The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-29
That Debt Question.

With the approach OF the election for
a new legislature. the old Virginia debt
scheme Is being revived and there seems
70 be an intention on the part of some
Democratic papers and politicians in the
state tc make Of 1t an issue. in the abb
sence of something else they may call
an issue, for the campaign. Already
they are boldly. and indlscreetly. We
may say. charging that Republican
plan is on foot to recognize the deferred
certificates of West Virginia. and to
compel the people of this state to pay
a debt they do not owe.
Every assertion Of this nature is abb
solute!y baseless. The newspapers
making 1t cannot make good any
charge that Republicans OF West
Virginia are in any way interest
ed In a consideration OF the deb; upon
any other ground than chat proposed by
the commission which was appointed in
accordance with the ordinance provided
on the erection OF the state, and which
the Virginia legislature declined to re-
ceiye. That was a long while ago and.
Virginia then forfeited her right for
consideration. The Wall street specu-
lators know this as well as they know
anything; they know also that II there
is any political scheme at all to capture
the legislature in the interest OF the
holders of the preferred certificates 1t
will not be found in the Republican
ranks. The records of the Republican
party and of the legislatures nave been
consistent, and there is no record sus-
taInlng any charge which the Demo-
cratic organs are so freely making.
1t will not do for the Democrats of this
state to raise this question as polIt-
ical issue. There are leading Democrats
at the bottom of the latest scheme
which Is proposed to secure "a compro-
mise and settlement of the Interstate
debt" and which emanates from Wall
street. The position of this state on the
debt matter has always been an honor
able one, from the very beginning. 1t
vas SO under the Republican admInis-
trations from the. organization Of the
state until the day they went out of
power. It has been so since they re-
sumed power. 1t will be SO always in
the future. There is TO be no sad
ding" of anything on this state which
1t does not owe, by the Republican
party.
In connection with this matter, the
Register, of this city, on Saturday had
the following. in an editorial, which has
not the slightest foundation:
There Is one other thing the Republl-
can state executive committee consider
ed in connection with the campaign
the Virginia debt question. We have
already alluded TO the fact that that old
scheme to blk this state OF millions for
the benefit Of n Wall street syndicate.
who bought up these debt certificates
for little more than their value as old
paper, Is sure to come before the next
legislature. OF this scheme the Regis
ter has more to gay In another article.
Suffice It now to indicate the prominent
fact that the 6, o. p. henchmen are
planning in advance how to handle the
delicate matter.
The Register should be competent to
make good that assertion before pub
fishing 1t. It is made of whole cloth.
AS the campaign proceeds we shall see
who are in any scheme to blk this
state of Millions" as the Register
claims. None of them will be found in
the Republican party. II there are any
in West Virginia no one will go to Re-
publican committee rooms to obtain
roster OF them.