Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-05-20

s# K
VIRGINIA SuRE.-SOme weeks ago.
there was good deal of talk about a
break in the electoral votes ofihe South,
at the coming Presidential election
1t was intimated by republican papers
that the Democratic party, in a number
of the States lately in rebellion, was dis
migrating. When the combination of
re-adjusters and Republicans succeeded
in gaming a majority of the Virginia
Legislature, the joyful cry went up that
the solid South had been broken, and
that the electoral votes Of Virginia could
no longer be counted as sure by the
Democrats. So much rejoiced were
the Republicans that they forgot all
about the dlshonorabIe platform upon
which the regulators aud members o!
their own party in that State had come
together. They ceased to denounce IN
the vigorous terms they had previously
employed towards the impoverished
Southern States struggling with their en-
ormous debts, any intimation of a wish
or purpose to evade the payment OF
their obligations.
Prior to the combination no language
was too strong in which TO characterize
any movement lookingtowards repudia-
ton. After the combination, Republican
papers became strangely silent as tothe
conduct Of the legislature in attempting
to Iescind the McCuiloch settlement.
Excuses were made for the votes ofthe
Republicans in the legislature that they
were ignorant and easily misled. When
Malone was elected Senator. it was
welcomed again by the whole Republi-
can press Of the country, as victory
which showed that the State could be
carried by the Republican nominee
The third termers caught up The idea,
and undustriously disseminated the be-
lief that Grant was the man who could
do il, that all the readjusters would sup
port HIM enthusiastically, and that their
votes, added to the Republicans, would
give him handsome majority.
when the Republican convention met
a determined effort was made by Ma
hone to capture the convention. His
idea was that mongrel electoral tick
ct should be placed in the field, COM
posed partly Of Republicans and partly
Of readjusters. He failed TO carry his
point, but why ! Not because the leaders
Of the Republicans would have hesita-
ted about agreeing TO such a ticket, il
they had thought il would be success
full. Not at all. BY the time that con-
vention met the Republicans had dis
covered that the great body Of Virginia
Democrats were still true to the Demo-
cratic party upon ell national issues
Many OF them had followed Malone
and Massey into the questionable walks
l'of readiustment, but they were not will
ling to go with them TO the camp of the
enemy. IL was found that the men
who had voted the Readjusters' ticket,
regarded the issue last fell as purely a
State issue. They had not bound them
selves so blindly to their leader that
they would ALLOW him TO form for them
q coalition with the Republicans upon
the question Of a Presidential election.
From all parts Of the State the news
came that the people were unit for a
Democratic President and il was sim
ply because the Republican leaders SAID
that the combination offered them by
Malone would bring them no strength,
that the mongrel ticket would, ct the
election, get only Republican votes. that
they declined 10 enter into the agree
ment.
Since then the feeling has manifested
itself in every direction throughout The
State that The vote OF the State must be
cast for those electors who win vote for
the nominee Of the Democratic Nation
Virginia can be counted a. sure as that
oi,Maryland or Kentucky. The Repub-
Iscans henceforih must look elsewhere
than to Virginia when they figure upon
the electoral votes and make up their
lists OF doubtful votes. Tier votes must
be put down in The Democratic column.
J daily -Nsrs.