Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-11
The Virginia Election.

What the actual majOrities given for
the successful candidates on the State
ticket at Tuesdays election in Virginia
NAV be. and what the status Of the next
Legislature viii be, cannot yet be finally
stated. as not sufficient returns have up
to this moment been received Enough
is known, however, to pretty clearly estab-
lish the fact that the weight Of the whole
Federal Government, the corruption
funds so largely and freely contributed
in the Northern money centres, the fren-
lied thirst for Office at any cost, the ar
dent desire Of many taxpayers to have
their taxes reduced without regard to
honorable obligations, and the affiliation
of all who compose the last two classes
with the ignorant and negro vote, all
these combined have proven too strong
for the debt paying Democrats-who
compose the large majority Of the re-
spectable element in the old common
wealth-and Readjusterism and Malone
ism have temporarily triumphed. All
true men throughout the land must feel
keen regret at this result, for it cen in the
end but prove disastrous to the State and
to the country.
1t Will Prove a terrible blow to the
State. because il must not only seriously
iniure her credit and tarnish her hereto
fore bright escutcheOn, but it places her
back nearly twenty years. and virtually
hands her over once more to the same
Radica, and negro domination of recon
structiOn days, from which she released
herself only after years Of suffering and
struggle. Indeed, her condition now is
far more deTlorable than then, for then
Radical and negro rule was Op-
posed by all the elements Of decency
in the State Now, however, many of
her citizens who then fought for her
freedom and restoration have proven
apostates. and, like Mr.. Cameron, have
deliberately carried Africa into the war, r"
I'd countenanced her return to the con-
troll of misrule, ignorance and corrup-
ton. Thus what was formerly stamp
ed with infamy and odium Is now given
a quasi responsibility, and there is af-
/ forded to al true friends Of the Old Do
minion grave grounds for the apprehen-
sion that her last state will be worse than
/ than her first.
This triumph of the Malone Read
| iuster element in Virginia must likewise
prove disastrous TO the country at large.
Outside the limits of the State the people
of the United States had no special in
terest in any of the issues presented
during the recent campaign beyond that
of the fOrcible readiustment-i G., Tepu-
diation-Of the State debt This had
/ been made somewhat of a national
issue, inasmuch as Malone, through al
infamous treachery to his party, lOne
since transferred it to the Senate of the
United States, and the Republican mem
beers of that body and the Chief Dlagis
trate of the republic as well-as repre-
scntaiivCs of the National Republican
party-enteIed INTO a combination with
him, and actively pan ticipated in the
campaign 10 enable him to bring his
Sta.e into dishonor by a fOrcible disre
gard Of her solemn obligation:
to her b0ndhOlders. Thus the
dominant party in the UniOr
stands forward before the world q
The deliberate champion and indoIser oil
repudiatiOn-a fact which must nece-sa
rily cause political Generalization in The
country, and seriously impair the national
credit, by affixing stigma upon the
United St1te9 at large which, perhaps in
the near fu,ure, will recoil upon the poo
pie of the whole Federal Union.
The only bright ray of hope which al
present shines through the darkness
now enveloping the Old Dominion i:
hat the triumph of the enemies of the
State and of the public credit may pos
sibly be shOrt-lived. Despite al the
powerful agencies combined TO defeat
honesty and good govermentIn Virginia,
it seems that Readiusterism has only
won by the trifing majority Of from ten
to twelve thousand. THIS clearly shows
that the Democracy and champions OF
the honor of the State are still a power,
and as there is no doubt that
they represent the education, refinement
and intelligence of the commonwealth,
there is good reason to believe that they
will eventually triumph over ignorance
and corruption. Let them but be true
to themselves and their principles,
despite present adversely, he mother
Of States AID statesmen will yet
rise up gloriously from the humiliation
which, to day, through the Vaccinations
of her enemies, lays her prostate in the
dust.