Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1880-05-05
THE READJUSTERS IN FIR
GINA.

What is known as the keadjuster
in Virginia is likely to exercise an i'm
portant influence in the politics of
that State. In fact it has already cleo
ted General Malone United States
Senator, and has made important
changes in the domestic administra-
ton Of the State, and may, in certain
contingencies, be the means Of defeat
ing the Democracy in the presidential
election. The term readjust, as now
used in Virginia politics, relates to
the State debt and really means re-
pudiation. This was the original nu-
claus Of the party and is its present
basis, although there are thousands
of persons now acting with the Read
~justers who care nothing about the
debt question n way or another,
and are aiming at entirely diff
erent results. The head andleader Of
the party is General Malone, on ex-
Confederate officer, and old Demo-
crat, United States Senator-elect, and
one of the shrewdest and most far
sighted political ms in the country.
During the last two or three years he
has succeeded by .specious promises
and bold leadership in building up q
new party in Virginia. composed of u
large portion Of the old Democratic
party and a majority Of the colored
voters. As already stated, the read
justment Or Reputation of the State
debt was the original basis of the
movement, and is still its rallying cry;
but it has furnished an opportunity
for the union Of the Unaffected ele-
ments OF both parties, and has result
ted in a strong and aggressive combi-
nation. An interesting feature of the
movement is the fact that it has done
more to break down the color-line in
Virginia politics than anything that
has occurred, and has given the colored
men more prominence in State poll
tics than they have ever had before.
1t required very shrewd leadership to
bring Democrats and negroes togeth-
er ON any common platform, but Gen.
eral Malone has done it. A staff cor
respondent Of the New York Times,
now in Virginia, saya: 1T is needless
to say that the majority of the neg
roes were ripe and eager for the new
movement. They saw in it the one
great opportunity Of breaking down
the Democracy, the opportunity
which they had 80 long desired, and
they thought that joining it they
would in nc way r6linquish any Of the
Republican principles which, despite
the reconciliation policy, were still
most dear to them. In addition to
every other inducement, they were
assured that if they supported Ma
hone and the new party they would
be protectedina all their political rights
and would be allowed to share freely
in any benefits which might follow
the defeat of the Democracy. Actua-
ted by these and other similar mo-
tives, having no organization Of their
own, and with no prospects of ever
again being able to form one, thous-
ands of them in the last election ac-
ted with the white readjusters, and by
their aid Malone held the balance Of
power in the Legislature and was
elected to the United States Senate"
The colored people have experienced
some important benefits from the
movement in the amendment Of State
laws and a fuller recognition Of their
rights than they have ever had be
fore. This. follows naturally from
their being allowed and solicited to
vote. The movement, therefore,
presents this singular inconsistence,
that whereas it is based on utterly
wrong and dishonest principles, viz,
reputation Of the State debt, it has
really accomplished important re-
suits in the way of disorganizing the
Democratic party and bringing the
colored people into prominence, and
giving them fuller political rights
than they have ever enjoyed before
Ind. Journal.