Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-03-18
Honor to Whom Honor is Due.
Valley Virglnian.

Honor to Whom Honor is Due.
Valley Virglniau.
The final settlement of the State debt
question in the acceptance OF the propo-
,it;on of the Olcott Commission, Is mat
Ter of universal congratulatlon with all
yirplnians. While this suspicious and
pregnant result is commanding the ap-
proyal of the people, it is not out OF place
TO revert to the actual anthor of the basis
of this settlement, and accord honor TO
whom honor is due. The Riddleberger
bill. so fiercely denounced a few years
ago. Is the basis of the present settlement
The plan of that bill was the suggestion
of the late Judge George r. Calvert, oil
New Marker, Shenandoah county, Va 1t
was with him that the late Hon. IL. ii.
Riddleberger, then a member OF the VIZ
pinia Senate, conferred, and by him that
the main idea of the Riddleberger bill was
suggested. These two gifted sons OF Shen-
andoah county worked together on the
skeleton of the measure, probed into the
facts of the States real Indebtedness, and
with the valuable assistance OF Others
brought forth the bill that was finally
adopted by the Legislature and constl'
tutes the basis of the present settlement
That measure was fair and honest stare
meut of the condition of the debt and the
obligations of the Commonwealth. In no
particular has any OF the facts produced
and incorporated in the bill, been success
fully assailed. 1t has withstood criticism
from every source, but in no criticism was
the formulation of the debt found to De
erroneous, after patient investigation
the only feature of it that was subject 10
censure. was the rate of interest IL pro-
yided for. 1t was not cOntended that the
ORIGINAL debt did not call for per cent
nor that the State did not contract to pay
that rate. But the impoverished condltion
of the Commonwealth, as the result Oh
war. the destruction of all personal val
nas. the industrial disorder that preVail'
cd. and the general ruin that swept over
Virginia, were regarded as sufficient JUST
ficatlon fer placing the interest charge al
2 ner cent. This was the reason and ex'
cuss for incorporating in the BILL the
only feature that was justly subject &c
criticism.
What was known as the ReadjuStel
party, may fairly claim the credit OF the
nresent Debt settlement, although those
who were opposed to that party and &c
the terms of this settlement, are now IL
favor and gave their unanimous endorse
ment to il. No political force ever or
ganized ia this or any other State was
eyer so maligned. denounced and SANDER
ed as was the Readjusters, and yet nc
PARTY ever worked out more sanitary re-
suits. or consummated so much good 1Or
people as did that party for the State Of
Viginia. 1t grasped the situation WIN
master hand; it grappled with conditions
which appalled, the most courageous; II
encountered prejudice the most intense
and faced hostile forces the most malig
nant yet 1t moved right along on tine
line of reform and in the path OF duty tC
the Commonwealth, until it fulfilled every
promise made and consummated every re-
form assured.
1t is due to the memories of Hon. h. ID
Riddleberger and Judge George K. Cal
vert that their relation to this subject
should be mentioned, and it is due 10 the
much malIgned "Readjusters that the
work they accomplished should not b'
forgotten in the congratulations that no"
come up from every source, on the occa
sion of the final disposition of the CUES
ton which was the paramount subject O
their legislation. Time has amply vindi
Gated them and the verdict of creditor
and debtor has emphasized the wisdom o.
their course.