The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-15

II becomes the imperative duty OF every
Democrat In the State TO consider well the
situation and determine what Is best 10 be
done under the circumstances; but In order
10 do this we should take q calm review OF
the situation, Up to the nomination OF
Governor Holiday in 1877 General Mahone
had, so far as was known. no complaint 10
make Of the Democracy OF Virginia. The
ballot box stufiiug. buIldozlng. or UNFAIR
| counting which had been done by the Demo-
cratic party land much OF that which was
| done was In the town OF his residence) was
| done during the time General Malone was
an active Democrat. Not whlmper OF
complaint had been heard from him or MS
henchmen, and II Is a singular Col lcldence
] that since he left the Democratic party ana
organized The Mozart.liall party u cannot
with truth be claimed by any one that there
has NOT been "free ballot and fair count ]"
IN Virginia. Whether this will be the case
when he reorganizes the Republican party
in this State, and succeeds, rs he hopes TO
do. in making Il Radical and Republican,
remains 10 be seen. Up to the nom'
nation OF Governor Holiday over Ma
hone he claimed 10 be in full sympathy
with the Democratic party on all issues eX-
cent as TO The debt question. Finding that
he could no longer control the Democratic
party i'm his own interest. he determined at
an early day TO break up that party ana
carry over a section OF it to the Republl-
cans. thus securing the State to them, know
ing well that he would be handsomely re-
Warded for this service. His maxim was
% rule or ruin" He knew, however, that
| 10 ayow himself a Republican at once would
DESTROY his influence. lie understood yery
well the maxim "diyide and conquer"
The wedge with which he expected TO d.
vide the Democratic party was the debt
question, as TO which he cared nothing eX-
cept in so far as he desired to use 1t for his
own personal ends. He saw that there was
growing up in the State great bitterness be-
tween the two wings OF the Democratic
party on this question, and he quickly
ayailed himself OF the advantage OF this
feud. He determined TO organize new
party outside and independent OF tue Dem
ocratic party. He therefore called together
| the MOI lrt-Tiall party early in 1879 and or
ganiZed committees IN every county IN the
| State outside and independent OF the Demo-
cratic party. He was far too shrewd TO
march over at once to the enemy'> camp.
| lie occupied Camp Independent, which Is
the hating place between the two par
ItIes: the halt being made in order
| 10 give the tender-fOOteG and Regards
| time to come up. His next step was TO o.
game an active and aggressive campaign
with a view to ALLEVIATE the two wings OF the
! Democracy As much rs possible. y bitter
campaign was organized with the deliberate
purpose OF driving the two wings OF The
party as far apart as possible, 30 that re.
union would be rendered impossible he
sent bis emissaries and speakers into every
IN tYHnmn nnDflllT mind
against the blOated bondbOlder: the
ldcbt-plying Democrats blindlv walked into
the trap prepared for them, and instead OF
discussing the debt question upon liz mer-
its riyalled MabOnc'> followers IN yitupera-
ton and abuse OF the other wing, doing eX.
acllv what Malone wanted them TO d0-ren-
der the breach between the two wings OF
the Democratic party irreparable. Having
accomplished thus much OF his work; having
established and fortified Camp lndepend-
ent. and thus rendered the return OF his FOL
lowers TO tue Democratic fold difficult, II
not impossible, be commenced to hold out
flags Of truce to the Republicans. His fol-
lowers in the Legislature threw lew
crumbs to the Republicans by giving
them Second Auditor and some
other minor positions. For The hrst
time his hcuchmen began to tax
about the wrongs and outrages to the colored
man. He and they took uD the cry OF the
staIwart Republicans OF the North OF free
ballot and fair count" But a presidential
election was about to intervene. lie was
shrewd enough TO know that when the buSle
| sounded many an old Democratic war-horse
| who had followed him into Camp lndepend.
| ent would return to the Democratic ranks.
| He Therefore still occupied his independent
| position, not cooperating with either party
| i'm the nomination for President Is there
any sane man who doubts for moment that
| if Grant bad been nominated at Chicago
| Mahoue would have gone into the Radical
camp at once! He who doubts it must be
blind indeed. But Grant was not nomi-
mated. Garfield was, and Malone continued
TO occupy his old camp, with the hope that
if Hancock was elected he might come back
to the Democratic party and claim part OF
the spoils. II, on the other hand, Garfield
was elected, he had determined to move on
into the Radical camp and control the Radi-
Gals in this State.
Accident has greatly favored him. With
out his vote in the Senate the Democrats
would have majority. With his vote
there would be tie, and the Nice-Presi-
dent would give the casting vote. what a
splendid opportunity for man OF his pc
culiar talents. Returning TO the Demo
cratic party he could expect but little. By
Joining the Republican party, what SpIen-
hid opportunity for spOils. He Was!an old
railroad.man, and looked upon politics a.
| he did upon railroad mattcrs-purely mat
ter of profit and loss. Who has a right to
say him nay. This Is a matter OF taste.
II he thought it was to bis interest to 90
into the Republican party, where was the
Law 10 forbid it: ii he could by thus going
over secure Offices for bis followers a. his
reward for voting for Republican commit
tees, be clearly had the legal right to do 80.
As 10 the moral question, that Is wholly Il
matter of taste But it i claimed he was
elected as a Democrat. This is not true.
| His friends IN the Legislature expressly de-
clncd, when catechised, 10 pledge him 10
the Democratic party. He was elected
without pledge i'm order that he might
place his vote" where at would do
the most good - to himself and his
followers. Having thus been elected, he
placed it with the Republican party, believ-
ing that party would do him and his follow
ers the most good. The only absurd thing
about it is that, after having done this, he
| should turn around and abuse his old assoc
ciatcs for having been bulldOzers and ballot
box suffers, when he was one OF their lead
ers. This, too, in the face of the fact that
50 long as be remained Democrat no COM
plant whatever was made; and now he
would have US believe that he has gone over
to the Radical camp from high and patriotic
motives, and because his old Democratic
allies are not disposed 10 do justice to the
colorcd man. This is too thin. What do
we now sees The &" lOrdiy" Conkling, the
brnzen Uoar. the lacbrymose Dawes, and