The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-04-07
SENATOR MAHONF's RETOgT.


General Malone understands the art OF de-
Tense by aggressive attack much better than
the act OF direc. defense. His explanation
in the Senate yesterday and that OF his fol-
lowers on the State debt question was far
from perfect, though it ought TO prove sutii-
cient to close the mouths OF his most bitter
assaian.s among the southern Democrats.
The substance Of the matter, SO far Us Gen
erai Malone is concerned, seems 10 be that
he Is not repudator. because he proposes
that the State should pay part Of lis just
debts. The refusal to pay the remainder is
not, he says, reputation, but readiustment.
The explanation is feeble. The bill which
passing year ago March /, $780, reduces
the recognized principal of tho debt to SaO,-
100000, 4. e., it cuts Off half. But it does not
cut OF that much absolutely, and. moreover,
it reduces the interest to 3 per cent. makes
the bonds taxable, deprives the coupons OF
the privilege of being received for taxes. and
aboishes the sinking fund provided by law
Tor the payment of the debt. la other " ords,
it reduces the maximum amount Of princi-
pal which in any event can be got by the
creditors. and then by an elaborate series of
injuriou provisions reduces the money val
lie OF the obligations which are acknowi-
edged. In addition to which il must be re-
mcmbcred that such trckery with the cred
ii Of the State in itsci! d.preciatcs its bonds.
IL is only modest estimate of the effect in.
tended by this bill that it cheats the creditor
Of at least onc-half his due. IL this is not
reputation, then a man is not thief who
robs you Of one half the contents of your
pocket book, and leaves you the other hall.
But the aggressive portion Of General
Mahone's speech was effective. He showed
by the record that the men who accused him
OF sustaining dishonesty in the treatment of
the debt had conniycd at similar, but worse.
oiirnscs in their own States: and. in addi-
ton, he made IA very pointed attack on the
tendency shown by the Democratic party to-
ward reputation of national obligations. If
he did not know that there was 10 mote in
tie eye of the Virginia Rcadjuster, he
brought ont plainly the existence of con-
siderable beam in the eyes Of his assailants.
He also charged that the Bourbons of Vir-
Sinia. "while openly protesting obedience
TO the constitution, held by mental reserya-
ton purposes hostile 10 the constitution
and that they 'had undertaken by methods
OF indrecton to disfranchise the colored
man." For his part, he chad never given
that doctrine his assent, either in public or
at the ballot box" He "wantcd no political
seris in Virginia. He was prepared to as
sure the country that in Virginia, at least.
there should be a free suffrage priceless
suffrage full vote and an honest count"
Thus, General Malone has second time de-
liberately, aud with greater emphasis than
before, drawn the line between his party and |
the Democratic organization in Virginia al |
precisely point where the latter Is divided |
from the Republicans. There is no denying |
the significance of this fact. The Democrat |
lie organs choose TO ignore it, and dwell only |
on the position OF General Mohone with ref |
erencc to the State debt. We do not conceal |
our disapproyal OF the latter, but we rejoice |
that man Of courage and political influence,
and with strong following, has been found |
among the Democratic leaders of southern
State to take issue with his party on the |
question OF equal suffrage. 1t is the begin
ming OF the end. Bad as is the doctrine for
which General Malone has sought negro
votes, the fact that he has sought them, that |
he Is ready to expose the purposes of his
former associates TO resist them. is hopeful
sign. Once recognize the right OF all the
voters in the south to the actual use of the
ballot, and the questions 70 the solution of
which the ballot will be applied must ult-
mately be settled with reasonable justice.
II is reported that the Bourbon Democrats
Of Virginia are preparing to accept the sub
stance of the Malone proposition as to the
debt, and to make a fight with him ON the
race issue II is not unlikely that they will
10 so. and the defiant manner in which hc
las now twice attacked them on this qucs-
ion looks as if he were trying TO goad them
10 such a course. But they are great mis-
aiken il they think that they could beat him
N such contest. They would only hasten
heir own total defeat. They forget that
he prejudice on which they have so long |
raded--in common with the Democrats OF
III the southern Statcs--is not an enduring
ointment. With the passage of time and
he growth Of new needs and new habits, {
I has been steadily wearing away. and must
continue to do so. The lavs of modern So
iciy-thc laws of industry and trade and ;
rec political rsanization-tend to destroy
t. And just at present its overthrow is
ided by the powerful! influences of political
ed personal ambition. The men who have
Srested Virginia from the Bourbon party
id their work with negro votes. They will
,and by the men who have aided them. and :
n whose aid they must still rely. On the
cbt issue the Republicans might be COM o
elled 10 act directly or indirectly with the
on the race issue alone they must
ecessarily act with those who stand for l
zee suffrage. And in any case the spell is i,
roken which bound nearly all the white
len in the State to a blind adherence to the =
aders whose power rested mainly on their
,sumcd representation of thc idea Of white
Ipremacy. In Virginia. at least, the prob
:ns Of the future are 20 be settled BY "a
III vote and an homes: count. ''-Sers fort