The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-01
The Malone movement in Virginia is of

The Malone movement in Virginia is of
more Importance than many good
republicans of the north think, and means
more things than they stop to take into
consideration. The New York World
stated when Malone first started his party,
that success of his principles would move
an extension of state tactics to national;
and readiustment OF the debt of Vir-
ginia would be followed by similar at
tempt at our national one. And this
would undoubtedly be the case. Success
in an attempt of this character always
means further and more extended attempts;
means a desire to do in wider field what
has been accomplished in smaller one.
There are plenty of Mahones in this
country. and our national history shows
that demagogues are never wanting. The
republican party is assisting Malone with
all its influence and are using every advan-
tage which political brides in the shape OF
offices can offer, further this end. That
party knows full well to what end they are
tending; they know that they are helping
to prostitute the credit of a state in order
to obtain political advantage; and are
trying to make democratic state repudl-
ate it's debts in order to make it
republican, that the democrats are
fighting for honesty and the chance to pay
their debts; and that republican success
means dishonesty and aid reputation.
They are even reckless of further dangers,
and are willing to give the sanction OF the
party to Malone and his adherents, regard
less of the fact that reputation is not
necessarily confined to Virginia; and the
question which is now local may become
national Suppose that the readjusters OF
Virginia, when they should have been sue
cessful in Virginia, should turn their
attention to our national debt and pro-
pose to readjust that:
Suppose they should say to the Repub-
lican party: You consented to repudia-
ton in Virginia for the sake OF making
that State Republican. Readjust the ma
tional debt, and we will promise you other
southern states" what would the Repub-
lican party say to that? It's record in Vir-
gfnia shows that it is not above such
courses; it would be well for
northern republican are to think well before
thew consented to Malone alliances As
the World says:
1.-THE republican party at the South,
composed of few whites eager for office
and mass of negroes, the vast majority
of them ignorant and credulous, affords
e. R17T a.
nization. There are to be counted upon as
recruits the silly and discontinued among
the democrats, and the men with crazy
"views' on the subject of monopolies and
the currency At the north there is a
powerful greenback faction in every re
publican state prepared to cooperate. The
cry ''scale down the national debtp would
prove a popular one among the ignorant
classes at the South since few bonds are
held here and the country is compare
lively poor and if conioined with de-
mand for internal improvements on Law
ish scale and an immense imitation OF the
currency it might; under certain clrcum-
stances easily to be comprehended, acquire
an irresistible volume. When it Is remem-
bered that the Republican party packed
the Supreme court to NEEDLE with the n
nances, and that as soon as the silver craze
their readiness to accept the heresy they
had at first denounced it must appear that
nothing is less unlikely than that the mo
ment Reputation presents itself as u pop
III ar national issue the Republican party
will take it up, There is nothing in the
party's past to forbid such a hypothesis,
and nothing in the party's present. The
danger is not remote or small and it is
well that the responsibility for its origin
and encouragement should be fixed now
where it properly belongs"
That this is the national outcome OF
Mahoneism cannot well be disputed, and yet
every day brings fresh news of prominent
republicans; sending their best wishes to
Malone, and commencing him for his
patriotic course" Patriotic counsel Re-
publicans never recognized his patriotism
until the sale of his vote gave them their
constitutional majority of the Senate.
When patriotism means dishonesty, then is
Malone patriotic.
Il