American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-04-09
Not Fit Associate for Honorable Men.

General Malone was chosen to repre-
sent the State of Virginia in the United
States Senate. He had always acted
with the Democratic party of the State,
and been recognized and treated as a
Democrat. For two or three years the
Democrats of that State have divided
on the question whether the whole
State debt should be paid, or a
compromise be effected on some mu-
tually satisfactory basis. There has
been an intense feeling in the State on
this local issue, and the excitement ran
so high that two sets of Democratic
electors were nominated last fall. But
both factions were Democrats, both
of them supported General Hancock,
and both of them maintain their fealty
to the Democratic party of the Union.
The Readjusters, as they call them
selves, Outnumbered the Debt-payers,
secured control of the Legislature, and
elected General Malone to the Senate.
General Malone was elected as a
Democrat from an overwhelmingly
Democratic State. He could not have
been elected had he not been supposed
to be a Democrat. He would have been
voted down in disgrace had it been sup
posed that his first act as Senator would
be to go over to the Republicans.
A few weeks ago, when it was found
that the two parties would be nearly
evenly balanced in the Senate, there
were intimations that Senator Malone
was negotiating with the Republicans.
1t was reported by Republican CORE
spondents that he would vote with the
Republicans on condition that he should
be allowed to distribute the Federal
patronage in Virginia. His local pa
per, which is understood to be his per-
sonal organ, denied the report But
after taking his Senatorial oath he Sc
lected a seat on the Republican side of
the chamber, declined to take part in
the Democratic caucus, kept aloof from
ingly intimate with Republicans, and is
reported to be in great favor at the
White House. Yesterday the Republic
cans claimed that they had a majority
in the Senate, counting the vote of Vice
President Arthur, who, according to es-
tablished precedent, is permitted to
vote in the matter of organization in
case of a tiei But were the seats all
filled the Republicans would have only
thirty-seven Senators, while the Demo-
Gratis have thirty-eight, and Senator
Davis, though an Independent, had de-
clared that in the matter of organization
he should vote with the latter.
Under these circumstances it was
obvious that the Republicans had
gained over one Democratic Sem
ator, and the speech of Sena-
tor Hill brought Malone to his feet
with the confession that he was the
guilty man. Yet he claimed to be a
better Democrat then the thirty-seven
obstinate Senators who maintained
their principles and loyalty to their
He dragged the local
issue of Virginia politics into the Senate,
where it does not belong, but was con-
by Senator Hill with the declara-
ton, which he could not deny, that he
was elected as Democrat by Demo-
Gratis because he was Democrat. And
he dropped into his seat like whipped
spaniel He has betrayed his trust,
proved a traitor to his constituents, and
stands before the country with ''Sold"
branded on his forehead.
There is a small pretensc of indepen-
1ence manufactured in his behalf In
dependence of whato What is this man
of? He was elected as a
Democrat. Is he independent of his
and principlese He was
chosen by Democrats to represent
Democratic State. Is he independent
If honor and integrity? 1t is folly for
ior him to claim that his political views
nave changed since his election so that
le is a Democrat no longer; he makes
10 such pretensc. He is a Democrat
still, but he is independent of Democ-
'acy. A traitor, but not q man. He
10 longer represents Virginia, and is
lot a fit associate for honorable men,
NJ Y. Express.