Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-12-22
The Malone Circular.
MANASSAS, Va. Dec. 81, 1880.


I have Just read. for the first time, the po!it-
io,l circular of the executive committee Of the
resdiu:ters, signed By GeD. Malone. IS chair
man, dated Nov. 10. 1880. and addressed 10
the c,unly committees Of the party. Although
I am readjuste latter the straitest scot, l
cannot but regard some parts of this circular as
both exceedingly ipprudent AID u: jlss, to
which l will briefly refer. This paper recon-
mends. which is equivalent to a Command. that
the county committees purge" tbsmi.lVas "of
all traitors. if sry there b." aod fill ttelr
places with "such per.ors ns will hep the
causa." The persors thus so liasy stigIa-
tizsd as traitors. and deserving to be oiIr.c ed
from the party. are doub less those intelligent
and patriotic democratic rest l;ters %to Voted
for the democratic conservative ticket lot Pes
ident rather than that of the reEc as!els, 10 or
der to secure the electoral vote OF the State Tor
Gen. Hancock, for which they ere DOW de-
nounoed IS traitors by those who profess 10 bc
democrats. and arc directed to be punished e.
traitors. Is this the wisdom or tie folly Of tie
executive committee. 1t is certainly 20! Wis
dom or justic, How prono men arr to usurp
the Iordiy style. non ego sed DoniDus, end bind
il with anathemas, terms and oppression. Aad
what pity it is that good cause should be
embarrassed and il 1red by the w,aklcs3 aad
folly of it's best friends.
And Dies not the committee sea that ia Gi
recting the county committees to purge them-
selves of those whom it is pleased 10 character
izs az traitors. and gil their PLACES with 'su,h
persons az will help the Gauss" envito that de-
lection to the party which it seems SO anxious
to punish. And does the committee coosId:r
treason honorable when it contributes to the
Advancement Of their politicl! prij:c:s, GOD 10
famous when it initiates against them? Ii
would really seem so. Bsides, by the imptu>
dent policy 10 question. the committee rapssts
the wrong perpstrated by the democratic c3u
servstivs executive committee over year ago
10 eXpeliing democratic reac iuiter5 from tie
conservative party for difference OF opinion 10
reference to the mipncr of settling the Sta.e
debt. which wrong Gen. Mshono and al other
readjcs ers very justly denounced ss al &C: OF
great tyranny. such Inconsistency AID wr0ug
may admit of plausible explanation, bu. they
cannot be jasti6ed. Tsrannioai ed:cs psy
sometimes be enforced, but they never tail toex
cite tho just indignation of those who arc 50 Ia
happily situated as to be sut iso:ed 10 their c:u2
power. We have 80 long bsen accustomed to
be denounced ond punished ts traitors for q
difference of political opilion By the republican
party that ignorant or weak uioded persons
have ON, to be!i,va that all WHO differ with
them in opinion on political q1s ionI arc u,
cessarl7 trsi!ors.
Again, the c:mmt!eo has slso aEnou1ocd
that the debt shall be settled upon tcrm1
which shall secure TO the c:ediors sveiy dollar
of the principal which old Virginia tqli!abIy
owes. and the highest rat, of interest possible
under existing rate of taxation" This plan is
exactly in accordance, with the views Of the fun
ders, and is all the bcniboldars desire. ec,ord
log to tho views of equity. They nsk ro:hiog
more. And what does the commiiteo usa1 by
the word Equitable" And who ara suthoriz:d
to make suoh declaration OF settlement Does
the committee constitute the reacj lster party
l trust not. The people do not wish to hear
anything more abcu: thcs, iud, Fl lite words.
Equitable" and honorable, abou. The mean
Jog of which no two pels)ns agree. Az geo.
eral rule. those who arc mcss proius, In their
professions Of Iowa Of tq1ity aud honor, have
lenst Of these Do5le virtues. Wo want rlI0,
practical aud de6oitc statement rs to hoT the
debt is to be settled. and oct ona that Co be
construed any way to suit the lodl'llIal ln:et
est of politicians. This way of treating the
suit c. has rendered the reputation OF the
debt possible, it not probable. Why not frsnkIy
sey that ", will fund the debt, rriocipal aod
interest, at so cents 10 the 81. The bonds 10 iua
for forty yoars rodo No abIo O the pleasure Of
the State. with interest at the rate OF per
cent per aunum for tho first ten years. und 4
par cent per annum for the uex; fo!IoTi:g t!ic
~ years. IT aoy one can furnish better plan
than this or ons that tbs people Will scaept,
let him do so. Tho time for argument has
passed, and tho period ter &c ion has srriee1,
and deci;i,n must be reached. The plan
which I have indicated for set,liog the eaa;.cr l
think liberal one for the b,udao!dars did 50
much AZ We ought to pay, aud they viii tvor
get. We have been uojuitIy despoIIcd CT nero
than one half Of tho assets upon wti!h the debt
was contracted. are now poor, and som.tbiog i,
due to humanity IS we'll IS tho creditors. Yet
We had no more sacrifice. but mercy. Wa re-
pudated our war debt, one of tho most sacred
slaves upon the settled principle of pubic lo'e,
public good, and why not partially, ct least,
apply the same visa aud Just rule to tho settle
ment of our debt. 1t is sopbiStry aud mi:stato-
ment of facts. and not roason, that deceives so
many persons 10 regard to how tho debt s5Culd |
be settled.
But shall 60. dispair of 90 carly dotcrni;
nation of the matter. bec.us, know that logic |
aud reason clio always expose the arti6co Of
distorted f.cts the cunning aud sel6shntss
Of men, as well as discover to the understand |
ing the imposition of sophistry. 1t should be |
The first and great object of all our ef1fts to eff
feet speedy adjustment of this Vexed question, !
and thus bring about that divorce OF oppo:ite |
party, union and utilization. which go seriously |
threatens the honor and welfare the State
ROBERT TANsILL.
EnDnInAr ArMmO