The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-08-31
VIRGINIA.
The Mother OF Statesmen Becomes
the Home OF the DepraVed.
The Sadness OF a Degradation, az
Told by Our Special Cores
pendent.
Especial Correspondence.l


Told by Our Special Cores
pendent.
Especial Correspondence
LIBERTY, VA, August 20, 1882.
The people of this state are in the
midst of very interesting political
canvass. Four candidates tor con-
gressman-at-large are in the field,
two of whom are full-blooded ne
groes, and are straightout Republic
cans, and two are whites. The
whites are no less persons than Mr..
Massey, the father of the Readjuster
movement in this state, and John S.
Wise, son of the distinguished
Henry A. Wise and now United
States district attorney. The can
vass Is interesting because it shows,
first the facility with which po-
litical creeds are laid aside and
new ones adopted; and secondly,
the extent to which craze for Office
has seized upon the majority of the
people of this state. The Simon
pure Democrats will not put any
candidate in the field, but will no
doubt support the so-called Read.
juster Democrat, Murray, who claims
that he is as much of a Democrat as
ever, and says that the settlement of
the state debt has been referred to a
higher court and is virtually elimin-
ated from state politics. How far
he will win back his brother Demo-
Gratis who differ from him on this
point, remains to be seen. The settle
lnent of the state debt question and
the fact that he is bitterly opposed
by Malone may secure for him an
united Democratic vote in Novem-
Der next. Malone is one of the
most heartily feared and despised
white men in the state of Virginia
to-day. He is artful, sly, cunning.
lie is totally destitute of honor or
principle, and he would not scruple
to employ the. most dishonorable
agencies for the perpetuity of his
power, or for the accomplishment of
given purpose. Massey is man
of convictions as we'll as of honor.
lie is incapable of dishonorable
act. His errors may spring from
the judgment, but not from the
heart. He was Readjuster
auditor of public accounts.
The duties of this Office were never
before in the history of the state
more honestly aud efficiently admin
istered. He never once forgot that
he was Virginian, and never ceas-
ed to uphold her honor and dignity.
The clerks under him were appoint
ed because of their capacity and fit
ness for their respective positions,
and not because of party affiliations.
This did not suit Malone. The
position of auditor and the sub-posi-
tious were not yielding to him the
degree of strength which he
knew it ought to yield. The
office was being run in the interest
of the people. Malone wanted
it run in the interest of Malone.
He wanted Massey to kick out his
Democratic clerks and let him MA
honey fill the clerkships with his
henchmen. Malone and Massey had
evidently studied political ethics IN
der different masters. Nothing is
more evident TO student OF Vir-
GINA politics than Mahone's deter
miatiOn to rule. Massey's removal
was determined upon by this politi-
cal strategist. Massey determined,
after being removed from The state
authorship, to run for congressman
at-large. His unpopularity as Re-
adjuster will no doubt be over
come by his honest administration
OF the authorship, aud by his
announcement of his intention to
vote with the Democrats in con-
gress, if elected, upon all matters
whatever. On two occasions, the
hopelessness of the Mahoneites has
betrayed itself in their effort to
break up Massey's meetings by max
ing personal attacks upon him, and
knocking him down. This, of course.
is an element of strength to Massey,
and it will contribute not little to
decide the issue in his favor. John
s. Wise unblushingly announces his
purpose to support Arthur because
Arthur Is for him. In other words
he is a Republican "of the most
straightest sect" Virginians are
deeply mortified that one of VIr-
ginia's proudest and most illustrious
sons should yield himself a plant
tool into the hands of one of the
most INSCRIPTIONS and unpriDcipled
demagogues that ever degraded hu-
man nature.
The Rev. Mr.. Dawson, the colored
nominee of the straight-out Repub-
licans for coDgressman-at-large, re-
jects with honest indignation the
imputation that he will sell out to
the Readjuster Republicans (the Ma
hone party, aud says that he pro-
poses to wage relentless warfare
upon the Malone party. If he does,
we may safely hope to see Mr.. Mas
sey returned to congress by a large
majority.
A careful survey of the political
field discloses to us, think, the sad
fact that the people of the United
States are becoming a nation of
office-seekers. A mans zeal, enthu-
siasm and attachment to a certain
party, when once desire for Office
has taken hold of him, are
determined entirely by the proba-
billty of getting office through
the agency of that party. Disap-
pointment in this respect has GER
tainly decided the course of Gen.
Robertson, of Texas, Chalmers, of
Mississippi, and Wise, of Virginia.
John S. and George ID. Wise were
candidates for congress before the
same convention. Up TO that time,
no one ever dreamed that the former
was anything but one of the purest
Democrats of the state. When Geo.
D..Wise was nominated for..congress
Jno. :. forthwith became Readjust-
er, then accepted the position of
United States district attorney and
thus swore fealty to the party which
he had but little while before stig-
matized as "the party of hate, of cor
ruption, of opposition to progress
sion; party that seeks to perpetu-
ate Its power by keeping alive sec
tional strife, and by an utter dlsre-
gard of the most cherished rights of
the people," Such were the words
of the apostate who enjoys lucra-
tive Office as the reward of his
apostacy. Texas.
The notorious Republican tool,
"Little Johnnie Davenport has
been supplied with $25, 900 or $780,
600 by the Republican national COM
mittee (of which Stephen Dorsey,