Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-01
rho Reruhl,oans and the Debt.

The Republicans and the Debt
II reported from Washington that Dir.
Yosr. the Republican congressman OF that
name from Virginia, said the other day that
he knew that movement was on 1907, not
NV the foreign creditors nor their SCENTS,
bn, by dislnterestei VlrRinians. to euect
settlement Of the State debt Mr.. losr SAID
N the subject could he removed from politcs
and submitted 20 the people, he believed
they would agree to allow the creditors more
satisfactory terms than those contained IN
the RIpDLEngRGER bill, provided the H.
tcrssts az the state institutions were pro-
tecied. and the rate Of tsxdIon not increased.
II there rs any such movement" on foot,
u IL being made by persons totally unsc'
ouainied with public business. and lncapa'
Die o. realizing the harm which their unwise
efforts are doing the State. How would
these men 90 about efectDg settlement OF
the State debty Has not Virginia offered
for the last seven years 10 settle with the
bondholders upon the terms set forth In the
RrupLyBERGRR act? What more can any
reasonable man expect her governmental do
when her people have again aud again de-
clared at the ballot-box that they will offer
no better terms than are contained In that
lawi
"Disuterested Yireinsns is good. How
aud why "dsinterested DO they pay no
tsxess or do they own no bondsy And
what has become OF the patriotism or state
pride Of those Virgnlans who are not in
teresied IN the fight between their mother
State and the spectators in her bonds:
MIR. YOsT probably knows that General
MALONE, and not Mr.. YOsT, IS the man
whom the Democrats must watch when they
desire 10 learn what the Republican party
intends 20 do this year In regard TO the state
debt The General has hundred thousand
followers who pay no taxes worth speaking
Of and are go thoroughly disinie1ested
that they will endorse the little General
whether he comes ont for repudistng the
whole State debt or for paying all OF II.
The anti MALONE boilers have not influence
enough With the negroes to make Themselves
felt 10 a state convention OF the Republican
party. II T.. therefore, we repeat, for Gene
raj MALONE, aud not the boilers. TO say what
will next fall he the attitude Of the Republ-
can party relative to the state debt.
Nevertheless, Mr.. YOsT's offs" sre nu'
merous enough 10 save his reputation as a
prophet. We can all agree in predicting
that II the debt could be removed from
politics aud submitted to the people they
might agree TO pay hundred or two dollars
more Than The RIDDLEBERGER hill provides
for paving II the rate OF taxation was not to
be increase thereby. and II provision was
made for supporting all the state instltu-
tons, and for keeping up the public schools
and for enabling the State government to
exist itself aud perform all its functions.
We are afraid that Mr.. Yosr himself
would vote fora Republican candidate Tor
Governor in preference TO Democratic can
dldate. even though the latter were to de-
clare in favor OF paying the whole State debt,
and the former were to declare in favor OF
repudiatng The whole Slate debt. MALONE
"made politics" Of the debt question In
1S59-dyided the Democratic party upon
it-snd It has ever since been in "poltics."
Whoever encourages the boDdholders to
persist in refusing TO accept the terms OF the
UIppLEBERGgR settlement does the State
great wrong, whether his motive be good or
bad, selfish or unselfsh. lie II is that is re-
sponsble for the continued use OF coupons;
for the employment OF lawyers to hsrass the
old Commonwealth; for the numerous suits
now pending against her or her citizens
growing out OF the use or attempted use OF
coupons TO pay taxes with. lie 4" is WHO
will be responsible, and who viii he he'd
responsible, II on the 9th day CT November
next MALONE shall again ride INTO power on
the debt question, and II next year negro
trustees shall be appointed to conduct white
public schools. II Is saddening reflection
that there should be any Virginlans, inter-
ested so little ia Nirginla's prosperity, so
"disinteres,ed in conflict between her
and MALONE rule, as to be expected to vote
the Republican ticket at any election.