Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-31
Virginia Must Stand Firm"
One whom Virginia has honored with
high Office, and who was worthily thus
honored. writes to us as follows:

TO fEs Editor Of TIE Dispatoh:
In your wise and timely editorial OF to-
dey headed Virginia Must stand Firm
You fall into one serious MEASUREMENT OF
fact when you say, "a respectable number
OF whose citizens are advising the people
10 nav their taxes In coupons, or rather ed.
visipg them TO countenance the payment OF
taxes In coupons fyou meant 10 aver that
a respectable number OF pfr0infnns we're so
doing. In the same article you cite the TACT
that there are $4,000 Taxpayers IN vlr-
einia. Now, the information obtained by
The last General Assembly from oinclai
sources proved that the number OF TAX.
payers who had sought to compel me siate
toreceive coupons for taxes was about 800.
4. e. not over one In 1000! DO you call
this respectable nuDterf
But my object In writing this Is TO invoke
yourattention TO the strange fact that while
on the one nd the great host Of tax payers
and voters have been ready for the past Two
wears 10 meet In public assembly In their
counties and towns and give emphatlc ana
imposing expression 10 TINS overwhelming
public sentiment. there has been DO an.
thoritative call or advice Issued TO the PEG.
ple by their constituted and recognized
oy0ans and representatives 70 hold such
meetings and proclaim TO the world tne
settled sentiment and purpose oil NE VII
GINA people on this Vital issue. Neither
the Democratic State Committee nor the
General Assembly has Issued such call OF
advice. call this strange, because all ae-
nit that the efiectual remedy agaihst the
coupon cut worm is in the hands Of the
people. why then, when the people are
ripe and ready TO voice their sentiment as
20 the evil and the Injury OF the enoIis
mad by the few who are seeking 10 breaR
down the Riddleberger settlement, DO we
see the representative or rams OF the Demo-
cratic party falling to take the usual steps
10 evoke, unity, and obtain emphatic ex-
preston OF this public sentiment?
II Ia no answer tosay that the way Is open
10 the people 10 meet Of their own accord:
Everybody familiar with the condition OF
virginia knows that the people are en-
crossed with their domestic labors and cares
and are accustomed to look TO their recog-
rized leaders to summon them 10 the nus.
tipgs for such expression OF their views. III
is 10 be hoped that our patriotic Governor
seeing how important II is to employ the
potent lever OF united and Indignant pub
ic sentiment in settling this vital issue.
will avail himself OF the resolution passed
by the last General Assembly re-
ouegting him to issue an address TO
the people on the subject OF the public debt,
and so shape the address as 10 make 1t eff
feciual for rousing and obtaining an unmis-
taxable expression of the will and purpose
of the people. Your space is too valuable,
nor is IL needed by Intelligent minds. TO
descant upon the power which our united
and publicly proclaim public sentiment
exerts In REFRESHING the schemes and efforts
OF ~ isgulded or selfish men who are harass-
Ing the state and imperilling It's welfare.
CITIZEN.