
volt over whisky, over the spoils, over re-
adjustment, over the Blair school bill, over
the tariff, the internal revenue, the labor
problem, the taxes-eyerything, while Re-
publicans, Liberals, and Independent voters
generally arc aroused and spurred to inlig-
nant resistance Of a usurpation whose party,
or faction, is itself the self.convicted crown
have only betrayed it, and that alike In their
legislation and administration-mak
laws that give the tax coupons their oppor-
tunity, or framing cases in collusion with
coupon scalpers that Of set purpose "give
the state away" until now the readiust.
ment which seemed so ireversible q success
in 1883 that even bourbonism submitted to
it as invincible and inevitable. has become
under the usurpers a thing which no longer
asserts its power, or right, or legality, or
equity, or faith, or courage, but which, with
sniveling fear and feebleness, crouches like
beggar for mercy and aims at the feet of
the very coupon crew 1t originally rose to
fight. Witness Gov. Lees last appealing
proclamation; witness the legislation
whose most perfect flower produced
that proclamation, and witness the
current cant and crawflshing OF the bourbon
press, which either directly confesses its re.
lapse to prostitution or meekly cries,
"Please don't or, If you will, wen only
submit to superior force, and the Lord
knows you are stronger than we are !" The
perfldy which has so brazenly and rapidly
fallen to this depth Of treachery is none the
less amazing in kind or degree, no matter
how we regard the measures and the people
who are thus betrayed; and 1t really sur
passes all possible Characterization even in
the most obiurgatory words when we recog-
nize the actual fact that readjustment as 1t
was instituted and defended by Its authors
was never stronger, and that all the pre-
vaillng false situations, false alarms, and
false pretexts are mere contrIvances delib-
erately planned and worked out by the
usurpers to deceive the public and cover
their ineffably bad faith.
New converts to free popular education,
the usurpers professed devotion and
simulated zeal for 1t that were calculated
TO make the recording angel weep enough
tears OF JOY to extinguish the torch with
which Hon. John w. Daniel avowed himself
ready to lead them In 1889 to the destruc-
tion OF the public school houses. Yet, In
spite Of their promises and protestations-
in spite Of the fact that for more than
year they were partially restrained by
Republican governor, state superintendent
OF public instruction, and state school
board, and by local school boards and
superintendents, mostly Republican, backed
by laws made in pursuance Of mandatory
provisionsin Republican state constitution,
in spite of everything, they soon began a
system Of hostility to the free schools which
placed them everywhere in the hands OF
their ancient enemies, chosen by the legls-
lature directly, and which, under the of
fetal acts and policy Of their state auditor,
cheats the schools of over S5O0,OOO due
on arrears accruing through former bour-
bon interruptions and diversions, and so
delays and hampers the payment Of current
school revenue as to subject the school
teachers for months every year to the cruel
mercies OF sharks and shavers on their sal
ary warrants and certificates. The party
pledge-tbe mutual pledge OF both parties
TO furnish the free schools with free books
was secuted and violated wholly, either on
false and frivolous grounds or upon the
audacious ayowal openly made by lead
ing usurpers that the pledge was only
intended ''to catch votes" To-day, al
ready, although the same number of schools
and scholars may be returned in the cunt,
the school taxes are withheld for other
the school sessions are greatly
reduced in length, and the school teachers
are forced to sell their claims at heavy dis
counts to live, as in the days when GOV.
Holiday proclaimed education "a luxurym |
only to be enjoyed by the rich, aud which |
would be disgrace to the state aud child
ren II furnished at public cost while the
iunder and broker lobby had demand un-
The coupons, to be sure, have
teen taught to respect the schools, but
lie usurping Bourbous themselves are only
fla fpoFa intent tp Ialtrnty tIaY,