Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-06-04

Hanraster ftltelllgenrer.
SATURDAY EVENING. JUNE 4, 1881.
The Virginia What.is.i.
That hybrid association of Mahone's
seems itself to be in much doubt as to
what sort Of . political animal it is, and
presents itself to us as half horse and
alligator, with a candidate for governor
who proclaimed himself . Democrat in &C.
cepting the nomination, while the NOM
inee for lieutenant governor announced
himself as a Republican. On its face
this would seem to be fusion for spoils
upon the issue of reputation, that being
the only issue which divides this or
ganization from the regular Demo-
cratic and Republican parties of the
state. The claim is made by the Ma
hone people that they are more favorable
to the freedom Of the ballot and to the
rights of the negro than the regular
Democrats are; and the Republican
newspapers Of the country are very fond
Of accreditiny Malone with this writ ue
and of shutting their eyes to his ohjec.
tionable doctrines. Still they can hard.
ly Ike prepared to say that his party is
stronger in its devotion to the negro and
the ballot than is the Republican party
of the state, which stands aloOf
from Malone and refuses, with
its most reputable adherents, to be
the tail to his reputation kite. So
that it seems to he clear enough that
with this reputation plank out of the
Malone platform, there would he no ex-
cuse for its existence, the other doc
trines enunciated being certainly de-
Tended by one or the other of the regular
political organizations. With three polit-
ical parties in the field in Virginia, it
will he impossible to class Mr.. Malone g
party as either Republican or Demo-
cratic, of course and if it is not to be
considered to be what it in fact calls
itself, the "Readjuster" party. CON-
posed of such Democrats and Republi.
cans as want to "readjust" |" the state
debt on easier terms to the state, then it
is a child without name or an idea.
Our Republican contemporaries, how
ever, are very 10th to look at it in this
light, because their readers do not like
reputation doctrines and it is ticklish
business to laud a reputation party
but Republican editors feel violent in
clinatiOn to pat Malone on the back and
keep him afloat because he is the enemy
OF their enemy, the regular Democratic
organization. 1t is really painful
to see the embarrassment of these
Republican editors between the sharp
horns of their dilemma. There was
the Philadelphia Press, which pitched
in heal over heels for Malone couple
of months ago, without taking heed
where it was going to land, but deeming
it safe to follow the administration
which then was paying heavily for Ma
homes deciding vote in the Senate. But
when the houest Republicans of Vir-
ginia refused to swallow reputation
and the administration found it wise to
cool off towards its representative, the
positions of the organs that followed
in its wake became embarrassing
and they made sudden halt
and had not a word of praise for William
for nearlya month. We sac that the
Press is venturing now to poke its head
out of its hole and to predict some sun
shine for Malone. 1t says to-day that
" General Mahone's Virginia readiust-
ers have begun their compaign under
bright auspices but does not get furth-
er in giving its aid and comfort to s' Mr..
MahOne's Virginia readjusters, ." because
" it is still uncertain how much Repub-
lican support the new movement may
cOmmand.' As it thinks that &" it will
be a month or two before all the phases
of the struggle are developed" it does
not find it necessary to be in any great
hurry to resume its former demonstra-
tiOn of hot enthusiasm for {" Mr.. Ma
homes Virginia readjusters.' Prudence
is an excellent virtue, and patience and
it is never too late to remember to OBJ
serve them. The gyratiOns of these Re-
publican organs in the Malone matter
have been exceedingly amusing to us.
They are SO puppet like in their dance to
the administration music. They would
like to embrace Malone. but stand ready
to repulse him if the "phases of the
struggle" require it. In other words
they await the administrator wink.