Year: 1878

As it is claimed with equal earnest
ness, by the flinders on one side and
by the Re- A djusters on the other, that
the Conservative party is fairly or
falsely represented, as the case may
be, in reference 10 the Debt Question,
il would be well for that question TO


be settled as soon Is practicable. But


by whom is it 10 be settled The


Funders, OF course. calling themselves
the Party would prefeE having The


matter entirely in their own hands,
with authOrity to dictate the policy of


the party, aud to taboo, as schismat-


les aud Rpoststee, all men protesting


to be Co. servatives, and at the same
time advocating a Re-Adiustment of
the Debt. The Re-AdjusteTs, on the
other hand, maintaining that the State


Convention Of the party, in August


last, very clearly pronounced in favor
of the policy they are pursuing, have


not the remOlest idea Of permitting


Themselves to be either dragOOusd in


to al abandonment of their course, or
To be communicated Us COnserVa-
tives l'y any couclave or committee
srrogsntly assuming The rightt 10 regu


late matters in the interest OF the
ItbLuAltfiOE niiO tLApHN 4AiNAtA8f VI t4lN


BOndhUlders, the FunGsTs, who in The
name of the honor Of Virginia are
sharpening the knife and holding the
scales for Shylock to cat Out and
weigh out the POUND Of flesh from his
victim. Each side claims that il is
carrying the flag of the party. Each
side claims that it is jeaiOusly guard
ing public veal Each side claims
.. t,-r
enforcement of It's own views in the
management of the fiscal affairs OF the
Commonwealth. What Is 10 be done
to reconcile the two conflicting fac
tions and restore harmony in the par
ty? What is to be done to prevent a
disastrous disorEap iZAtiOn of the great
aud powerful party that has so long
held this old State on its shoulders,
high above the surging sea that swal-
lowed up the liberties and swept away


the peace and happiness of other
Southern States ? W That is to be done


TO put aside and obviate the Opporju-
tuuity that seems to be offering for de-
signing demagOgUes to break up the
Conservative party, that they may
float into Office on the remnants
of the wreck ?


For our own part, and in the name
Of the Re-Adjusters. we say with per-
feet confidence: Let us have the is
sue. Let this question as TO the Debt
of the State be fairly and fully cam


vsss-d in every section, every district,
every county in the Commonwealth.
Let the voters of Virginia hear the


best neil on both sides, in frank and


fearless debate, throughout the length
aud the breadth of the State aud


then let lis hear from the people, the
Sovereign People themselves, as TO
what thea think and what they mean
to do about ii.


1t is Of the highest Importance, We
know, to the Conservatives in most of
the Eastern Counties, especially, that
| the party organization shall be main
tanned in all the vigOr OF it's discipline,
and that its esprit de corps shall be
undiminished. We are aware that
they are much exercised on this sub
iect aud it is most sincerely to be
hoped that the Funders will not dis
appoint and embarrass them by break
ing up the party with their old wo-


mans nopsenseabOut the performance
| of impossibilities. But, come what


may, the Re-Adiusters will neither
give up their political character as
Conservatives nor submit to the dicta-
tion of sny clique, cabble or commit
tee. acting in behalf of the Bond
holders, who would bleed the State to
death to carry out the folly of the
Funding Bill.


Let us have the Issue, and let the
| People determine it.