Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-11-14
Aancaster f1trlIiQercRr.
MONDAY EVENING, NOV. "A. 1881.
The virginia Result.

can hardly be contemplated Win Satls-
faction by either of the two great parties
of the country the only men to whom
it is a matter of unmixed graduation
are Malone and his small body of fol-
lowers who have succeeded in gaining
places Of power through their combina-
ton with the much larger Republican
party of Virginia upon platform whose
most important declaration is wholly at
variance with the often declared policy
of the Republican party of the country.
The Republicans Of Virginia consented
to unite with the Malone Democrats IN
advocating partial reputation OF the
debt Of the state as it was some years
ago settled with the creditors under an
agreement which the supreme court OF
Virginia has decided to be final and un-
changeable. The position taken by the
successful coalition. therefore. not only
proposes the scaling of the debt, but like
wise the changing of the Interpretation
of the law by changing its interpreters.
The Legislature, which elects the judi
ciary. is to be asked to put judges in
Office who will decide that the exist
ing bargain between the state and its
creditors may be avoided by the former
and the latter be compelled to consent to
still larger reduction of their claim
than they agreed to in the existing COM
promise.
1t is difficult to imagine political po-
sition that is less defensible before intel
ligent and honest men. 1t could not in
Virginia Lave had chance for victory
but for the fact that it captured the
negro vote, which is neither honest nor
intelligent, along with the dishonest
white vote. The combination of un-
scrupulous politicians, dishonest whites
and stupid negroes elected the Malone
Republican ticket. For the doctrines
proclaimed by the victors the Repub.
lican party in the country, as well as in
the state, has been made responsible, by
the sympathy extended to the coalition
by leading Republican politicians and
newspapers, and the substantial support
given to it by President Arthur. Yet it
obviously places the Republican party in
so embarrassing position that its sue
cess in the election is likely to bring it
far more tribulation than profit.
Cunceding that the real sentiment of
the party is against r,pudiation, its
course in Virginia exhibits it as saclific-
ing its opinions and principles for an ap-
parent present advantage. 1t advertises
the party. in truth, as being without prin-
ciple unler its present guidance. 1t
shows that President Arthur and the
element which sustains him arc ready to
use any stick however crooked that may
seem 10 be serviceable in sustaining their
political power. They are clearly not of
that wiser and hOnestcr class of states
men WHO believe that honesty is the best
policy and tl.at the true way to achieve
substantial and lasting power is tOfOllow
the STRAIGHTFORWARD path of right. Pres
ident Arthur could not be of this latter
class by his nature and education &; few
Republicans who profess it stand con-
spicuously upon the political horizon.
The course of the party has not been
such as to bring this class of members
to the front. The Republican policy has
been too crooked to enable straight men
to sc; to its front.
But it never was SO strihingly pilloried
before the country in its inconsistency
and dishonesty rs it is now in its eXhi-
bition lis the supporter of Virginia re-
puda;crs and rebel brigadiers. If there
have been two things whic! Republican
orators and editors have lashed them
selves TO fury in the denunciation of.
they have been rebels and regulators.
In fact they have so associated the two
that they lave even proclaimed that a
man could not he one without being
the other; nor could other men be
i'm political association with such
lepers without being made equally bad.
Probably to-day plenty of Republicans
believe that the Southern rebel is only
waiting 4 chance to repudiate all ma
tional, state and individual debts, and
that the Northern Democrat, his pOliti-
cal ally, is rea( Y to so with him when
the time comes. If they 90 not believe
this, it is not because it has not been
often taught to them.
And yet now they see their own party
and administration in coalition with
these rcpudiatinS rebels, boldly pro.
claiming reputation of the state debt
and even proposing to remove the judges
who have put the law as Il bar to their
purpose. If the Republican voters can
patiently endure this facing about of
their leaders they are sorry set of free.
men. a great many of them will not land
they will he of their best. Sensible and self.
respecting Republicans will not stultify
themselves by applauding the position Of
their party in Virginia or by accepting
its triumph there as their own. The el.
ement in the party which is not in SYM
pathy with the administration will be
still further estranged from it by its
course in this Virginia thing. 1t furnish
ed one cause for the refusal of Attorney
General Mac Veagh to remain in the cabi-
net of Arthur until even the election had
been lad. lie was not willing to endure
the blot and shame of this Virginia CO.
alition nor the responsibility for it which
would have fallen on him if he had
stayed unp:otesting in his office. And a
uraat G;any will have tO GET olIt from