Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-09
Mahone's Campaign.


From the Philadelphia Times.
The eadiusters begin their campaign
for the control of the State of Virginia
to.day. Neither one of the old politi
cal parties has yet had its convention,
nor will another convention be held for
many weeks TO come. The nominee of
the Readjusters is Mr.. William 4. Cam.
eron, Of Petersburg, staff officer with
Malone in the Confederate army and
political supporter of the Senator since
1877. Mr.. Cameron, however does not
affect the canvass one way or the other.
lie represents Malone and, 80 far as
the people of Virginia are concerned,
Malone himself might as well be the
candidate.
1t is evidently the intention of the
Readjusters to begin the campaign thus
early in order TO make such inroads
upon the negro vote that the leaders of
the Republican party of the State will
not call convention. There really
seems to be some danger OF the defec.
tion Of the negroes. II is certain that
she race was never dealt with so Justly
and fairly as it has been by Malone
and his party. The negroes who at.
tended the Richmond Convention were
treated precisely like the white dele.
gates. The real leaders of the Rcpub.
llcan party OF Virginia. however realize
that to unite with Malone, would mean
their political destruction. Republl.
cans elsewhere have allowed themselves
to be unduly gratiiied by some Of the
generalitics of Mahone's platform, In
their Joy over declarations in behalf of
the State charities, equal and uniform
taxation, and of free ballot, they seem
to lose sight Of the resolution in favor
of the Rlddleberger reputation bill.
The Republicans of Virginia, however,
know too well the real purpose of Ma.
hone and his followers to be led off by
the too apparent effort TO bring the two
parties together on propositions that
are indefinite and may mean nothing,
in order that the scheme Of repudiating
the State debt may be carried through.
If Malone succeeds in capturing 80
much of the ignorant Republican vote
Of the State as TO leave such men as
William {. Wickham and Representa-.
tive Jorgensen without following, he
will have accomplished what hc failed
of by his uncompleted bargain with the
senate Republican, will have ar.
rayed the ignorance and corruption Of
Virginia against It's prosperity and IN.
tclligence. This u precisely what an
alliance between the Kcadjusters and
the Republicans for the election Of
Cameron means, and precisely what the
Republicans, who are possessed OF intel.
hgencc and conscience, have to guaId
against.
The Readjusters are indispuiably in
favor OF repudiating a portion OF the
State debt. Ii is waste OF time to
argue that a proposition such as the
kiddleherger bill, to forcibly reduce the
debt OF the State from $iOOp0OOO 20
$4,000 OIO, is reputation. II bears its
character on its face. Il proposes to
wipe out about half Of the State debt |
Innocent purchasers OF bonds are to
suffer. MeritoTious creditors Of the
state are 10 60 unpaid. Tho only an.
swer made by tho Keadiustcrs is that J
the Democrats or Bourbons have never I
provided for the payment oi the debt /
That IA true or there would not be the I
accumulation OF unpaid interest that !
now swells the grand total OF the debt. /
Neither, it may also be stated, did the /
rpet.baggers aud negroes, when they |
were in power, provide for the pay |
ment Of the debt. But, however that |
may be, Mahone's charge against the |
Democrats does not help him. lie and |
his party avoE their dishonesty and /
they have now driven the Democrats TO 1
such strong utterauccs of their desire 1
to pay every cent OF the debt that there 1
is no escape for them but in honesty. 1
1t ought 10 be borne in mind. too. that /
the ReRdjusters propose to Iepudiate /
some Sj,OOO,OOO Of the debt because it |
represents interest that accumulated |
during the war on the ground that it is |
a debt due an enemy. Do the Repub. |
licans OF Virginia desire to endorse |
that proposition Can the paltry gift |
of the Lieutenant Governorship nomi. |
nation to ex Senator Lewis reconcile |
them to it
There is one ground and one ground |
only for the Republicans Of Virginia to |
stand upon. They must stand alone |
and in favor of the honest payment Of |
every cent of the State debt. II may !
be that on them will sooner or later |
rest the credit of the State. The power |
Of the State will not long be theirs If |
they gain it by an alliance with repudi. |
ators.