National Republican., 1882-09-01

defiance Of the Bourbons, placed him and
his followers in line with the National
Administration. The Republicans of
Virginia, in State convention, assembled
the following summer declined to make
nominations, and urged theparty to sup
port the Readiuser State ticket This
was displeasing to q few Republicans
whose leadership it displaced, and men
who looked with composure upon the
inglorious desertion of the field by
the Republican party in 1877 could
not find words strong enough with
which to express their displeasure, be-
cause, in 1881, it was proposed to join
forces with those Virginans who had
braved Bourbon prescription for the main
tenance of all that the Republican party
of Virginia had contcnded for, except its
name and machinery. But the coalition
succeeded beyond the most sanguine ex-
pectations of its friends. Everywhere
Malone was denounced as Republican,
and everywhere he replied that he would
continue his fight against Bourbonism,
whatever the logical conclusion of his
course might be. The issue, and the only
one, before the people was whether he
had done right or wrong in the Senate.
The Republicans gave him almost united
support. His eX-confederate friends stood
| around him in the fierce political strife,
and disdained to say whether they were
bound for the Republican camp or not.
awe will follow Malone anywhere" was
their cry, Except into the Bourbon
party" The few Republican Straight
outs who saw nothing in all this to excite
any other emotion than that of jealousy
toward this powerful ally, did what they
could to make the coalition failure. 1t
ran over them and crushed them. The
result of the election was twelve thou
sand majority against the Bourbon State
ticket, and United States Senator in full
accord with Malone. The four Congress-
men elected the previous year against
the Bourbons-two Republicans and two
Readjusters-voted together in the organ
ization of the House.
Now the Republican State and District
Committees have united with the Read
justers in continuing the coalition for
the election of Congressman, and five of
each party have been nominated. The
old enemies of coalition are trying to
palm themselves off as deserters. Vir-
ginia Republicans realize that never,
through their organization, have they
controlled the State. They realize that
it is nine gears since the Republican party
nominated Slate ticket. They know that
their party never elected United States
Senator-Senators Lewis, Malone
and Riddleberger having been elect
ed by union of the Republican
minority with Independents. They
find that although nine seats in
Congress have been filled every two
years since 1860, being sixty-three in
all, only sixteen have been won for the
Republicans. Only five out of thirty-six
seats have been filed by Republicans tho
past seven years. The party has wisely
decided upon policy which produces
better results. 1t has now adigher mis-
sion than to furnish national delegates
and feeders at the public crib. 1t has q
healthy life, and instead of returning to q
minority it will continue to form part
of the patriotic majority which shall pre-
vent Virginia from ever contributing tc
a national Bourbon restoration. Why
should the Straightouts prefer Bour
| bon success?