The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-28
aUncovering. z

Democratic inconsistency was never more
significantly illustrated than in the debate in
the Senate on the election OF Senate off,
GERS. The Senators from the Southern
States protest that perfect political free
dom is enjoyed throughout the South-that
no man is prescribed because of his politi-
cal opinions, and that the charges preferred
to the contrary are wholesale SANDERS
These protestati0ns are coupled with de-
nunciations of Gen. Malone, in the most
imprisoned and bitter manner, and for
what? Because he chooses to vote as he
pleases and in pleasing himself, he happens
to antagonize Bourbon Democracy. That
is the whole of it. All the petitions, ad-
dresses, Investigations and record evidence
taken by Congressional Committees, have
been far ess effective in ''uncovering" the
true political condition of the South, than
this accidental debate. Senators have lost
their wits and their usual sagacity. They
have been led into a discussion and the
declaration OF purpose and policy OF
prescription, heretofore denied, which goes
to the country in the most authoritative
form it could receive, and proclaims an intol
erance that is without a parallel anywhere
in this or any other country. Gen. Malone
has simply exercised the right OF every 9TH
er Senator to determine his own action and
his own vote. Having been elected, under
peculiar and anomalous circumstances, as it
affects party relations, he could not reason
ably be assigned to either party organiza-
ton, but was free to vote as his judgment
and the interests of the political body he
more directly represents might suggest.
No Bourbon Democrat in Virginia expected
him to affiliate with that party in the Sem
| ate. Yet because he did not, the concen-
trated wrath of the whole Bourbon repre-
sentation in the Senate is visited upon him.
| and from every State the vilest abuse and
denunciation are heaped upon him. He has
simply declared his opposition TO the OBJ
structive policy of the Democratic party
That is his crime. He did 80 in the State
canvass Of 1879 and in 1880. His position
was known. Yet. as his action on the Sem
| atorial theatre indicates an aggressive
movement against Bourbon solidarity in the
South, he is fixed upon for the combined
assaults and the most relentless prescription
ever presented against Senator. What be-
comes OF the professions of political free
dom in the South, in the light of the trans
actions in the United States Senate for the
past six weeks? The Senators who have
proclaimed that the utmost liberty may be
exercised in political action in the South
ern States stand self-condemned and self
convicted by their own speeches as officially
published In the Record. They will stand
there for future reference, to be reproduced
in every canvass of the future, and to tes-
tify to the political despotism which rules
and determines party relations in the South
ern States. There is no wiping this record
out. Protest as much as they may, it will
confront them at every turn, and expose all
the hollow pretenses of the Hills, the La
| mars, the Hamptons, and their like, when
they attempt to convince the country that
there is manly federation and political free
dom in the Southern States,
II the contest in the Senate be produc-
tive of no other result, it has uncovered the
methods and the m olives Of the Democratic
party of the South, and will dispense with
great deal ofenquiry and doubt for the fu-
1 ft1r