National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-12

ton. II affects to see inconsistency in
the course of the Readiuster leaders. 1t
says that during the last canvass they de-
clared that "the election hinged upon
readjustment only, which was solely n
local ISSUE" 1t is our duty, being, as we
are, better informed upon the subject of
Virginia politics than is the Post, to cor
rect the mistake into which that vivacious
and entertaining journal has fallen.
The Readiusters never did make a
campaign upon the sole issue of readiust-
ment Of the State debt. That was Of
course leading question, but not more
prominent one than the others upon which
the new party was formcd-vi2., restora-
tion ofthe school fund diverted from itsuse
by the Bourbons freedom of the ballot,
repeal of the capitation tax rs II prerequi-
site to voting and abolition of the whip
ping-post. To these issues there was
added last fall the still more prominent
one of the relations of Virginia to the
National Administration. This issue be-
came the prominent one during the cam
paign. This was logical consequence
of the course pursued toward General
Malone in the Senate last spring by the
Bourbon Senators because he refused to
enter their caucus. They set up the pre-
tense that he had been elected as a Bour-
bon! Think of it. General Malone
indebted to the Bourbons of Nir-
ginia for his election to the
Senate! The statement answers itself.
General Malone found the Senate di-
vided between Bourbon enemies and Re-
publican friends. The latter treated him
exactly as he had been treated by John
f. Lewis and his Republican associates
in Virginia. The coalition between In
dependent Democrats and Republicans,
which had resulted in Readjuster success
in 1879, was indorsed by coalition in the
United States Senate between the inde-
pendent Democrat Malone and the Re.
publicans of that body. AS the relation
of Virginia toward her creditors had been
placed on the road to readjustment by
the coalition at the polls, 50 the relation
of that State to the Government al
Washington was placed on the road to
readiustment by the. coalition in the
United States Senate in March, 1881.
The course then pursued toward General
Malone by Bourbon Senators was with
out parallel. If he had been fugitive
negro slave and they had been hunting
him with bloodhounds, if he had been Il
captured but still rebcllious fugitive and
they had been negro-breakers, he could
not have been the object of greater feroc-
ity. Every Virginian, of whateyerpolitics,
knew that every Bourbon in that State
had opposed his election to the Senate
They knew that his supporters would
every one have been cheated and out
ragged if he had gone over to the Bourbons
after his election. They knew that the
proud and brave white rebels against
Bourbonism-men who had been rebels
before in Mahone's company, when re.
| bellion was more dangerous-would
never bend their necks to the impudent
| Funders, who claimed to be theii
masters and his. The Bourbon charge
that Malone had joined the Republicans
was met by the farmers of the Valley with
defiance of his accusers, who sent back
as their answer that they would follow
wherever Malone should lead, so lonl
as his footsteps were not turned towarC
the Bourbon camp, Readjuster mass
meetings throughout the State applaudet
| his course. In every household was reat
the Senate debate in which the David o
| Readjusterism braved the Goliah of Tho
Funder Phiistines. In the Readjuste
| State convention the Senator's course wa!
| indorsed, and Cameron, one of the proud
est and bravest of Virginia's best stock
was nominated for Governor. Every
where on the stump he eulogized the
course of Malone, and with character
istic chivalry declared that he wanted
the votes of none who did not agree with
him, Riddleberger, who had been made
the coalition candidate in the United
States Senate for Sergeant-at-Arms Of
that body, because of his ability, courage
and loyalty to the cause of Liberalism in
Virginia, was everywhere hailed as the
choice of his party for the United States
Senate. Was this repudiating the coali
ton? Was it not rather the strongest
possible expression of approval of the
course both Malone and Riddlebergei
had pursued in Washington? The col
ored voters in State convention Endorsed
them. The Republican party in State
convention indorsed them. The Ad
ministration at Washington indorseG
them. And finally the people of Vir
ginia at the polls indorsed them by
majority of 10000.
1t is too late for Bourbons to capture
Virginia Readjusters by any croakin(
about the negro, or by any. effort to ex
cite their fears of not being considered
Democrats. = They are citizens of tn,
United States, Virginians, Readiusters
and Administration men, and have not
in their ranks any towards who can be
lashed into the Bourbon traces, either by
ridicule or denunciation. The Post will
now see how greatly it erred in suppos.
ing that Virginia was carried last fall on
the debt question alone. Her people de.
clared by twelve thousand majority that
Malone did right in the Senate, and
that they were pleased with Riddle.
berger's attitude as a candidate before
that body.
Oh!
young man who thought he had won tht
! heart aud now asked the hand In marriage Of
| certain young widow was asked by her. '"What 4
| the difference between myself and Mr. BaNlryl