National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-02
The Virginia Campaign in the Senate.

1no sLSllla Campaign III the oenat6,
Yes, Messrs Lamar and Hill, the Vir-
ginia campaign is being made in the
Senate debate. The majority offered a
resolution to proceed to the election of
Senate officers. The opposition declined
to allow a vote until what they are
pleased to term a coalition with Senator
Malone had been thoroughly discussed.
Indeed, they say there shall be no vote
on the resolution so long as the Republi-
cans offer as candidate for Sergeant-at-
Arms the name of the Virginia Read
juster, H. HI. Riddleberger. The issue is
joined. The opposition see in the action
of General Malone in Virginia. and of the
Republicans in the United States Senate,
a concurrence which bodies no good to
their cause in the Old Dominion. The
implacable hostility Of the true Bourbon
to the spirit Of the age is never more
thoroughly aroused than when some field
he has held by minority is about to pass
into the hands of an opposition majority.
Such is now the condition in Virginia.
There is in that State a brave and de-
termined party of native whites who
have resolved that the lawful majority
shall be heard at the ballot-box. The
colored voting population have been
acting with these men, and have tested
thoroughly their sincerity. The Bour-
bons have not until recently feared
any coalition between the colored
voters and their white friends. They
relied on the thirst for patronage to keep
the white Republicans up to straight
Republican fight this summer, and to the
negroes devotion to that party for a
division of the black vote. They thought
to frighten the white Readjusters away
from Malone if he dared to vote against
them in the Senate, and they, for time,
even hoped to intimidate him into sub
mission to their iron rule rather than
part company with his followers who
were to be so frightened. All their cal
culations have failed. Malone arrived
here, took his seat in the Senate on
the side of the Government, voted
with the friends of the administra
ton, is sustained in SO doing by all his
followers in Virginia and by many new
recruits from the Democratic ranks, is
thoroughly understood, appreciated, and
trusted by the Republican Senators, and,
free from all party dictation, is already a
central figure in national affairs. All
this is gall and wormwood to the old
hide-bound moss-back regular Barnum
Bourbon Democracy. Their representa-
tiyes in the Senate are stung with
rage and modification at being con-
fronted by one of the bravest and
best fighting generals on the con-
federate side in the war, who tells
them to their faces that their party in his
State is unfit TO govern, and that he and
his followers, aided by the Republicans
of both races, propose to drive them from
power in the summer campaign. The
defiance is seconded by the Republicans
of the Senate without dissent. All mat
ters Of mere local State concern are ig-
nored. Those who have studied the Vir-
ginia debt question say that General Ma
hone and his party make the only SUBJ
stantial proposition that is made
for the benefit of the States
creditors, and that, however it may
fall short of the letter of the obligation,
it is an honest surrender to the creditor
of the uttermost resources of the State.
Those who, from want of time to examine,
or because of an unwillingness to consent
to any abatement of an obligation of even
bankrupt debtor, differ with General
Malone on the debt question, find them
selves so thoroughly in accord with him in
all other matters that they join the rest in
bidding him God-speed in the noble and
patriotic work he has marked out for
himself.
General Malone stands out to-day as
the great leader of genuine new de-
parture for the South. He and his fol-
lowers make State interests and the debt
settlement a part only of their pro-
gramme. Free ballots and free schools
are on their banner, which is already ad-
vanced full high. The movement is de-
pleting the ranks of the reactionary
party. The leaders of that party are
filled with dismay and alarm. They
see the handwriting on the wall. Hope
is dying within them, and despair seems
to be inspiring them with rage. There is
but one remedy in such an emergency-a
remedy which has been tried and found
successful with the unarmed negroes in
some of the. Southern States, and that
is intimidation. 1t will not serve
in the present case. The Read
justers of Virginia will stand by their
leader, and he will realize the high hope
of the country in the Virginia campaign.
Let the debate go ON. The Bourbons are
right in supposing that it will have its