The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-17
independence in the U. S. Senate.

that at least two Democratic Senators will
act with the Republicans in much of the
political legislation which may come before
it. Senator Brown, of Georgia. and Sena-
tor Malone, of Virginia. are what may be
called progressive Democrats. They re-
cognize the necessity of conforming the
legislation of the country-both State and
Nationalist the spirit of the Constitution;
are disposed to practically accept the situa-
ton and place their States in accord with
the ideas and policies which are embodied
in the amendments to the Constitution
We assume this to be the fact only from
thepublic declarations they have made. The
liberal views they have expressed constitute
a departure from the fossilized notions
of the Bourbon Democracy, and if en-
couraged will make them co-adJutors
of the Republican party. They weaken the
force of their position, however, by ad-
nering to the party nominalism with
which they have heretofore been identified,
in that it implies an absence OF moral cour-
age in not divorcing themselves from name
that represents the obstructive and retroac-
tive ideas which they condemn. Party
names in the usage of this country define
political principles and governmental poll
cies. To remain identified with name
when the ideas it signifies are discarded
and renowned, is to invite distrust OF the
integrity of purpose which controls, and
expose to unfrieudly criticism the motives
which actuate. There is no other political
agency through which the liberal views
Senators Brown and Malone have expressed
can be practically enforced, than the Re-
publican organization. 1t is impossible for
any two men to constitute party. In the
role of independents they only fritter away
their influence, and so long as they retain
nominal Identification with the Demo
cratic party, yet should occasionally vote
with the Republic ans, they will lose the
confidence of both, and excite the aversion
of the popular following of each. Partic-
ularly will such an attitude be unfortunate
in the present relations of the two parties
in the Senate. If persisted in it will natu.
rally be construed as a design to avail Of
the evenly balanced strength Of the tive
great national organizations in that body to
gain notoriety or accomplish selfish ends
The accident of circumstances will give
them prominence, but it will bring no abid-
| ing confidence, nor win for them enduring
character. Processing one thing and doing
another directly the opposite, would not
be craftsmanship. There is very little rcon
! Tor independence and at the same time pop
| ular confidence in the United States Sen
ate, and the Senator who attempts to pose
| in that role will soon find it out.
AS yet Gen. Malone has done nothing tc
indicate how he will vote or to which party
| his influence will be given. One day the
statement is made that he will certainly
act with the Republicans, and the next
day it is just as positively asserted that he
will cast his lot with the Democrats. We
do not believe he has at this writing at least
indicated to either of the parties or theil
representatives how he. will act, as to strict.
! ly party matters. One object, doubtless
plOlutHo1b UClOlC HLihf 10 w VI StHiHN
strength in Virginia for the approaching
contest. This will be difficult for him tc
| do. There are distractions in this which
can not be removed by any record he may
make in the Senate. AS party, the Re
publicans cannot co-ope rate with him in hi:
views on the debt question, and without
-uch cooperation the campaign would be
failure. Even should the Republicans de-
eide not to place ticket in the tield-whicf
is not probable-there could be no assur
ance of their support for ticket OF his
own choosing and of his present faith. In.
! Iced. to our mind, there is only one way
| for Gen. Malone to win the State, and that
| is to modify his position on the debt ques-
ton so as to practically recognize and re-
spect the judgment OF the Courts, and sus-
rain the Republican policy in national al
| fairs. 1t is useless for him or his following
to assail the great bulwark of the Judiciary
| State and Federal. That would be an unequa
contest, and as futile as unequal. He knows
and every man of his party knows, that he
| cannot escape from the judicial mandates
and that all the fuss and fury about read
| iustment, so far as the subject matter of the
court decisions is involved. is but deluding
| the people, and worse than folly.
There is precisely where the Republican
party must stand, and connive at no COM
promise. The administration at Washing
ton can give countenance to no other
policy, nor will the moral sense of the ma
ton tolerate raid against the determine.
ton of that great tribunal which stands as
| defence to the imperilled rights OF
| persons and property. AS Republicans,
we would first have to divorce ourselves
| from the national organization, before we
| could think of lending our strength to an
| assault upon the Judiciary, and forever
| after renounce all sympathy with the prin-
ciples of the party. Were it possible foi
the administrati to, countenance.suchs sur
render, ii. would only prepare the way for in,
evitable defeat hereafter, and for the expe-
riment of trying to win one Southern State
from the rule of the BourbonS, to certainly
tumble over two or three Republican States
of the North. The Republicans of Vir-
gnia cannot seriously entertain such a
thought. Their only security is in holding
steadfast to the principles of the party. No
other course will receive countenance or
encouragement from the national party, and
any other course would blot them out of ex-
istence as distinctive Republican organi-
cation.
We can see no better way for Senators
who profess the liberal ideas of the Repub-
lican party to carry them into effect than
to unite with the organization that embodies
them in its creed, and we certainly can
conceive of no possible success for Gen.
Malone in Virginia except to fully iden-
tify himself with the Republican party and
its principles.
A statement has been made current that
Messrs. Jorgerson and Dezendorf, republican
members of Congress from Virginia, would
not act with the republicans in the organiza
ton of the House, if Gen. Mahone's aid to the
republicans in organizing the Senate was
recognized by the President, in the control OF
certain patronage. Wedid not give it import