National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-26
TIE CORRUPTION OF THE VIRGINIA
CONSERVATIVES,

The Norfolk Journal leads of among the
Conservative newspapers, in opposition to
Gen. Mahones influence over the delibera-
tlons OF the Conservative convention, which
is to be held in Richmond on the 9th proximo.
Ii acknowledges the possibility of the NOM
inatlon by that convention of Gen. kemper,
Mahone's friend, as Its candidate for Gov
ernor, and admits that Col. Withcrs also has
a chance; but insists that Hon. John S.
Goode Is proper person to be put forward
as q compromise candidate. Referring d.
rectly to Malone, II declares that the
Withcrs nomination is bitterly obnoxious" to
that gentleman, and asks the following qucs-
tion;
"Does any reasonable man suppose that the
convention will again set aside such man as
Col withers, to satisfy the requlsitioi OF Gen.
Malone, aud that for the sake Of adopting his
candidate, whether he be General kemper or
Judge Staplesr"
In the same article ex-Gov. Smith and ex-
Senator Hunter are named as possible can
didates, and Malone is characterized as the
.'so-called Director OF the politics and lcgis-
lation Of Virginia"
Here we have in nutshell the conflicting
interests and impulses Of the several factions
of the Conservative party of the Old Domin'
ion. The efforts OF the Richmond journals,
particularly the Wing and the Enquirer, to
introduce outside questions, such as the Issue
of race against race, have failed, and the
conflict has begun In earnest. The bubble
with which the Conservatives have been play
Ing Is burstcd, and the fallacy Of their bonn
bastlc rhetoric can no longer deceive any
one. Behind all their buster about ''whitG
mans rights" and 'black mans government
We discover bleeding wound of internal dis
sension, which il now torn agape and ex-
posed to the public in oil Its rotteuness. Rail
roads, in which leading Conservatives are the
principal stockholders, represented by Gen.
Malone, must be served before party principles
are taken into consideration. To put II more
pointedly, the Conservative party of Virginia
Is not only false to its promises OF submission
to the results OF the war, but has sold itseli
body and soul to few greedy moneycd cor
porations The unbushing falsehoods witt
which the true character OF the party hai
been concealed, will only serve to make this
internal corruption all the more hideous nov
that 1t has been exposed. Dsgraccful be
yond precedent, no party decentralization
not even the TImmany lniamy In New York
supported as II was by ignorant foreigner
instead OF intelligent "high-toned gentle
men"-bears any comparison TO II.
A State betrayed, q Commonwealth who's
pest record Is undmmcd by the faintest sus
picion OF official or partisan dlshonor, ruined
and Inundated by the sOrdld per6dy of lht
men whose boast Is that they love her bette
than life itself. Such will be the verdict o
the civilized world II Conservative rule shall
tnI ,,,Iar IN ltIinfatnrN aud hi
Conservative minions.
, But we have no fear Of such result. Thl
timely exposure of the real Issues which Ii
buried under tho buster about social equallt!
will arouse the people to full realization o
their impending danger. They will sec tina
they have been for years under the control o
selfish and designing men, whose interests ar
bound up in the dividends of greedy corpora
lions, aud whose future depends upon thu
continuance OF the power which they now
iexert to keep foreign" and new enterprises
out Of the State. .Nrrayed against tho cor
ruptionlsts we will soon have q ticket nOmI-
mated by tho party OF progress, freedom and
energy, with candidates pledged to open wide
the doors of commerce to oil corners, aud
with an assurance Of victory that will make
safe the prophecy OF glorious future for the
Mother of Presidcnts--l future In which the
,''close communion policy shall be sweep
away, factories shall spring up, mineral land
shall be developed, oppressive tolls on turn
pixies shall be abolished, the canals shall b,
ibuilt, tho mountain products shall And theil
lway by means Of cheap transportation Il
Fproftable markets, free schools shall exist II
fact as well as In nape, emigration shall