The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-12
frrom lhc Wilmington tDcl.l Every EyenIns.l
The Crime Perpctrnted in virginia ON
Tuesday.


Tuesday.
There seems b. be no longer any doubt
that the RepudiatIonists have carried Viz
ginla. and elected Reputation Legish-
fure and Reputation Governor who VIII
apnrove any measure such legislature may
choose 20 pass. on course the debt will
now be scaled down 10 whatever amount
the rascals who have triumphcd think best,
and the honor of the once proud Com
monwealth will be sacrificed by the votes
Of a mass OF Ignorant negroes led by
few white adventures and in opposition
10 the wishes and efforts OF the whole
honest and really civilized population
OF the State. Such triumph, however
achieved, Is an alarming spectacle, well cal
culated not merely TO call forth the sneers
Of the enemies Of popular government but
70 weaken the faith OF its most intelligent
friends. There Is nothing better settled
by human experience than that self-inter-
est as well rs morality demands that States
shall faithfully meet their obligations; but
Il takes the intelligence and morality which
generations Of education and experience
have brought those engaged in the actual
business OF governing 10 comprehend this,
and Il Is lust as natural rs il is alarming to
sec the enormous mass Of Teccntly-eniran-
chised negroes i'm southern State easily
beguilcd into voting for reputation in
any form in which it may be presented to
them.
But the manner In which this result was
brought about is even more alarming than
the result ITSELF That ignorant voters
should work evil was TO be expected, and
10 some extent could be provided against
by all men refusing to trust states liable to
the control OF such voters, but what shall
we say TO the spectacle OF the forcing OF
negro voters into the support OF Repu-
diation party by the people claiming mo-
nopoly OF the highest morality and best
intelligence Of the republic? Their own
prejudces, which are the only guiding
power OF the negroes in politics, were all
against an alliance of the negroes with
Malone. They, true 10 their one guiding
instinct, knew him and disliked him, and,
left TO themselves. would, il forced to
choice. between two sets Of Democrats,
have preferred the decent white men TO
whom in all matters outside Of politics they
look for counsel, guidance, and aid. But
they were not lett to any such choice.
The stamp Of Republican approval was
put upon Malone and his repudiating
allies. The whole power OF the Federal
Administration was enlisted in his behalf.
The most earnest Republicans who dared
oppose him were given notice to fall in
behind this man and support him, or else
look for no further fayors Il this Admin
istration. Not only was Patronage used
10 its utmost under the Arthur and under
the Garfield administration, but every
Republican in the United States Senate
stood detcrminedly by the exercise Of
this power and defended the almost open
purchase OF the vote Of Malone rs some
thing not merely commendable, but VI
most sacred. And wbyy Because that
vote was needed to retain for the Repuh-
lean partE a majority IN that body, and
that was accounted of more value thanany
profession Of principle the party had ever
made. Nor was this all, nor even the
worst. So far Is through the press or other
means OF public utterancc such sentiment
could be obtained, the public sentiment OF
their constituents sustained these senators
in this course, and we cannot read in the
Republican losses in northern States on
Tuesday any rebukc TO this most infamous
combination, for every such loss has some
specific cause generally arising out Of quar-
rcls over patronage, and representing no
moral sentiment or principle whatever.
The effort has been successful. The price
for tie purchased vote has been paid, Ma
hone has been secured, with a probability
of another like him to he added to the Sem
ate. The "sold South Is broken" the
faces of Malone and Riddlebcrger have
been "tuned TO the morning"
along with those Of Gorbam and Lo-
gan and the practical workers OF the
Righteousness called Republicanism,
and the people OF the North say, Amen.
Those who see cause TO rejoice in the
spectacle will be happy to-day, but for
ourselves we see nothing but shame and
danger in the result. The spirit Of n
wild. fanatical partisanShip has brought
men whose private lives are reputable
and decent to such hatred and distrust OF
half their Glow Americans, and vastly
more than hall their fellow-Americans OF
the only race which has ever succeeded in
maintaining free civilized government on
earth, that they have sanctioned open bril-
berry in the United States Senate, flung
whatever objections they have TO the spoils
system to the winds, helped to debauch
whatever of political virtue there was in
ignorant negroes and Taught demagogry
that she cry OF reputation is the short cut
to power and place. They have won the
victory for which this terrible price was
paid.