Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-02-08
THE STATE DEBT.

To the editor OF the I1tefdnarta Gazette:
count myself fortunate to be able to
read your excellent journal regularly. Es-
pecially does your position upon the debt
question commend itself to me. have al
ways been debt payer upon principle and
policy. l love Virginia and her people
with no new born affection, but because of
an inherited right to regard her as indeed
worthy of my patriotic devotion. | know
that every word | write is calculated to
damage me politically, but, thank God, am
no oCFcc.secker-n polilician-and while |
will not Judge others, am willing to be
Judged by them, If only can say something
to save my State and benefit her people.
This ceaseles5 agitation OF the debt is de-
stroying us morally and materially. Instead
of being Synonymous with all that was hon.
orable and true as once, now our very name
is tie synonym of dishonor and disgrace.
know we have excellent excuses. l know
Virginia and Virginiau5 do not deserve oil
that is laid at our doors. | believe we can
! be vindicated of very nucn, and our accus,
era made 10 bear The bulk of the blame. but
The future historian must do that. ct pre-
sent we are in dire distress, and the burn
| Ing question j., how shall we escape?
This debt.lcgisi&tc0 Is hopeless and most
harmful We have nothing to hope from
our Legislature, nothing from most Of our
public men. II seems IL ne we have gone
over to the readjusters and regulators.
Ever since tho dissruceul surrender ofthe
I.ynchburg convention have been hopeless
Of any possible political remedy for the evil.
/ I have always voted and shall still vote
with our party. l recognize the great gain
| that came TO Us By OR success ever Malone.
| I believed and believe it would have been
| Just as sure. and far greater had we thrown
the "Big Four" and all dishon0rable al
!iances TO the winds. But we accepted the
| Riddlebclgcr settlement and now we find
ourselves III n worse plight than before.
| What shall be done ? ! may be wrong, but
here is my humble suggestion. fear it
! will fail because We arc so demoral!Zed that
| there are not men enough amongst us 10
dare do the right. beiiove it eau be done,
and if we fail, failure even in such an effort
would bring its rich reward.
1st. ! suggest that the young men
throughout the state form themselves into
o society pledged, every member, not TO
| seek political p:eferncnt for them selves,
but to do our best 20 secure an immediate
and satisfactory settlement Of the debt ques-
ton. Let the very condition Of membership
be positive prohibition from any political
pref-lmen; on the part OF any individual
-memEcr, Let the sole object in view be the
settlement ofthe debt.
81. That the socie,y secure as SOON and
thoroughly as possible al necessary data rs
to the amount Of debt due b. Virginia
under lis various bonds, and by whom, II
possible, each and every bond is held.
81. That this society hen secure the most
satisfactory information ~ to the present
aud future available assets Of the State lover
and beyond its expenditures for running the
government and maintaining the schools)
for paying the debt
4!h. That when rye know our real assets
and liabilities we then see if all the credit
ors cannot be brought into some arrange
ment for full and final settlement of the
debt upon fair and equitable basis, which
will give them all possible justice, get rid Of
political ohbery, and secure our peace.
5sh. That then We go before the people
with such showing Of figures and facts as
will convince them that the debt can and
will be settled.
OF course may be mistaken. may mis-
Judge Virginia and Nirginans, and have
more confidence in her and her people than
either deserve. Certainly our disastrous
and disgraceful history since the war looks
that way. But I believe it is ignorance Of
the facts Of the justice Of the debts we owe,
and mistrust of our cred tors, as we'll as ig-
noranca Of our own condition and the good
20 come from fair and honest dealing, which
chiefly mis!eads oar people TO such whole
sale dishonesty. believe miserable pol
iticians Of both parties who keep the
debt in agitation, as players at ball
keep the ball always on the go, for
their own good, are at III" bottom OF this
business. | believe it can De settled. / be-
lieve our people wan; 70 do right. be-
lieve our creditors viii meet us half way.
| say lie. lis form II society Of young Fr-
ginans who in few YEARS will have much
to lose or much to gain, and pedging cur
selves to eschew politics except to secure
the best men we san for office, let us adj
dress ourselves rs business men TO settle our
debt on business principles. Can | not
count upon g0odiy numbcr OF young men
in every city aud county in the State, or
must make myself laughing stock By
subscribing proposition asking Virginians
young Firginians SONS OF the nobiest
and grandest race that ever graced any land
to join together TO do what is honest and
right?
/ make the vague suggestion with the
burning nope that other and wiser young
men may take it up, and improve upon it
that here and there it will touch a sympa
thetc soul; that there will be many, who,
like myself, have no influence, no power,
no political position, but who love Virginia
and who vii! brave the sure enmity of all
parties and all politicians to begin to save
our State by restoring her credit and char.
acter, and taking the first step towards
placing her again where she once was.
Respectfully yours,