The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-08
The Malone scheme in Virginia is, if '


The Malone scheme in Virginia is, if we
are to believe great many northern poll
tlcians, great and glorious uprising, of
the people in favor of civil service reform,
and for the benefit of the colored man.
1t is undoubtedly in favor of the civil ser
vice, but the reform is left out. The en-
tire patronage in Virginia is placed in the
hands of Malone ond his friends, and all
Republicans who fail to fall into line are
at once disposed of. If they will not put
themselves in accord with reputation, of
goes their official heads.
George r. ANAL, mulatto of talent,
who has long held place among the Re
publican party in Virginia and North Car
Dina, was postal route agent. He made
a speech at the Straight-out Convention,
declaring that the Malone propositions for
a coalition were like 'faded flowers COM
ing from the hand of Camille" This was
highly figurative expression of very OBJ
vious truth, but it cost the orator his head.
Col Joseph Wilson, another colored man,
who had the temerity to preside over the
Republican State Convention, and is en-
ployed in the revenue department is about
to be elevated in the same fashion.
In regard to this Malone movement, it
is worth while to ask the republicans Of the
north, if they approve of what their party
is doing.
You northern republicans, are you in
favor of reputation?
Do you favor the prostitution OF all civil
service reform, to carry out bargain by
which q senator's vote was bought?
Do you approve that sale. by which the
man elected as senator from Virginia bar
tered his vote for stated price?
Are you willing for the sake of a chance
to carry southern state, to see your party
drag itself through all this mire?
1t IS not the republican voter who con
sents to this If the party was to take a
direct vote upon this subject to-day, such
O proposition would be Overwhelmingly
defeated. But the party leaders do it, and
the party tacitly consents.
The control which the leaders of the re
publican party have over their followers is
a strange, wonderful thing It's like has
been never seen before and never viii
again 1t is a blind unquestioning follow
ing; following such as half witted man
makes when strong willed one leads him.
No questions are asked, no reasons requir-
ed; he simply leads; the other follows:
The reason is plain enough. When the
republican party was born in the hour OF q
nations agony, it had an object in view
which men could live for; which men
could die for. Then the party could well
trust its leaders. they were men who coulo
well be trusted Men belonged to the re-
publican party because in it they sa" the
way to save the Union. Lincoln and his
compeers only had this one thought.
But when that object was accomplished
the party had nothing else to live for II
had better have died then; for then ii
could have left glorious name behind it.
But survived it's period of usefulness and
lived. Lived to see its former leaders die
or else like Sumner and Greeley leave il
and the places they once honored pass In
to the possession of men who dishonoreo
them.
But still it did not seem possible thai
such could be the case, and the republic
who remembered Lincold could not con
ceive of the full truth concerning
Grant, .Belknap did not seem possible
hot hp
Chase, Sumner and Greeley could be any
thing but good,
Some few wrongs were acknowledge d
but still the party said to each other, "W'
will have reform within the party" and
even after nine years of failure of that at
tempt, it is still prated about.
Reform within your party? Why, yol
can never have reform within your party
bitterly as you need it, SO long as th'
slightest smell of any one of your presen
leaders remains.
When the presidential steal of 1876 wa
consummated, the party assented to 1t VIII
out murmur; assented to what they kne'
wrong; but which was thing so ingram
SQ ny ILLS 1ILut 1AtO tuS pa - eA$e ~ -
not know how to resent it.
So is it now with the attempt to aid Ms
hone. That attempt has its only hope c
success by total prostitution of all rule
of civil service reform. 1t is actuated b
desire for political power alone, while
claims to be solely for the benefit OF til
negro If successful, it will be an aid an
encouragement to reputation. 1t had i
beginning in the barter and sale of a SCI
sational vote It is conducted solely by til
worse class of politicians in the part.
men who are politicians and nothing els
who never were or never will be statesmen
And yet the great republican party of IL
north, party who as far as its mere votir
strength outside of its leaders is concerne
is in the main honest; b ut which by n
resisting the attempt tacity condoned
becomes parties to it.
When the scheme was first preached
did not seem that the party would conser