Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-04-20
The Virginia Regulators and the Amateur Pho
tographsr.
To the editor of the alexandria Gazette:

DISPATCH of the 9th ult, which have just
seen, it would appear that that journal is
using its best endeayors to find some means
whereby the long expected reign of 'peace
and happiness, truth and justice, religion
and piety," promised by the Governor to all
good and consistent regulators, in his mes
sage to the Legislature, may he commenced
in Virginia without further delay. Unfor-
lunately for myself land doubtless there are
MANY like mel the larger portion of my
modest patrimony was, many years ago, in
vested in Virginia bonds, and, up to the
present time, the action of the State has not
impaired any large amount of "peace and
happiness" to my mind. Thinking, at any
rate, that might, in my humble way, pro.
mote the cause of truth and justice"
asked friend of mine, who occupies his
innocent leisure with a small Photographic
camera, to photograph the face of one of the
tax receivable coupons. [ wished to obtain
a lasting memorial of the terms Of the con-
tract existing between Virginia and myself,
which would also serve as a warning to my
friends and others against putting their
faith in the promises OF a religious and
Nous" but dishonest State. The likeness
was so far successful that it was a reprOduc
ton of the original coupon, much on the
same way as thy carte de viste is repro
ducion of myself. One of these photo
graphs came under the notice of The Pan
AuV Gazette, which express ad its opinion
that "such telling advertisement of the
dshonor by Virginia OF its own coupons,
| might hasten the conversion OF the Slate TO
honesty" A copy of this paragraph: 10
gether with one of the coupon photographs,
was sent to the editor Of the Richmond Dis
| patch, and has called forth the remarkable
| editorial referred TO above. Now mark the
dreadful result Of being an amateur pho.og-
| rapher. The Dispatch sees in the photo.
graph the long looked for means whereby
| the creditors of the State can be ignomni.
ously nut to confusion and Reputation eS-
tablished for ever in Virginia on the best
and surest foundations. The Dispatch adj
mits that whereas there has hitherto been q
difficulty in procuring n counterfeit coll-
pom, owing to there being no such thing in
existence, the State has, Notwithstanding
this fact, made the assumption that such
existed in large numbers, the reason and
excuse for her readjusting policy. Now,
says the Dispatch, we have at length OBJ
tanned what we have been SO long in want
Of we can now show that forged coupons
really exist and hence every one must ad
nit that coupon killer laws wero an abso
lutte necessity! Has the editor of the Dis
match ever heard certain little story about
q largo mountain and q ridiculous mouse?
| If / had not seen former articles in the Dis
patch should have supposed that the jour-
nal was sort of Virginian Punch and l
should perhaps have smiled at its humor,
but knowing the peculiar views it now
holds on the debt question must endeavcr
10 treat its editorial seriously, especially as OF
some Of the remarks therein made show
want Of righteousness, whilst others are an
eutire perversion of the truth. TO say 'the
photographs are facsirnles and tina" the cou-
pons are counterfeted" is disingenuous; TO
assert that the counterfeit is as good as the
| genuine coupon so far rs any person not an
expert can testify" aud that collecting
officers could not detect the real character"
is simply untrue. The photographs are in
different reproductions of the face OF tax
receivable coupon, the backs are entirely
blank and they are printed on the ordinary
alhumenized paper. They are, of course
coorless, so that no child could possibly mis-
take the photograph for the original coupon.
Neither in appearance, color, nor texture
does oven the face of the photograph resem
be tho face Of the coupon. As, however,
should not like the friends Of the Dispatch,
who will, no doubt, flock to its Office to see
this wonderful forgery, to sulier disnppoint-
ment when they find how grossly they have
been misled, | will take the editor into my
confidence and disclose TO him Il plan where
by he can get over the difficulty which must
always arise from the want Of resemblance
between photograph and its original. Let
| the editor purchase two small pieces flook
ing glass and hang these up on opposite
walls in the editorial sanctum then, when
crowd Of friends has collected in the outer
office. lot him admit them and hold up u
genuine coupon between tho mirrors. Every
visitor can then lruthiu!iy say he has plain.
| " seen q counterfeit prcsentment of genll-
inc coupon, both back and front, and alike
to the original in color and all other respects
What more can the Dispatch want? Here
is the whole difficulty solved in q simple and
inexpensive manner, and tho discovery Of
such happy idea cannot fail to be a first
rate advertisement for the Dispatch itself.
Personally, ] should be only too glad to hear
that the State had produced one Of my pho
tographs in court in order TO prove that
forged coupons were in circulation. Such
an act would do the bondhoders' cause tho
greatest possible good, and the fact Of the
| Dispatch suggesting so absurd and miserable
| preteyt as this shows to what a desperate
condition the regulators have been driven.
1t is difficult to believe that journal which
was once the advocate Of public morality,
can degrade its position and misuse its in
luence by publishing articles which are
painful to read from their entire want Of re-
gard for the good name and honor Of the
State. In conclusion I can only express
wish that the editor Of the Dispatch will
sond me photograph of himself with full
instructions how to pass it off for the orgi
| nal. I can then introduce him to my
| friends, who, I feel sure, will truthfully say
that they feel Just as much satisfaction as
though they had seen the editor himself.
| beg to offer you, sir, my grateful thanks
for your consistent advocacy Of tho bond
holders cause, and remain
Your obedient servant,
The INDIGNANT CRANK"
who had the coupons photographed.
LONDON, England, April 9, 1886.