Daily Republican., 1882-03-08


A flying CORES pondent of the RI
PUBLICAN has brought Richmond, tn
capital Of the Readjnsted State Of Vii
Rinia, within one of his rounds, an
no has not failed to note the politica
changes that have been wrought by tn
btate passing from Bourbon to Read
sjuster control. The first fold theil
hands and look with contempt upon a
movement, which 1t matters not how
much of reform it is, embraces within
1ts.iDfiuences the plebeian masses which
make up the population of the State
Rsspectability is the word with them
and If they cannot rule with the old
time and effete +. F. V. magnifcence,
ehey stand by in sullen silence and per.
init Malone and his followers to rule
tho State in their own manner, expect
ing to profit by their mistakes when
the time comes. 1t is worthy of note
70 30 what small circumstance brings
down the contempt of the old true blue
Bourbon. Malone, Riddleberger, the
Canerons, the Wises and host of 9th.
e. leading lights of the new reform
movement, while they were members
Of the old Bourbon Democracy were
highly respected aud honored, but as
soon as they united to lift Virginia out
"f the ruts OF old-fogyism, and comb; ned
TO break the idolatrous gods of worn
out sristocracy, which clegged the
wheels of progress, they became almost
Instantly the object of ostracism and
Soatempt, Our correspondent in yes
ssTday's REPUBLICAN, shows graphi-
oAlly how the change was made. 1t
was all done by lawful and legal pro-
csss Of reason, followed by action, and
now, while the Bourbors are affecting
contempt for the movement, every office
IN the State, from the Governor down
70 township constable, is being filled
with acknowledgements name
tor reformer or any thing which de-
notes change Of government for the
better.
The Virginia change would be OF
ShOrt duration did it not bring reform
with it-a reform that appeared to the
masses and was Immediately felt. |
Slowly and by degrees the liberty
which was the result Of the re-constrlc-
lion measures was being taken from
tho people. An onerous poll tax dis
xranchised the poor whites as we'll as
blacks. The school fund had been tam
pared with, and the amount of money
sot apart as sacred to the cause of edu-
cation was slowly reduced and taken to
apply to other interests of more benefit
TO the Bourbons who never had ally
great love for free schools. The num-
ber of free schools, especially for the
blacks, were decreased. their State in
stitution was dismantle', and there
was general tendency in the direction
of old time Bourbon rule. Added to
this was the erection of the demol,liz-
ing whipping post. With the triumph
and advent of Malone and Read iuster.
ism to power, the change has been in
tho other direction. The Odious poll
TAX has been removed, the appropria-
ti0ns for public schools have been re-
stored and enlarged, a normal school
for the education Of colored teachers
has been organized and endo wed, and
the old relic of Bourbon barbarity. the
whipping post, has been abolished. All
have been placed upon a perfect equali-
ty, and while the old rulers look Oh the
change with affected contempt and
hOared imaginatiOns, Malone, Riddle
berger, the Wises, Cameron, and other
enthusiastic reformers, are rolling the
State rapi lily up the inclined plane to |
prosperity. MahCne can well afford to |
stand the sneers and the curled lips of |
Bourbon scorn, while the masses are a,
his back as they evidently are in VIr,
ginia. The reform has been complete
and has come to stay if Malone and his
newly organized party are faithful to
the trusts imposed upon them by
grateful people led by him from the
thraldom of oppression, ignorance and |
disfraDchisement, into the higher
planes of manhood, knowledge and
citizenship.