The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-13
Tho Rcaa,uster Triumph In virginia.

II the election in Virginia had turned on
the simple issue Of the debt the result would
have attracted very little attention or SYM
pathy from the outside world. Most GER
fainly the northern people, who are debt
paying people mot excepting Minnesota(,
would not have sympathized with Malone.
But the issue did not turn OH the debt. 1t
turned on Mahone--On his position in the
United States Senate-on his vote with the
Republicans for the organization OF that
body-on his position toward the colored
people Of Virginia, and on his general OPP
position to what is known az Bourbonism
in Virginia. The election thus became one
OF national interest, and the sympathies OF
hundreds Of thousands OF people were en-
listed in the result, according to their party
affiliations. The feeling Of the country was
much the same as in 4 presidential year.
The issue was not local, but general.
Now that the election is over and Malone
triumphant, it becomes a question OF in-
terest rs TO "what will he do with it," The
victory Is in his hands, but not the result.
He has thrown the stone into the water, but
the waves that will spread from shore to
shore are beyond his control.
There cannot be n third party in this
country as issues now stand. The voting
public must find their place in one or the
other OF the two great parties. And this
they will certainly do. The Greenback
issue is dead and the Temperance move
ment draws only small following from
each party. For the present there is no
issue to divert the people to any material
extent from the Republican and Democratic
parties. Therefore Malone and his fol-
lowers must affiliate with the one or the
other party. Which will it be-
AS we read the signs OF the times they
will hereafter act with the Republican
party, and the present indications arc that
Virginia Is now quite rs likely to vote for
the Republican candidate for President in
1891 as is the State OF New York.
An opportunity has long been wanting
in Virginia to crystalline this dissatisfied
and alicnatcd element OF the Democratic
party into an effective opposition. The
Republican party did not attract it because
il was under both political and socisl ban
in Virginia. Identification with that party
was a matter Of personal rcproach, and
people sensitive TO their business interests
and social popularity hesitated to cut loose
from the dead body OF Virginia Bourbon
ism.
The Reidjuster issue, led by a bold man
like Mahone-a native of the State and a
Confederate general in the war-aiTorded
the pretext that thousands had long sought
for cutting loose from the Democratic
party, and hence irrespective OF the debt
issue they gladly followed Malone. And
now that they have followed him despite
his alliance with the Republican party in
the Senate, and despite the cry OF niger
that was raised in the canvass, it is alto
gether likely that permanent breach has
been effected in their former party rela-
lions, and that they will hereafter follow
logically where events may lead them.
This, as we interpret the future, will be
in the same road travelled by the Republic
can party.
Republicanism is no longer bugaboo in
Virginia. II has come 10 stay and occupy
the land. 1t Is now rs when the Romans
took Capua. The great idol that stood in
the gates and that was expected to conyulse
nature under the touch OF sacrilegious
hands, was struck and broken by Roman
battle-axe, and the earth did not open and
the sun was not darkened. Once disen-
chanted, the disguised victims OF an Ignoble
tradltion-the Capuans themselves-fell to
and demolished the idol with their own
hands, and henceforward believed only in
the gods OF the Romans " heeling IilteHi-
9encer, lRep.)