Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-15
eMahene. Virginia Again.

The peculiar circumstances with which |
the little Readiuster Senator from Vir-
ginia-who wears big hat and registers
himself at hotels as Malone, Virginia"
has found himself recently surrounded,
has given him an importance in the eyes
of the public which his own individual
qualifications could never have secured
him. The closeness of the Senate, the
fact that his vote would virtually decide
which Of the two great parties Of the
country should control that body, and
the marked secrecy he has maintained as
to his future intentions, have all been
the means of directing general attention
towards him. 1t was thought that as he
had been sent to the Senate from
q State the political sentiment of
whose people is overwhelmingly Demo
cratic, he would not have the hardihood
to oppose the Democratic party. On
the other hand, it was known that he had
been elected through a coalition Of re-
pudiators and Radicals, and it was be
lieyed by many that his obligations to
the latter party would prevent him from
opposing them. This belief was
strengthened by the additional fact
that if he allied himself with the Repub-
leans he would do so with the probable
understanding that he was to have abso-
lutte control of the Federal patronage in
Virginia, and so, that possibly, he might
strengthen the Republican party in that
State.
It seems that those who took this view
OF the position of Malone, Virginia,
were not wrong. Our dispatches this
morning state that yesterday Senator B.
Fl. Hill made forcible and powerful
address in the Senate on the discredita-
bic position of the Virginia Senator,
which called forth a reply from that
gentleman, in which he squarely COM
mitted himself to the Republicans.
This settles the question of the
organization and supremacy of the Sen
ate, and both branches of Congress, as
well as the Executive, will be under Re-
publican rule. This, of itself, really
amounts to very little. 1t will place
the responsibility of the legislation and
the welfare of the country for the next
two years wholly upon that party,
while the Democratic strength will
still be sufficient to prevent
anything like flagrantly unjust legisla-
ton, should it be attempted. But the
consequs Eces will be eventually disas-
trous to Malone He may secure the
Federal patronage of Virginia, and may
succeed, to a certain extent, in strength
ening the party in the Old Dominion to
which he has allied himself; but he will,
at the same time, most probably much
more largely strengthen the Democracy
of that State.
Il was shown during The last Presiden-
tial contest that unless the negro and
Radical elements of Mahone's party
could keep their white Democratic Re
adiuslers and Repudiationists well in
hand they had no strength, and
as they could not do this after
the Malone electoral ticket was
repudiated by the National Executive
Democratic Committee, they were
badly teaten, the regular Hancock cleo
toral ticket having been successful by
decided majority. The Mahoneites will
be very apt to meet with the same expe-
rience in future They may purchate
few mea with the Federal of
fees. but the large majority of
Democrats who voted for and with
them during the last legislative campaign
in the State, under the impression that
nationally speaking. Malone was Demo
crat though he did make an alliance with
the Republicans Tor reputation of a
portion of the State debt, will now have
their eyes opened and will repudiate
him. In consequence, after the next cleo
ton, his party will probably disappear,
and Malone, after serving as a cipher in
the United States Senate for six years,
will leave that body for an oblivion, out
of which he will never again emerge.
He should reflect that Mosby tried to
Radicalize the State and failed, and what
Mosby could not do Malone will never
be likely TO accomplish.
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