The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-13
senator Mahone's Manifesto.


Senator Malone, OF Virginia, has pub
lished a manifesto TN behalf OF his party.
In regard 10 the debt be furnishes a great
many and some rather bewildering bgures'
hut the sum and substance Of his purpose Is
that Virginia shall repudia,e twelve millions
OF its legally contracted debts, because II
finds il announcement TO pay them. lie
claims. and, 10y the admission OF its own
organs, with Justice. that the funding party
does not propose 10 pay the whole OF tols
debt. but TO rtadiu>t it-that Is TO say, arOl-
trarily reduce the interest and compel the
exchange Of bonds, which differs from tue
bolder Reputation only in name and de-
gree. In regard 10 other State affairs, Sena-
ator Malone declares thai the platform OF
his party will be "free suffrage for all men; ;
far count at the polls; free education for
all children aud an impartial adnlnlstra-
ton OF the Constitution and laws Tor all
citizens" In regard TO lis relations 10 the
Union. its policy is Announced 10 he IN
favor OF accepting the results OF tue war,
the Observance Of the constitutional amend
ments and reconstruction acts, the culllVa'
ton of fraternal relations with the rest OF
the Union, and the removal OF sectional
iealousies and race distinctions from poll
ties. With the exception OF its position IN
relation TO the debt there is no question that
the platform OF Senator Malone and his
part, Is a good one, and that they repre-
sent .be progressive, intelligent, aud I'M
preiudiccd elcc.ent in Virginia a. opposed
10 the Bourbon reSc;i0nists. We even
believe. as we said at the time OF the
formation Of the party, that the ques-
tinn OF the debt was rather the opportunity
for revolt against the hidc-bOund dcs-
pOtism Of the aristocritic and info'erant
party that ruled the politics OF Virginia
with an iron hand than the sole desire Tor
reputation; and ii is evident that those who
claim the title Of The honest party are by no
means sound in financial faith. Ana II
might be wished that 50 liberal Il programme
regarding educatIon. poll ical equality, and
frateinaI feeling might triumph over us
opposite, aS held by the Bourbon party. But
il is nevertheless true that tue stain OF repu-
dlation is fatal one. The party cannot
and ought not 10 live that makes II tue OASIS
OF its existence. IL VIII be as fatal a. the
idea Of prescription to foreigners which
was made the basis OF q similar revolt in
The political period preceding the war, and
which, alter temporary success IKE TINS OF
Senator Malone, fell by the Inherent weak
ness Of the Kuow-NotbDg idea. Its pur.
pose was go00 ana It's Origin was not !t'i'
ousy Of foreigners-for there we're very
few in Virginia-but desire TO break up
the Bourbon despoism, aud il it had
been permanently successful it would
have been vital wound to the
aristocraiic element, and, perhaps, even
have preserved Virgins to the Union.
But the weakness Of its name and platform
was fatal. A platform Of naked repuda.
ton cannot be less so, and however much
regret there may be that more liberal ideas
should not iuie in Virginia through the
effective organization OF Senator MahoDe's
parry, 1t has cut itstli of from sympathy as
well as from success. and the Republican
party in nation or State cannot consistently
or honorably ally itself With it or help to
support it. The way may be long for the
Republican party in southern States out OF
political bondage, but it Will not be perma-
nently shortened by wandering in the
swamp of reputation, and the national
party cannot afford Ia stain its name with
any utilization with faction that ranges IT.
self under that banner. In this case, as In
all others. the path OF policy will be found
to be the path OF duty.