Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-18

1t begins to appear as though the pis-
toll is to be as potent in the campaign in
Virginia as the regulation accessories of
the canvass. Challenge after challenge
has been sent and accepted by heated
orators, but thus far little, if any, blood
has been split, and it is to be hoped that
none of the irate gentlemen may be pre-
maturely removed from the field of use
fulness.
The famous "Blair letters, to which
we called attention some time ago, have
been fruitful in producing bad feeling.
The Readjusters are parading a soealled
confession of the falsity of TIE docu-
ments by w. Leigh Wilson, the party
who claims to have received them. The
Funders offset this with a statement from
Wilson, charging that the confession was
procured from him while drunk, and
under the tender of bride from Riddle
berger and Malone. Major Daniel and
Captain Geo. d. Wise have denounced
Riddleberger as "a liar and scoundrel,
and the latter and Wise have made tar
gets of each other after the approved
fashion, but happily harmlessly.
Whether these letters will provoke more
meetings is uncertain.
Meanwhile another lively quarrel has
Just been closed, apparently. on the part
of one of the parties to it. These are
no others than Malone himself and the
tough old veteran Jubal Early. The
quarrel had its origin in speech deliv-
cred in Richmond few days ago and
received with thunders of applause, in
which General Early asked:
when was it we first heard of a
bribed Legislature in Virginia? 1t was
when Malone was before it with his
consolidation bill. Then for the first
time was heard Of in the history of this
State a bill bribed through the Legisla-
ture.
"But now" said the General, che has
quite another rule Of conduct. After
setting his sleuth hounds on Major
Daniel--who with one kick from his
lame leg has sent them bowling back
the following has been published in the
Richmond Wing:
"'Jube Early is for Daniel Surely
that is sufficient reason why everybody
else should be against Daniel
General Early read the quotations
calmly, and quite as calmly said: This
is sufficient reason for Malone to be
against Daniel. l know him to be a
miserable coward and a base liar
[Great cheers, repeated and prolonged.
On reading this, Malone is said to
have determined to have it out with
Early in a manner BETTING the gravity
of the wound to his honor. Sober refec-
ton, however, led him to refer the mat
ter to a few trusted advisers. Pursuant
to their counsel, it is claimed he penned
the remarkable production, which we
present elsewhere, in which he endeavors
to have it appear that it is not necessary
for him to go farther than he has in
noticing the charge. He says Early can
give him no satisfaction, and yet salts
faction was his consuming desire ere he
listened to the whispers of prudence.
The impression he seeks to convey is
that he would be dishonored in meeting
Early. The fact that he feels it neces-
sary to notice Early's attack and his
readiness at first to demand satisfaction
disprove this at once. While Mahone's
good sense in not pressing a meeting is
to be admired, he has placed himself in
a position where discretion would look
like something far less commendable
were Early to demand the satisfaction
that he himself declines to ask for.
Malone recognizes the code, aud has
given Early ground to appeal L. it. If
he sets up the plea that Early is unfit TO
meet him, he will have few to agree with
him.
1t is to be hoped that General Early
will not press the matter further. He
could gain nothing in an encounter with
Malone. Malone having enjoyed the
notoriety of his arrest and his card to
the public, would doubtless like more Of
the same kind. The Conservative lead
ers may crafty him, but if they do they
will not dignity their cause. There is
but one way of dealing with Malone
and his cOterie of spoilsmen, and that is
to bury them under the ballots of the
honest citizens of the Commonwealth.
The greater the notice they receive at the
hands Of their opponents the better for
them, and in gratifying them in their de-
sire for nOtoriety the Conservatives
make serious mistake.