Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-15
MALONE
And the SO-ca1led Democrat,
Party.

EDITOR LEDGER-Leb us examine
the facts and see whether Malone can
be truthfully, justly or reasonably
charged with treason to the organiza-
ton calling itself the democratic par
ty for his action in allying himself
with the republicans in the senate on
the question of a reorganization Of
that body, n good effect of which
would be the busting of that prince Of
Tennessee funders, John G. Burch, to
whom Hobbs Office in Tennessee was
so valuable to carry out the then de-
mands of the Wall street brokers that
he could pay a good round sum for it.
The so-called conservative party
of Virginia (whose senators and rep
resentatives in congress call them
selves mocrats)nominated and elect
ed a governor and legislature upon a
platform to "readjust' the state debt
upon just and honorable terms. Ma
hone contributed more to the election
of this governor and legislature than
any other dozen men in the state.
When the Legislature assembled they
were met by a powerful lobby repre-
senting Huntington, Could, McUul,
Tough, and the brokers Of Wall street
which they accepted and adopt
ed, as was done in Tennessee the other
day, without crossing a 1t" or dotting
an IL" This bill contained the in
famous tax receivable coupon feature
and is known throughout Virginia as
the Mccullough bill" 1t is un-
necessary to say how its passage was
secured. Many respectable" Vir-
Q~inians became interested in these
bonds. Agreat many there as here
now in Tennessee while densuncing
the peridy and treachery of their gov
ernor and Legislators, said: there is
no remedy, it is a inality," and I'VE
must submit" but not so the gallant
Malone. Out of the peridy and
treachery of the governor and the
legislature was born a state party,
which came to be known as the read
%juster party, and of which Malone is
the acknowledged leader. 1t was or
ganized to rescue aud preserve the
sovereignty of the state, and to pro-
tect the interests and honor of the
people, and in opposition to the so
called Conservative party" and the
republican party of Virginia. In the
first election in which this party ap-
peared, in the fall Of 1879, it achieved
a grand and glorious victory over the
combined opposition of the two old
parties. SO confident of victory were
the so called conservative party"
with the aid Of its republican allies,
that its state executive committee met
in Richmond and by resolution for
mally communicated and read out
of the party, with appropriate anathe-
mas, Mahone and all his adherents.
This was supererOgatOry, however, FIR
they had already abandoned the old
corrupt hulk and were fighting it to
the death for their betrayal Of the
people end the trusts con6dcd to
them.
Whom did the readjuqters fight and
SO gloriOusly defeat? They had as
opponents "the monopolists," who as
Senator Davis truly says, control,
influence and handicap both the re-
publican and democratic PARTIES" the
brokers, whose margin on their bonds
gave them a large fund to use against
the readjuster patty; the so-called
conservative party" and the republi-
can party, actively backed by Hayes
administration. Postmaster General
Key issued a circular to the postmas-
ters, telling them what to do, and John
Sherman a like circular to the reve-
nue. officers. They all understood
what it meant. Obedience or official
decapitation. Several republican ora
tors went into the state to canvass for
what the readjusters dubbed the
"funder party" or brokers bill
party" and the administration sent
down Fred Douglas to speak specially
to the negroes. The two Virginia sem
ators and every congressman was or
the stump against the readjusters, ex-
cept Jno. Z. Harris, who said inanswer
to an inquiry that he was "a read
ulster IN the COOL" which in
Virginia was hen interpreted
to mean, IL am waiting to see which
side is the stronger" Besides the
combinations and bargains already
shown, in the classic and historic
county of Albemarle, the seat of the
State university, and the home of JET
ferson when living, these so-called
democrats bargained and fused with
the republicans upon an ignorant ne
gro for the legislature, with whom
they defeated an able and respectable
white man. This is but a sample Of
their bargaining, then. The new zeal
of holy horror so recently displayed
by them against bargains had not
then broken out among these %virtuous
50. called democrats. Not q cheering
word came to the readjusters from
any politician or newspaper outside
the state, and in the state all the news
papers, except one at Richmond AID
three or four country papers, opposed
them, and yet the readjusters tri-
umphed, ever with the funders count
ing the votes, no small matter in
i these days of pure elections and hon
est counts. Malone was assisted in
his canvass by a few men, not one Of
whom had at the beginning Of the
campaign even a state reputation. l
have witnessed many very bitter cam
paigns, but none to equal in malignant
hostility, reckless abuse, wanton ~
ing. corruption and bulldozing, that
Of 1879 in Virginia against Malone
and the readjusters. Regarding the
result, may not we exclaim with the
Immortal Vallandigham, just after a
similar campaign in Ohio, Trust the