The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-11-25
THANKSGIVING.

pirate for people to whom so many bless
ngs Lave been youchsafed than the annual
of thanksgiving. A country
at peace with all the world, prosperous
beyond estimate. with the advantages of
civilization beyond the measure Of almost
every other nation, religious and educa-
tional institutions in every community;
health and comfort diffused throughout
all the avenues of society the loves and
smiles Of home and friends, and the prom
Use of future of enlightened progress
and unparalleled abundance as condition
for which thanks should be rendered.
When the annual invitation has been issued
by the President of the United States to OBJ
serve the ceremony of thanksgiving, We
have always urged respect for it by the peo-
pie, and have wondered why it was that in
the past it had been SO slightly noticed. I'm
der former administrations the invocations
of Thanksgiving proclamations have been
passed by, If not with sneer, with cold
disrespect. and very little outward show
even of its observance manifested. There
is change now, however, simply because
the proclamation comes from Democrat
ic President, as though the mercies of
Heaven and the watchful care of Provi-
dence come through a Democratic adj
ministration. Such phariseeism can find
no defence with sober-minded men, and
however broad its phylacteries may be
spread, the sincerity Of the thanks may
be well questioned. But, whatever the
circumstances and influences that draw
the people together to seriously acknowl-
edge their obligations to merciful Ruler
and make manifestation of gratitude to
an indulgent and kind Providence. it is
well that they assemble in the places ap-
propriated to the worship Of the Giyer of
every good and perfect gift. An all seeing
eye will discern the motive. and an I'M
erring Judgment will follow ttl4'saction.
for be it assured that God is not deceived.
however much forms and ceremonies may
lack the spirit of genuine devotion.
The danger that threatens is danger
to the creditors and to the State, alike /:
for it is the danger of populations State.
There are now among them 1.-THE people)
many who are in favor of downright re-
pudiation. In fact, if the voters were
asked to say this year at the ball0t-box,
whether the debt should be repudiated or
not, majority Of them would probably
vote in the affirmative. Dispatch.
These are utteranceS from two Of the
metropolitan Democratic journals, both
claiming to speak for their party. Wheth-
er the writers of the sentences really be-.
lieve what they have published. or design
the demoralizing threat to brighten the
creditors, we cannot say. The people of
Virginia have no idea of repudiating the
State debt. The policy of the Democratic
party has been for reputation from
the beginning. When the whole debt
was capitalized, by resolution, in 1866,
principal and interest amounting to some
thing like $45, 900, OO0, and a tax bill framed.
providing for levy of IA cents on the
800 worth of property, it was tanta-
mount to reputation. When the fund
ing bill of 1871 was adopted and the tax
of so cents on the 800 of property laid
it was taptamount to reputation. 1t left
an annual deficit of nearly $1,000. 900, and
this accommodating year after year. would
inevitably have forced reputation, by
sheer inability of the State to pay it. Eve
ry one knew that if the Legislature re-
fused to levy tax sufficient to pay the
coupons as they matured and for the sup
port of the State government and the
State institutions, and allowed the deficit
to accumulate year after year, that the
debt would reach such vast proper
tion, it would be out of the power of the
people to pay it. Yet when the Readjus-
tiers came into power. and recognizing
the situation, addressed themselves to an
equitable arrangement of the public debt.
that was denounced by these same papers
as reputation and highway robbery
They had no more right then in making
this charge against the people than they
have now. The people never intended to
repudiate the honest debt of the State,
1t was to prevent Reputation and deal
fairly with the State that the assumed debt
in the bill of 1871. was readjusted. That
ascertainment, to this day, stands unsuc-
cessfully assailed. 1t would have been
the settlement of to- day, had the party that
perfected it not been defeated by fraud
and violence. and the bitter enemies of that
adjustment placed in power. Although
by resolution adopting that settlement,
which it had denounced as reputation,
the Democratic party no sooner got power
than it proceeded to unsettle ito mutt
late its safeguards and open it again under
conditions far more harmful than ever be-
fore surrounded it.
"Repudiation" is no new term for the
Democratic press, therefore. 1t is a
charge they have used to misrepresent the
people and bring odium upon the State in
the past. just as iC is being injected into
present discussions to brighten the credi.
tors and defame the Commonwealth. The
people of Virginia will never "repudiate'
their honest obligations. When the lead
ers of the Democratic party shall unfurl
the flag for "repudiation'' they will find a
solid Republican force to oppose it-not
only a solid Republican opposition, but
the aid and co operation of the great body
of the people of the State.
But how could such crusade against
the State be waged? Neither the bonds
nor the coupons can be repudiated by party
platforms or party resolutions. The bonds
are not due, and until they are presented
for payment there could be no repudia-
ton. The coupons constitute self-ex-
ecuting contract. and while they may be
circumvented and delayed in their mis-
sion of paying all dues to the State, they
cannot be repudiated. They are legal
tender, fortified by the support of the
United States Supreme Court. and cannot
have their validity eliminated to suit the
exigencies of party that has done more
to bring reproach upon Virginia and be-
smirch her name than all other agencies
combined. az
s'Repudiation" is term for which the
Republicans of Virginia and the Nation
have no use except to condemn it,
When the question is presented whether
they will disown or repudiate the honest
debt Of the State ,or not, they will be found
n IL y \