The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-21
The Situation.

The dead lock in the Senate continues,
each party manifesting disposition to fight
it out on the line it has chosen. Senator
Beck announced last Monday that it was
the purpose of the Democrats to defeat the
election of Capt. Riddleberger, as Sergeant
alarms, not only at this extra session. but
at the regular session in December. This,
he announced, was the purpose of the DEM
ocratic Senators. because they were opposed
to the policy Capt. Riddleberger repre-
sented, opposed to his political position, and
his election would place in an office of the
Senate gentleman who was obnoxious to
them and who would make himself very dis
agreeable to them for two years. He would
bring forward the name of Union soldier.
of wounded Union soldier, if the Repub-
licands did not, who would be supported by
at least one Republican Senator, and thus
defeat the Republican caucus nominee.
After this announcement, we see it stated
in the Washington correspondence of the
Richmond State, Capt. Riddleberger went
to Gen. Malone and asked that his name be
withdrawn. Gen. Malone is not disposed
to surrender, however. And really we can
see no good to come out of the withdrawal
OF Riddleberger, for any one substituted for
him would receive just as bitter opposition.
So far as his withdrawal or election would
affect the campaign in Virginia, we think it
is Inexperienced. Riddleberger, as Ser
of 81 ta1
would be no more influential than Riddeber-
ger defeated for that place. Indeed, we
believe his defeat in the Senate, by the
methods pursued by the Dem ocrats, would
give him more prominence and greater in
fuence than he has ever had in Virginia.
and certainly make the known following
of Gen. Malone more active and deter
mined in the approaching campaign. The
Democrats in the Senate and their party in
Virginia have more to lose by the defeat of
Riddleberger than by his election. While
we think as an act of party policy, mis-
take was made in his nominate ion, and that
Gen. Malone has blunde red in his alleged
course as it affects the Senate officers. the
grounds upon which Mr.. Beck objects to
Riddleberger are not tenable. No moe
courteous officer could be found than Capt.
Riddleger would make, and as to making
himself disagreeable to Senators, that would
have to be condition of things of their own
seeking and not his. Gen. Malone should
have made no suggestion in connection with
the Senate officers, but reserved his vote to
be cast as his best judgment directed after
each OF the party caucuses had presented
its candidates, and nominated without ref
erence to his vote. 1t looks to us that there
was too much nervous haste manifested on
the part of the Republicans and Gen. Ma
hone in the determination of the Repub-
ilcan caucus-tbat the situation was
not deliberately discussed before action was
taken. Riddleberger's election we do not
believe, would add single vote to the Re-
adjusters' strength in Virginia, but might
have a contrary effect certainly the incll-
nation would be more in that direction than
the other. Personally we would not object to
see Capt. Ridd1eberger attain any position to
which his ambition might aspire. But this is
matter of politics and political policy,
and in it we think all the parties to it have
made mistake. 1t seems to have been lost
sight of that the Republicans of Vr ginia hold
the balance of power as between the two Dem
ocratic factions in Virginia, and that the cleo
ton ola Democratic Re-adjuster to high posi-
ton in the Senate could in no poss ible way
have tendency to weaken their political con-
victions, or change their views OF party eXpe-
diency in the coming State canvass. Seem
mgly it is assumed that the Republican strength
would go over in body, to the Re-adjusters
and all that it was necessary to do was to give
the Re-adjusters prominen ce at the National
Capital to determine the result of the election
next fall in this State. We are not aware
that representative Repub licans, other than
those committed to Gen. Malone, have been
consulted by the Republican Senators, as to
the Virginia situation. They seem to take it
for granted that the Republican party will
surrender at the notice and rush pell-mell into
the arms of those who have been and
are now warning upon them, where
they do not submissively acknowledge
that Republicanism is not something
different from Democracy, whether known
as Re-adjuster or Funder Democracy.
There is a short-sightedness in this, to say the
least of it, and it will not have the effect to
straighten out the several crooked places in
party lines in this State. There is need of a
little more comprehension and little more
common sense in the consideration of the po-
litical situation in Virginia, and not repeti-
ton of the folly that was committed last fall
by prominent Republicans, in assuming that
the Republicans of Virginia could be trans
ferred body and breeches wherever the petty
schemes and sordid ambition of place hunters
might wish to assign them.