Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-02-15
Aatlas1el flltelliQenre1.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. FEB. l6. 1882.
The Virginia Split.

The Virginia Split.
That was very amusing exhibition
down in Virginia when Riddleberger
changed sides with Massey, and refused
TO vote for the caucus nominee of the
noble g Readjuster" party; when that
nominee was Massey; being just the
thing that had been done by four
of Massey's supporters when a little
while since Riddleberger's man was
for the same place. Being
unable to seat him through the boiling
of the Massey men, the caucus reassem
bled to do the thing over, the boilers
consenting to come in this time and
abide the nomination. They seem to
have known what they were about, and
to have been using their time industri-
ously, for Massey was nominated. Then
Riddleberger's eyes we're opened, and he
became convinced that it was not al
ways we'll to stand by a caucus nominee.
In fact it depended altogether upon who
he was. He made so much disturbance
over Massey s nomination that the eau
Gus was rent in twain, the separating
factions each nominating their man, and
the Readjuster party consequently finds
itself in a very denoralized condition.
Of course Riddleberger had the very
highest ground for his refusal to vote fOl'
Massey. He said he was felon. That
fact would no doubt Justify the
honorable senator's refusal to vote
to make him state auditor. A Vir-
ginian so distinguished by his people
rs to occupy place in the state Senate
while senator elect of the United
States ought certainly to have moral
tone enough to refuse to vote felon into
Office. In fact he ought to have enough
to 20 farther and to decline association
with him of every kind. In view of
which it seems quite remarkable that the
Honorable Riddleberger was in so close
political communion with Mr.. Massey
until a very late date. Mr.. Massey has
the honor to be recognized as the father
of the Readjuster" movement which
was embraced by Malone and his ponies
after he had already exhibited its value
as a political idea. The unpleasantness
that has now arisen between these dis
tinguished professors of a common faith
has been generally attributed to the
fact that Mr.. Malone is indisposed
to have in present association with him
any such inventive political genius as
Massey is deemed to be. He desires to
have full possession of Massey's bantling
and wants to he recognized as its only
sponsor and guardian. He wants Mas
sey out. He does not make a good fol-
lower. His genius too is for leadership
and the Readjuster party is not big
enough for two heads. 1t is a simple
sort Of a party, organized on plain
basis. 1t is combination for spoils.
1t requires one administrator, and a
number of willingly subordinate lieu
tenants of the subservient Cameron and
Riddleberger style of men :; but no fel-
low who thinks himself bigger than
Malone and suspected of Il disposition
to demonstrate it.
Massey may be felOn Riddleberger
ought to know but that cannot be the
cause of his objection to him or he would
have developed it sooner. The truth is
that if Massey is felon lie is the more
entitled to association with men who
found party upon popular disposition
to repudiate state debt There are Il
good many felons in ahe penitentiary
who would be too honest to belong to
such party and Senator Riddleberger
really is due to the penitentiary, not only
because of his dishonesty but because he
delights to violate the law Of his state
which forbids dueling. He seems to love
to kill as much as to cheat, and if he has
never been u convicted felon it has only
been his luck that has saved him, and
the fact that he is one of body of legis.
lators all so inclined to violating the
law as to be ready to condone the offense
whenever committed, passing special
acts for the purpose.