Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-17
Beware or COupOns-The Farmers
SPEAK.
JUNE II, 1883.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:


JUNE II, 1883.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Richmond Dispatch may we'll be CALI
ed "The ARti-Coupon Paper" Virgipians
appreciate the noble tight you have made.
Your pointed and able editorial OF June 10th
('The Virginia Debt") prompts this letter.
The organs OF the bondholders may use
abusive language about Virginia; may make
threats as often a. they please; may try 10
ruin us socially and financially, yet they cam
not surpass in impudence, in arrogance, and
hypocrisy the actions. declarations, and
resolutions OF the bondholders themselves.
It Is not improper at this time 10 recall to
the public some Of the actions, declarations,
and resolutions Of these bondholders, who
are now urging our people TO pay taxes IN
coupons.
| wish every Virginian could read Senate
Document No. l8-Viz., Report OF Spe-
cial Joint Committee appointed to confer
with Commission OF Council OF Foreign
Bondholders." II so / do not believe any
Virginian would use coupons again. Let
me quote from this report: Mr.. Braith-
waite | am free 10 admit that we are
pledged not to accept the Iiddeberger set
tlement," page SO. 10 speaking OF the tax
re eiyable coupons Dir. Braithwaite says:
" IL would be an essential condition IL any
arrangement whatever that is made with
those classes OF debts, which all possess the
security OF the taX-recelYable coupons should
in some form or other retain that security.
That is an absolute sine qua non OF any ne
gotiaton between Us. 1t Is not open 10 dis
cussion. Our bands are absolutely tied on
that point. and If they were not tied | think
we would tie them ourselves" Page 90.
Willie this Joint committee was comforting
with The agents Of the bondholders from
April sOh to NAY II, 1887, the bondhold-
ers did rot even suspend their warfare, Tor
during this time the following circular was
published and distributed in Richmond:
"To IICESsE-TAx PLYERs.-You can tender
coupons for your ncense-iax and save large
proportion OF your taX-bill-
Full legal protection free OF costs guaran-
tsed. Nearly $685. 100 OF coupons have been ton
dered in Richmond alone during the past twelve
months
your own pocket, but you will enectually help
10 ssttle the debt question by forcing the state
20 come 10 an arrangement with The bond
holders "
OF May.
"Apply at Oil Main street, Room No. @"
The bondholders adopted the following
resolution In Tendon September "a, 1856:
"Rssolrtd, That this meeting dsplores the long
contest into which the bondhOdOrs have been
forced for the maintenance Of their rights, aud
while asserting its steadfast Determination not
10 accept tho kiddloberger scttement- when In
view OF the admitted ability OF virgins 70 setus
with her creditors and tho sacrioce5 they nave
already made on her behalf II considers dis
honest snd unjust, hereby expresses It's Wiling
ness 70 meet the state and entertain reasonable
compromise based upon the present tax Allon
and available revenue, after providing TOT mo
constitutional appropriation for government
schools, and other public expenditures"
This resolution WAS sent TO the Ex-
ecutlye, and he in his message 10
the General Assembly OF Virginia,
December. 1886, referred 10 the public
debt OF Virginia. Governor Lee recom-
mcnded a commission Of boDdholders and
legislative committees; and when the mes
sage was read I'm London paper published
In that city used the following rude and In
sultipg language:
"People 90 not generally surrender their
rights at the invitation OF those who have been
automatically attempting 10 defraud them OF
them aud who have failed Ia so doing"
As far back as May, 1874, the bondholders
in London said
"Untll Virginia redeemed the oft-renewed
promises made 10 the bondhOlders, 1t was ini-
possible for them 10 permit Virginia 70 obtain
new loans on any OF the European m2rkos.
They would exclude Virginia from the moaey
markets OF the world. II they excluded virginia
from the money markets then they would get
their money"
The above shows the bondholders have in
terms insulted the Executive, the Legisla-
ture, and the people, and are still making
their warfare. The above extracts are the
very essence Of impudence, arrogance, and
hypocrisy.
But still some OF our people are using cou-
pons NJ paying their taxes. Well, il our
own people aid the bondholders and thereby
cause the coupon war to continue, then the
remedy is pain-the country people
are almost ready 10 raise the cry;
the farmers patience Is getting tbreadbare;
the laborer Will join In tue fight; the
country merchant will join in the cry; tue
professional man will follow; the mechanic
will use his influence, and "Repudiation
will as an issue sweep through our counties,
and the cry will be exceedingly popular in
the cities, even IL some OF the citizens In our
Virginia cities have used.eoupons lp paying
taxes or licenses.
wish the Second Auditor would publish
how many coupons have been used In The
past six months, by whom used, and where.
Let the country people see who are willing
10 have schools closed. our Confederate sol
dlers not receive provisions, and our asylums
not receive their appropriations. Coupons
cannot be used 10 support schools, aSyiltnaS,
and pau uounded soldiers. The bondholders
may say we have rights, aud the tax payers
may say we baye nights and we will use
coupons. Then let the people OF Virgins
saw, we have rights also; we VIII have our
schools, our ssylums shall be supported,
our soldiers shall have their pensions, ana We
now wasn't a constitutional amendment 70 give
the bondholders certain time 10 accept the
terms Of the Riddleberger settlement, and II
not accepted by that time "repudiate the
debt" Seii-preseryation is the first law OF
naAre.v This is the way the people In the
country feel towards coupons and coupon
users. II the issue Is made aud successful
the bondholhers cannot look at us and
say "You did It," but we can shake our
then free locks at tho bondholders
aud eoupoa.users and say "You drove Us
20 Il; We have made every Offer and you
spufned us; we had to protect ourselves"
While the country people are Interested
deeply IN national politics, yet they are
watching closely our State matters, and nj
the proper time the volcano against coupons
viii burst forth and bury into merted obli-
won everything that sayors OF coupons.
This is warning from the country.
FARMER.