The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-05-05
6en. Mahone,s Tactics.

Bourbons Conscious OF Wr0ng-d0ing and |
that the confidence OF the people has been
withdrawn from the party they represent,
they catch at any and every sen-ation or
device that is presented to draw attention
from themselves and mislead the popular
understanding 1t was, first, that Gen. Ma
hone had betrayed the Democracy of the
State. This they knew was not true. They
had no expectation and no grounds for ex-
pecting that he would vote with Barnum's
Democracy in the Senate; and as there
was but one other course left for him to
adopt, they were well aware what his vote
would be. The senseless clamor about that,
deceiving no one and the Re-adiusters
generally endorsing what he did, next
comes the charge that Malone and the Re-
adjusters are going to join the Republicans.
We happen to know that this is untrue. We
wish it were SD. We should be over-much
pleased to know that the 10000 healthy, ro-
bust farmers of Virginia, who voted the
Re-adjuster Hancock ticket last fall, intend
to unite under the Republican colors. 1t
would be an accession of which any party
might feel proud, especially the Republican
party in this State, which numbers too few
white citizens. These Re-adjusters, how
ever, have as little love for the Republicans
as they have for the Bourbons and will not
court a fusion with either. Their purpose
is to build up, if possible, party indie
pendent of both of the old State organiza-
tions, and to do so by a liberal recognition
of the rights of all classes and accretions
from both the Boui bons and Republicans
| 1t will be neither Republican nor Demo-
cratic, yet have for its object some of the
essential ends for which the Republicans
contend, but nothing i'll common with
the Bourbons. If successful this fall-sarM
it cannot be without Republican aid, we
admit, nor without the aid of those who
were once Conservatives-the next general
contest in 1884 will be made upon an indie
pendent line-recognizing neither of the
old participating forth an electoral tick
ct independent of both parties, and if
elected, to be thrown where it will do the
most good for the State and the Re-adjus-
/
nosis OF the political situation present and
future. No Democrat need fear being lead
into the Republican party by following
Gen. Malone. for he has no idea OF anchor
ing there. 1t is too close corporation for
hm-there are too many intellectual lights
in it that would dim the lustre of his achieve
ments and throw into the shade all of his
high pretensions. Gen. Malone does not
want any competitors for leadership. Ills
ambition is to be worshipped as the head
and front of the new departure, and to
command the homage of a following whose
devotion will adm it of no challenge OF au-
thority.
Ifsuccess attends his efforts this fall, then
he looks for the liberal wave to spread
through the South and sweep away the
Bourbon dynasties which have ruled with
} such despotic hand. 1t is a movement OF
the people against caucus tyranny, and a
recognition of the right and authority OF
} numbers as contrasted with the few who
constitute the curb-stone and courthouse
cliques.
|
the issue in Virginia this fall. If success
, full the movement will be a power in the
land, for there is nothing so successful as
! success. If defeated, it will be the last Of
liberalism in the South. and will have a re-
dictionary effect upon the Republican party
S of the North, if it does not seriously ieop
ardize its supremacy in several of the
: Northern States. 1t is grave and preg
nant experiment, and should be directed
3 with all the caution and sagacity that it il
l possible to command.
: We confess to a sympathy with much tina
is involved in this departure, and as between
0 it and the restrictive and obstructive ten
c dency of the policy and acts of the Bour
e bons we should have no difficulty in choos
S ing, although we are satisfied that the Re
a publican party in the South rs an organiza
tion would be permanently damaged, if no
4 fatally demOralized, for all time to come
If the Republican authorities should deter
mine not to place in the field ticket this
fall, then it will be for the organization Il
elect what is best to be done. Coo
heads and sagacious judgments should COM
to the front to direct in the proper course
so that there may be no mistake made, for
mistake now would be worse than a blum
= der it would be political crime. ON
thing may be taken for granted-Mahon
: will never unite with the Republican par
ty-the Re-adjusters of Virginia will neve
;, unite with the Republican party. and thos
: who, in the North or South, make their cal
! culations that they will, might as well aban
don all such thought. He is not en9uirin,
the way to Damascus to have the scale
knocked from his eyes, for he thinks b
:, knows it all, and that no revelation woul
add to his prescience, but will continue t.
q look at the political horizon through glas
darkly and with vision partly obscured b.
20 the virus OF Democracy which fingers in hi
mental composition, and will strike madl
l. out toinflict damage as much as possible upo
r both the Bourbon and Republican partie
# in the South, not caring how the rebound
d may shock and shatter in other localities.
We think it altogether probable that Pres
~ dent Garfield will furnish the evidence that h
10 has pretty stiff spinal column before he is i
the Executive Chair twelve months In othe
words he will be equal to every emergenc
~ and measure up to the demands of every ISSUE
10 His life is an assurance of this. Responsibility
10 generally brings out prominently the stuff 0
which man is made, and the more the diff
10 culties involved in it, the stronger the mar
20 hood develops. He is going to be President
. at the same time due respect will be paid an
81 consideration given to representative men
70 the party. We take it that he will sternly II
% sent every encroachment upon his prerogs
81 tives, at the same time that he recognizes al
4 proper demands from Senators and Represer
tatives. The dignity of the Presidential offie
% must be asserted and maintained, and it wi
30 be mistake in Senators if they essay to il
wade the precincts it is the duty of the Exect
IS tive to occupy.
- The 'fStar Route" sensation is commandin
:, much attention from the newspapers. Wecoul
fill our paper with the many opinions abor