The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-05-29
The Coupon Decision.

tlcianS would consider the interests Oh
the State paramount The Richmond Dis
patch, always foremost in giving par
tizan Interpretation to questions which
properly belong To the domain OF states
manship, intinlates that agitation is still
to continue, and the State invoke to
compromise its honor, by further at
tempts to nullify the plain meaning OF
the decree of the highest court in the
land. The Times, equally AS earnest in
its adherence to- Democracy, is far more
broad minded and practical in its sugges
tions, in that it favors the creation o.
a tribunal or commission to take the
whole subject under consideration, in the
light OF the opinion of the Supreme
Court. and address itself to a final dispo-
sition Of the controversy.
Virginia has suffered enough by reason
of the debt agitation. There is no hon
est conviction as 1t affects principle or
the true interests OF the Commonwealth
with the Sc who may persist in quibbllng
and the recommendation of legislation
to eyade the law as laid down by the
court. When the Democratic Supreme
Court of the State in 1872 decided
that coupons must be received for the
school tax in the face OF the plain man
date of the constitution defeating GER
tain revenues to the public schools, the
Dispatch sustained the opinion, as did
the whole Democratic party, Judge Sta
pies, of the Court, being the only proni-
nent Democrat who held differently.
Now when the Supreme Court OF the
United States has formally and finally
emphasized the opinion OF Judge Staples
and those who believed with him, in
favor of the State, it would be the super-
lative of folly not to take the opinion
AS a whole and conform legislation to 1t.
But if we do not mistake the purpose OF
the Dispatch, it invites to further aglta-
ton, further disregard of the supreme
law of the country, further trouble Tor
the people, and further dishonor to the
State. Is it not time such insanity We're
stopped ?? Are the people OF Virginia
never to have respite from the partiZan
appeals. of designing demagogues, and
I to be forever the prey OF men who con
/ slider her interests and her reputation
/ secondary to party necesf titles?
I 1t should not be forgotten that the
decision of the Supreme Court OF the
/ State, declaring that coupons should be
received in payment for taxes, appro
4 priated by the constitution to the public
/ schools. gave birth to the Readiuster
party, t'4at it discovered and defeated
the Democratic party. and finally place
the legislative, executive and Judicial
powers Of the Commonwealth in the
hands OF the party thus created
Resistance to the decree of the Sn
preme Court of the United States would
lead TO similar party disruption and dis
aster The opinion is sound III reason
and addresses itself to the approval O
all common sense men. 1t will be sus
tanned by the people, and the party thai
seeks to evade or nullify any part OF 1t
will meet with the same fate that the
Democratic party did, when it attempt
ed to rob the schools OF their constltn
support through the mandate OF par
tizan court.
There was not sensible man i'll the
Commonwealth who did not believe the
court was wrong in decreeing that cou
pons must be received Tor GU taxes IN
Guiding the revenues appropriated by
the State constitution to the public
1 nd
right when he delivered his able opinion
sustaining the fundamental law of The
4 Commonsealth, and as consequence
the public school system. And party
influences and partiAan prestige were
poweress to stem the tide Of public
opinion. in favor Of the plain, practlca
and banehcent construction of the eordi
nal law of the State, as given by Judge
Staples. Norwill theybe powerful enough
now that the Supreme Court OF the
United States has soiemnlysannounced
the law and the principle growing out Of
it, to rest the current OF public senti
ment in favof OF the decision.
The people want the debt question
disposed Of 1t is disposed OF, and thai
by such authority as they will respect
and obey, and those who may seek Il
impair or nullify that which the cour
has declared will place themselves in al
indefensible position, where public re
buke will be administered in no uncer
tain way.
The suggestion Of the Times. in tbs
following paragraph, points to the tfnt
policy of the State. After enunierating
the points decided by the Suprem'
Court, it says: fef.
Now, what does all this mean? Simply. tina
wise ana sensible men on either side, who hay
no personal ambition to serve; no official posi-
| ton to MAINTAIN. no axe to grind, but who, OF
tbs one haai, as citizens OF the State, desire T.
preserve the leace and dignity OF the Common
wealth. and who, on the other. as bondholderS
wish to 5ta1n what the State is able tG pay, AM
no III IRE, should speedily as possible opel
such he 5otiations as viii lead to an intelligen
and just settlement Of this debt, upon its intfiti
sic merits, regardless OF threats OF Reputation
on the one side CT of exaction OF the last dolla
on the other.
1t is the spirit that should animat
and cont oil both the State and her cred
itors 1t is the only way through which
an honorable and peaceful solution 0
the question can be reached. Certainl.
the people want no more obstructiv'
legislation. by which costs would b.
piled up, business disturbed and par
a!yzed disgrace and dishonor incurred
and finally the State be pilloried befor,
the country, by another rebuke from thu
most august tribunal in the world. Thu
State cannot afford it. The people
will not allow it. They feel that the,
have been made the plaything of self
seeking demagogues long enough, ant
7 when il comes to an issue between til,
Supreme Court and INSCRIPTIONS place
hunters and pestiferous politicians, the,
will declare their purpose in terms tia
cannot be misunderstood.
The plan suggested by the Times j
practicable, it is honorable and will b,
approved by the great mass of the intel
/ ligeGt voters OF the Commonwealth
we trust some such method will b.
formulated and adoptsd. and that al
honest, brave and persistent effort b,
made to adjust the complications ant