Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-16
talon ana. !. We think. Our legislation

taken one. a. we think. Our legislation
for the last eight years has been aimed di-
rectly at the citizens OF virginia, hoping
by indirection 10 strike the creditor. We
place on our statute-voohs plan
and method by which taxpayers can
lsFath e;r taxes The Code Of Virginia
noints 10 a LEGAL highway by which cou-
hons can safely and surely reach her Trea-
surv. Virginia puts up sign-board say
ingihis Ia a legal highway. but when her
cit;zers ATTEMPT to travel it they End it
beset with thorns and briars purposely set
10 lacerate and annoy. IL does seem in
comprehensive that our rulers VIII frittcr
away oil their time ana energies TO IN
borass her own citizens when attempting to
avail themselves of the provisions of
V;rginiais own Law. II is passing strange
thef during the eight long years since the
Riddleherrer bill was enacted no hostile
1eoislation has been aimed Mt the defence
less priucipal of the creditor. How often
have our leaders proclaimed from the
stump. We would destroy their principal
If they persisted in annoying usg How,
bristling with Destruction, was
memorable gu5ernatorial proclamation
warning creditors Oh ndh r;ncn danger
ASPIRATION. All these promises, threats,
and proclainations are mournfully lu-
dicrous when compared with legis-
letive performances. So long has this
farce been kept up that bondholders re-
gard our threats with about as much in
difference as the British soldiers did the
Chinese gongs. and our people are begin
ming to regard promises OF forclble mea-
sures on the debt question es Munchausen
stories. The State either has the power
IN destroy the principal of the debt or she
does not have it. If the former, why does
she not use il? If the latter, why gull
and deceive the people any longer?
nc we have not the power to force
the creditor to us by an attack on his
principal. why in the name of common
sense and common honesty to our own
people do we not move upon 1t? Oh, say
some, we can keep out his coupons by
forcing our people not to use them, and
then he will have to surrender. VIII the
coupon have more vitality after the bond is
dead? We admit that it will have "a much,
butwe claim that to keep the bonds from
diving. or rather TO give them power to re-
surrect in the form of new 3's. many, very
many, coupons would be corraled. Oh, but
that is reputation, and how about Viz
ginia's honor? Itisnot reputation because
Che creditor has ample opportunity to re-
ceiye all that is due him as ascertalned by
q sovereign State. III tnlS De rtpuuMtlOn,
what do you call the operation of the
"Wickham amendment? What the sta
tute Of limitation in regard TO coupons !?
Why should men who swear fealty to the
Riddleberger bill and acts amendatory
thereof have qualms of conscience rs to q
limitation that involves the principall 1t
is very much like the man who could take
lamb with clear conscience, but
would never be so wicked as to wag
off with an old sheep. Glass legislation
is repugnant to the genius of Democracy.
The class who use coupons claim that they
have rights even under Virginias law that
arc assailed by special-class legislation.
When this seemed q temporary necessity
TO bridge over O chasm until Virginia's
powers could be put forth the people toLe-
rated force law aimed at citizens, hut when
the thing has been perpetuated for eight
years and seems TO be the settled policy
for fourteen years to come then the matter
becomes monotonous and serious.
This mastery inactivity rs regards the
principal and the vigorous obstruction OF
Virginia's coupon highway will pan out
much better in theory than in practice.
We should reverse our policy instead Of
harassing the taxpayer one moment
longer than it is necessary. We should
vigorously attack the creditors principal
or throw up the sponge and seek for terms.
PUDLIUs.