The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-16
A Retrospect.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
If the conservative advice of the VAL
LEY VIRGINIAN had been followed the
present deplorable state OF affairs touch
ing the. States Indebtedness would most
certainly have been avoided. can run
back over the files of that paper and can
find that from time 10 time the voice of
warning was raised against steps about to
be taken " the different Bourbon legis-
latures regarding the debt, and the pre-
dictions made at the same time (provided
the warning was unheeded which all know
they were not) have been as clearly full
filed as if the editors of that paper had
been possessed of absolute fore knowledge
of what followed.
When by action of the last Republican legis-
laturei backed up by the courts satisfactory
thing moved along smoothly and harmoniously.
There was found. under the Riddleberger set
ment. the Institutions Of charity, the schools
and every other public interest besides a fund
bonds as 1t became due and some to spare for
putting to the credit of the sinking fund.
This was satisfactory all round and even the
their Lynchburg platform and went before the
people 90 the etroEgeEt advocates of it-not-
by inch and only succumbed when they saw
that the peopfe-to man-fayored the meas
ure.
warning voice against the peoples trusting
the party that had proven itself false to its
every pledge.
1t was then in a long article that the VIR-
GILMAN showed by the strongest proof that the
democratic party had, from its very earliest
existence, fought every measure In the interest
OF progress, and had finally adopted every meas
are ii had ever fought.
Measure after measure was taken up by the
VIRGINIAN and shown to have been opposed by
the democratic party and the same measu res
were again shown to have been adopted by
q I'm thni 10 f.f0 Mnf rntro1 Mot fnrfy
With all the proof brought out by the VIR-
GINIAN, and other Republican papers. to show
~ d Sc the
returned them to power; (some doubt this and
say they usurped 1T by the adoption OF the shot
gun policy, and there is good show of reason in
the donbt) and they no sooner found them
selves safely entrenched than the people began
to hear of Traditional measures" regarding the
debt. The Riddleberger settlement which was
all right until they found themselves In power,
needed the touch OF the Bourbon magician to
Well everyone who reads the VIRGINIAN can
testify to the fact that its voice was raised
against additional legislation and the rea-
sons given were full and complete.
But blindly Bourbonism went ahead and To-
tue very state of affairs that the VIRGINIAN
declared would exist, does exist and in an emil
nent degree.
The whole machinery of the State govern
ment is ont of joint and the Bourbons who are
responsible for it stand helplessly looking on
while the couoon is gobbling up the revenues
of the State.
and held their boycotting meetings by the hum
dred, but these only teach the people that they
have the right to do what the city taxpayers
have been doing for years, yiz,. to pay with
a coupon costing so cents dollar in taxes.
Some few may hold back under dread of the
lash against which the VIRGINIAN has SO often
advised them to rebel, but the masses are ac-
cepting the chance offered them by democratic
ld0 to save SO cents ont of every dollar they owe
the State.
And behold the spectacle. First, Atty.-Gen
Ayres commands the treasurers to levy and
tod f1,nfr
ton and compelled his trespassing treasurels to
pay damages for trespass. He quits the Indem-
nfying Board and advises against levy.
And treasurers who were quick to levy, sell
and hi e behind the Board now declare that
future legislatures may put their sureties to
trouble by Traditional legislation on the in
Identifying question.
A year ago and but few OF the people here
abouts of either party thought for a moment of
using coupons But Immediately after Fitz
Lees proclamation advising his people to meet
in their cOurthouses and pass bOycottng leso-
buttons and organize themselves to destroy the
business, social standing, &C., of those who
chose to avail themselves of the law, say
immediately and before the requested meeting
was fairly adjourned, many were seeking where
they might find the coupons.
Now there is no difficulty, and for at least two
DAYS preceding Dec. lst, the Treasprer's Offlce
was crowded with those who come to make the
tender. 1t still goes on. Thousands are being
paid in this way and thousands more Will be.
No power can stop 1t. People will not pay doll
lars w len half dollars will answer, no matter
if the Woe begone, whipped out and rapidly
dA ing (figurat1vely) out honor shrlekers scream
till they turn black.
An amendment to the constitution is all that
is left to the State to avoid the payment OF her
.deDt-declared vehemently by these same gen
ltlemen but Short-tiine ago as so acred that
the torch should be placed to the school houses
rather than that the last cent be not paid.
OLD DEMOCRAT.