Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-05-27

FRIDAY MORNING. MAY. 27. 1881.
REFLECTIONS OF A DELEGATE
TO THE JUNE CONVENTION.
The reflections of gentleman who has
been fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to
have been selected as delegate to
the June Convention. must be of a mixed
and uncomfortable character. In the first
place the evil star of Senator Malone seems
to have risen and hangs steadily and, I'M
relentingly over his head. The sagacity,
for which he had acquired an excellent
local reputation, seems to have failed HIM
on the wider field of national politics. He
threw his vote to the Republican party in
Senate and that party promptly split and
crumbled into factions. He unwisely put
forward his friend and co-readjuster for a
prominent position in the Senate. the DEM
ocratic Senators steadily opposed bis cleo
ton. and not only laid Riddleberger aside.
but won the sympathy of the nation in the
struggle. He cast his lot with the "boss
esq and to-day they are scattered before
the Administration forces and two of them
have taken refuge in resigning their seats.
Dazed and confused he absented himself
from the struggle over the confirmation OF
the Administration nominee Stanley
Mathews, and the nomination was con-
firmed by the vote of the Democratic Sen
ators. Again, seeking to regain lost
ground he voted for the confirmation OF
Chandler, the Administration nominee,
and the Democratic Senators promptly de-
feated him. With astonishing celebrity the
succession of events has brought the ''bal-
ance of power itself to be weighed in the
balance and found wanting. It would not
only be.insincere but superfuous for any
follower of Senator Malone to allege that
this series of catastrophes have not mate
rially changed the situation In Virginia.
They have inspired the Democracy with
plee. and an anxiety to enter the struggle
for the State They have given the Re-
publican party renewed hope of strong
backing by the Administration, and d.
vided Democracy to engage next fall
And they have cast an unmistakable gloom
over the bright expectations of Gen. Ma
homes followers which last December
seemed on the way to happy realization.
The puzzle at Richmond next Thursday
will be to find light in this gloom by which
the path may be found; indeed, to find
light 80 as to recognize each other. for it
cannot be questioned that many Readjus-
ters who were enthusiastic Malone men
at the opening of the year have been awed
into silence by the series OF calamltles
that have overtaken their leader. The
first evidence of doubt will probably
be given by the desertion Of the friends OF
the prominent gentlemen who have been
named and canvassed for, for the nomina-
ton. A new name, probably that OF
Mr.. Riddleberger. may be introduced as
a rallying point. This will not be done so
much because Mr. r. may add strength to
the ticket because as matter of fact, hay
ing been the nominee of Republican
Senatorial caucus, he will make poorer
run among the Democratic Readjusters-
but because there will be an evident me-
cessity for new deal. Again, that por-
ton Of the Republican voters-it cannot
vet be said how large or small-that the
Malone ticket expects to get Is already
showing restiveness and promises to be
exacting. It must be arranged with them
some way, which creates another puzzling
question. If the arrangement is not liber-
al and satisfactory the support OF the Re
publicans will be small; if it is liberal the
support of the Democratic Readjusters
will be small.
There are other enigmas to be solved be-
sides the mere candidate. While the I'M
written work of the occasion may be ar
ranged, the platform will be difficult to
manage. That may be full of readjust-
ment as doubtless it will be, but there is a
well defined opinion IN the public mind
that that question will have very mar
row seat in the coming campaign. The
illiterate voters of the Republican party
whom Gen. Malone hopes to secure. care
nothing for the state debt either way, but
thew do care for the privilege of voting
without having to assume any OF the bur-
dens of citizenship. This must be made
plain to them; but at the same momen,
it will be made quite as plain to the tax
paving voters of the Democratic party
The June convention too must promise the
Republican votersomething more than his
own party holds out to him. With divl.
ded Democracy and his own party success
full the colored voter sees pretty clearly
that he will have all his rights and good
many privileges thrown in. The conven-
ton of next Thursday must see this and
go something better.
Seeing that the followers of Senator
Malone according to the last poll we're not
quite one-third as large as the Democratic
party of the state, and but little over one
third as numerous as the Republican vo-
tiers, and considering the uncertainty and
decentralization that has over-taken them
through no act of their own but through
the mistakes of their leader, it would not
be bad policy for their convention next
Thursday to adjourn without nomination
and cast their votes with either OF the
great factions that they please next Novem-
her. It would at least give them the sat-
Essaction Of knowing that they bad had
some share in shaping the course of affairs,
and not, like their electoral ticket of last
year, been left out in the cold unnecessary,
nnimportant and unconsidered in the
struggle into which they entered with far
greater hopes then they will enter the one
now ahead of them. If they don't want
to repeat the folly Of 1880 let them put
thomsalvas in a position where they can