The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-07
The Real Issue.


elected by an organization and influence |
independent of both of the old political |
parties, and i'll opposition to a regularly
nominated candidate of the Democratic |
party, he was at perfect liberty to act with |
either Of the parties as they exist in the
Senate. He owed allegiance to neither-he |
was under obligations to neither. Apart
from his views on the debt question in State 1
affairs, his line of policy was in accord with
that which Republicans ha advocated, and
now advocate, and in conflict with that of
the Conservative or Democratic party. In
exercising his right as Senator, who held
his commission free from all party tram
mels and obligations so far as the two great
judgment in the organization of that body.
he did nothing inconsistent with his party
relations or that might not have been rea-
sonably expected of him. There is not a
fair-minded, impartial Democrat in Vir-
ginia who expected GEL. Malone to act
with the Democratic party in the Senate,
and for the charge of desertion or treason
to the Democratic party in the votes he has
cast, to be preferred against him is without
reason, and the baldest Implicitly. His con-
test in the popular canvass in Virginia,
which resulted in electing a Re-adjuster
Legislature, was in opposition to the regu-
lar Democratic organization, his election to
the United States Senate was contested by
the same authority, and secured in defiance
of the schemes, plots and votes of every
regular Democrat in the body that made
the choice. His pronounced views on pub
lie questions are not in accord with those
of the Democratic party of Virginia or the
Nation. He was in all respects arrayed i'll
hostility to both, and each, through its Of
fetal body, had distinctly declined all sym
pathy and utilization with him and his fol
lowing. These are simple facts of record
familiar to all who know anything about
Virginia politics, and are beyond question,
strictly true.
The crescent assaults upon Gen. Malone by
Democratic Senators sss--a and the Democratic
press of the country because OF IRIS vote
to more effectively define the policy other
than on the debt he has been urging in
State affairs,a to give it strength and sue
cess, are not justitiable by any infidelity to
party pledges or obligations he has COM
mitted. The object is to break him down,
destroy his influence by an avalanche of
abuse and denunciation, and weaken the
force of the movement he has inaugurated
which is destined to cause political revo-
luton throughout the South. The same
kind OF denunciation was heaped upon Gen.
Longstreet, of Louisiana, and Gov. Orr, of
South Carolina, when, in 1868, they recog-
nized the true interests of the South to be to
accept the situation and the logical results
of the war as presented in the Constitution
and laws of the country. Orr was bounded
to death, and Longstreet ostracised, pro-
scribed, villified and slandered as never was
man before. The hoped for effects of these
two distinguished Southerners accepting
positions under the administration of Gen.
Grant, was not realized. The wounds of war
were too fresh-the passions too fierce and
fiery for cool judgment to assert supre-
macy and control policy. The successful
warfare made upon these two gentlemen,
and the defeat of the wise, catholic pur-
pose of the President, deferred many men,
who really approved their course, from en-.
countering the same harsh denuncation
and INSCRIPTIONS abuse, and the good re.
suits expected were never realized. The
same methods, the same enginery of parti.
zan hate, are to be employed to check the
Liberalism represented in Gen. Malone s
action in the State, and arrest its progress
upon Virginia soil before it has invaded
the other Southern States. 1t is here where
the conf let between Liberalism and Bour
bonism-between progressive thought anc
fossilized preiudices-is to be fought ovel
again, and the skirmish engagements are now
being acted out in the United States Sen
ate. The Senators who have manifested
such nervous haste to attack Malone anC
neutraliZe the influence of his position anC
votes. know full well, if they are correctly
informed at all, that Gen. Malone has be-
trayed no trust, has violated no pledge
proven false to no party obligation, and dis
appointed the expectations of not single
man in the party to which he owes his place
They eannot justly lay single charge
against him. and it is not for this that theil
anxiety and fear are exhibited. They see
in the principles involved, in the progress
sive ideas and policy proclaimed, the en-
trenchments of the Solid South broken, land
the defences of the Democratic party des-
troyed. 1t is an invitation to the young
men, the new, fresh blood and brain of the
South to come to the front, and assert then
equal rights and privileges, despite the
sneers and SCOTS of the old regime which
has ruled with an iron hand for years, to
the injury of all the great interests of the
South. 1t is the forebodings OF such a rev.
olution that they fear, and it is this they
would crush in its incipiency. The great mass
of the people of the South are at heart in
sympathy with the movement. They have
submitted to the party lash, to the caucus
mandate, because they were powerless to
resist. The organization was too close and
strong and the proscriptive methods too Sc
we're and relentless for them to encounter
them, as an undisciplined and revolt
ing militia. This feeling of unrest. of dis
trust and revolt pervades the whole mass OF
the people of the South, and all that is
necessary for its resistless outbreak is dis
ciplined and determined leadership. 1t is
this which is feared by the men who are
now engaged in the humanity and cowardly
combination to crush Gen. Malone and root
out the germs of liberalism which have SO
vigorously grown in the last few years.
They feel the pillars of their support Civ
ing away and with the energy of despera-
ton they are seeking the perpetuation OF
their power-the full measure of their des-
potic rule, as it has existed for years past.
They know if their force is broken in Vir-
ginia this year, the revolt of Malone will
assume the proportions of a Revolution,
which will sweep over the South, and out of
power the obstructionists who subordinate
the interests and welfare of the neonla to