The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-24
Gen. Mahone,s Treason. !,

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The Democratic press Of Virginia, follow.
ing the lead of Senator Ben. Hill, are ac.
cusing Gen. Malone of treason to thei,
party. This is the most transparent du.
plicity. Every one who knows anything
about the election of Gen. Malone to the
United States Senate is familiar with the
fact that he was elected in opposition to the
regular Democratic caucus nominee-that
he was elected with direct reference to
breaking up the regular organization OF
the Bourbon Dem ocracy-and that his
election was secured against the vote of eve.
ry member of the Legislature who was
elected on the anti-Mahone ticket. Gen.
Malone and his Re-adjuster follow ing had
been formally ruled out of the regular
Democratic party of Virginia in 1879, and
elected from the National organization by
Barnum & Co., in 1880. So, according to
Democratic authority, he was not a member
of either the State or National orgapiza-
tion and had been renowned by and ex.
cluded from both. and is indebted to Meth.
er for the position he now holds, or for any
favor that he or any of his friends have
received or may receive. Farther than this.
he is not in sympathy with the Democratic
party of Virginia ON State issues-just as
separate and distinct from them as are
the Republicans, and as bitterly denounced
and prosecuted as were ever the Republi-
cans. Yet the charge is made and reiterated
that Malone was guilty of treason to the
Democratic party in casting his vote against
the organization of the United States SEN
ate by that party, and in the declaration
that he was at war, bitter and relentless.
with the Democracy Senator Hill repre-
sents. If opposition to the Democracy of
senator Hill and Gen. Hampton; the De-
mocracY of the Richmond Dispatch and
Representative Tucker, and the proscriptive
and vicious spirit which animates the Dem
ocratic press of Virginia, be treason, then
it is a treason that every true man-every
American freeman, might glory in. Trea-
son to the methods and the measures of the
Conservative party of Virginia is fidelity
to the State-just the kind of treason that
Oliver Cromwell committed and Patrick
Henry championed. Treason to the Dem
ocratic party Of the South is fidelity to the
pledges the South has made to the Con-
stitution each Southern State has adopted
and fidelity to the Constitution Of the United
States and the laws made to enforce consti-
tutional provisions and the rights the Con-
stitution guarantees. If this be treason,
then let the Democracy make the most of
it. 1t is treason against the perfidy of bro
ken compacts-against violated rights
against corrupt and fraudulent ballot,
and against the brutal and vicious election
methods which have made solid Demo-
cratic South.
While we are opposed to the modern Re-
adjustment, as it affects the public debt of
Virginia, which Gen. Malone and his fol-
lowing maintain, we recognize in his votes
and declarations in the United States Sen
ate broader and widely different read
justment to that which has application to
the debt question. 1t is re-adiustment of
the illiberal and obstructive legislation and
purposes of the Democratic party upon
other and more vital issues. 1t compre-
hends the ideas embodied in the amend
ments to the National Constitution and the
policies to give them practical force and eff
feet, and to rescue the South from the rule
of the constipated politicians who have ele-
waited self and selfish purposes above the
interests and welfare of the people, and
dwarfed and obstructed all the agencies BY
which alone Southern prosperity can be
worked out. 1t is an assault at the root of
Bourbon despotism, and an invocation to
the people to assert their freedom and
maintain their rights against the despicable
political tyranny which has so long pressed
them down. Whatever may be the motive
which is moving Gen. Malone, certainly
the work he has inaugurated in the high
place where heis authorized to speak, is
worthy the ambition OF any man and will
invite to him the ardent sympathy aud sup
port of all who believe in American pro-
gress and recognize the agencies which are
operating for the improvement and eleva-
ton of the masses, and the emancipation
OF the South from the thraldom of the worst
element of the Democratic party.