Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-08-19
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 10.

A noticeable thirg respecting the politicsl
campaign LOW 10 progress 10 this State is the
small number OF negroes who attend the dis
cussioDs between The democrats and the Ma
honies. There is some doubt concerning the
true explanation of ths. for it may be tho re-
suit of one of two entirely different Causes.
The negroes, having 20 regularly nominated
straigbtout republican ticket 10 the field. and
knowing that of the three men on the Malone
ticket two were until recently among the most
ultra democrats, and that the other one.
though a republican, voted against the Civil
contest that they wont spare the time TO hear
the questions involved 10 it die Used. Mos. OF
them will probably vote the Malone ticket for
no other reason than the fact that nearly all the
white people, repu 5l;cios as we'll as democrats,
will vote against it, but their Indifference to tho
result may be 50 tr3st, 0wl0g 10 the CAUSE we
have mentioned. tina. they are unwilling 10
waste Tina 10 is.enlog to speeches 90 the SUBJ
! c.. Bu. there may be another and totally
different rcasonfor the apparent Indifference Of
the negroes to the issue Of tho campaign as 10.
dicated by-their noticeable sb5erco from The
political discussions now taking pIac, almost
daily 10 somo ono of The several counties in tho
State. Ii may be that their absonc, is 10 ur-
suancc tf instructions from General Mahooe's
headquarters. The Mahonites, to white paO-
pic, profess to DO better democrats than The
chosen leaders Of tn, democratic parry. but tho
insEcerity of such professions would DO ren.
dertd Glaringly apparent if they we're to talk 81
as to Uln the applause Of crowds Of negroes OF
tho meetings they address. The prescbce OF
large plumbers Of negroes sni their ap2aus,
would not be likely to win for tho Mshonc
ticket tho support of white democrats.
AID 30 tho absenoo Of the ntg;oes from the
pint discussions after all my DOT ariso from
their indifference to he result Of the oamphien.
Moro strange thiogs are connected with tho
Malone ticket than with any other ever sub
mitted to the voters of Virginia. but the strslg-
est Of them all i, the fact that Col. Cameron
ID at the head of that ticket. 1t is not strange
when young mao who has joined a party
without due reflection changes his politios after
more deliberate copsideralior; Dor is it strange
when men who HAYS entertained political
opinions long aftor arrivirg OF mature sgo
change them, though 10 tho lattor case The tx
perrnco Of the world prov,s that the change il
the result @! s,lfsh motives. Bu. it il strange.
aud passing strange, that man. certainly old
enough for ripe Judgment. should DC pre-.
clsslY the Same thing he fought duel with
another maa for doirg few years sg,. Col.
Cameron charged Judgo Hughes With being q
political aposate for selfish purposes. with
having abandoned and rslu1is,od bis once
cherished political faith 10 order to obtain
office. His convictions on this sui jcct were so
strong that in expressing them he used terms
that induced tho Judge to challeoec him. and
he was 80 firmly convinced that they wore right
that he did not hesitate to fire Q shot 10 their
defense. And yot, with the soar CT tho judges
bullet on his breast to remind him Of tho dis
gust and ebhorreLc, with which, only few
years ago. he regarded spostates from political
faith, he does the identical thing for which no
csusurcd Judge Hughes 80 severely. Surely
nothing is stranger than this. evan 10 modern
Virginia politics.