The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-08-31
A. AE.,,-I C.nand.

without the slightest foundation Tor the
charge, strengthens the suspicion, which
is JUSTIFIED by circumstances, that our
nelghbor Is either trying TO shift somel
ching not very deGensible from Demo-
cratic shoulders. or Is imagining that It
can create an Issue in the absence of one
which will prove effective. Its repeated
statements concerning the attitude Of
the Republican party on this matter are
as false and baseless as any campaign
canard ever invented. There Is no eyi-
dence that any party organization has
ever favored any deal with regard to the
certificates.
The InteillEeneer desires to call atten-
ton to one or two assertions, which. are
easily disproven. and show how desper-
ate Is the case with those who are trying
to make campaign capital out of some
thing which has no existence whatever.
The Intelllgencer took occasion to deny
the Registers charge that the Re-
publican leaders in this state are con-
spring to saddle" upon the people the
payment OF the so-called Virginia de-
ferred certificates held by a syndicate
of eastern capitalists. The Register In
response declares that 1t "is natural for
this paper to deny the existence of the
leaders scheme of plumber" Then the
Register repeats for the third time in
succession the falsehood that the Re-
publican side of the legislature favored
this scheme and would have passed It,
but for the stone wall opposition of the
Democratic minority"
1t is unnecessary to recall to the pub
lie mind that the legislature of 1895
voted unanimously not to recognize In
any way the Virginia debt. The Repub-
lican party has never declared for the
recognition. nor mas the party ever Eav-
ored any treatment Of the question on
any basis save that originally warrants
ed and which Virginia ignored by re-
fuslng to receive our commissioners. In
the legislature referred to the only vote
cast favoring taking up the consIdera-
ton of the debt question was cast by a
Democratic state senator.
A fact which should settle the whole
question as to the attitude of the Re-
publican party on this question is en-
tirely ignored by the issue-hunting falsi-
fiers who are charging 1t with having a
"scheme" on foot. 1t is the following
plank in the state platform, upon which
the Republican party won success in the
last election:
I'VE most heartily approve the action
Of the last legislature In declining I'M
conditIonally the offer TO make a settle
mCut OF the state debt Of Virginia exist
lrg prior to the first day of January.
1851. We do not believe that
West Virginia owes one cent OF that debt
and we are opposed 10 any further nego-
tlations on the subject"
This our neighbor Will observe, was
adopted In 1885 by the Republican state
convention without dissenting voice.
It certainly does not show plot by the
leaders to saddle" the matter on the
people.
The talk by the Register Of a secret
consideration" of this alleged scheme"
at last weeks meeting OF the Republic
can state committee at Parkersburg is
the veriest nonsense. The Registers
statement that 1t was there decided to
take up the matter should the lesisll-
ture be Republican is too silly for any
one to believe. In this connection our
neIghbor declares that, 'If any further
proof were needed 1t is to be found in
the advertisement that has been promi-
nent in the papers in New York and
West Virginia, to the effect that an eff
fort will be made to adjust this debt be-
fore an advisory board of known integ-
rity, us outlined in these (the Regis
ter's) columns"
Proof of what? Proof simply that the
certificate holders will make an effort,
Where Is the proof that any political
party is interested. unless It be the
Democratic? What connection does the
Register find between R, P. Chew
(named in the advertisement as one OF
the promoters of the effort, and who is
one of the leading Democrats of West
vlrginia), and the Republican state
committee or the Republican plrty2
OF the advisory board which the Regis
ter refers to. every member OF II is a
distinguished Democrat, at least two OF
them Of international prominence. They
are Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, William
Plnkney whyte, Edward ]. Phelps and
George G. Williams. Where is there
Republican name connected with the
matter, either directly or indirectly?
One OF the chief promoters is our old
Democratic friend james NJ. Mason. of
Jefferson county, with headquarters in
New York.
There seems to be something back OF
this sudden Democratic attempt to
spring new and absurd Issue, solely
based on an advertisement for which no
political party Is responsible. The pub
lie will do well to keep an eye on the
partisan organs that raise the cry of
stop thief" The record of the Repub-
lean party speaks for Itself on this debt
question. That party made the record
originally. 1t is responsible FOR the
proposition which Virginia Ignored and
tboreb,, EorfoIted hnr right tn nur rom