Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-10-17
from the New York Herald.I
BOSSISM IN VIRGINIA.


HOW MAHoNE GOVERNS HIS FOLLOW.
ERs-sAD SPECTACLE FOR FREEMEN
"A DISGUISED REPUBLICAN ON AZ
FAIRS IN THE OLD DOMINION.
RICHMOND, Oct. Z, 1882.
To the Editor of the Herald =
Before the late war was in the habit
Of going South every year to visit cot
ton plantation owned in Georgia, and
it was my custom to stop in Virginia
going and returning. Three times since
the war have made the same trip and
the same stoppages, and having been
out of business since 1917 have taken
my time. I was here and at Old Point
for the first four months OF this year,
and am here again, and it occurred to
me that some of the observations and re-
Elections of New York republication
I am New Yorker and republican
would not be without interest to my fell
low-readers of the Herald.
I was in Richmond during large part
of both the regular and extra session of
the late Assembly, and made the &C
quaintance of several of the members,
who were stopping at the same hotel
The most noteworthy thing in the pres
emit political arpect of the State-for it is
of that Speaks the abject seryility OF
so many of the white people. Familiar
as was before the war with representa-
tive men in Virginia, and fully aware of
the high spirit. the manliness and indie
pendence which then characterized
them, I am amazed at the depth of per-
sonal degradation to which their chill
dren have fallen. It almost defies belief,
but it is an undoubted fact. For exam
pie, before Malone permitted the people
who followed him to nominate their
candidate for the Legislature last year
he demanded a written pledge from such
candidates, under hand and seal, that
they would vote for no man, or princis
pie, or bill, that his caucus did not ap-
prove or endorse! And the abject crea
lures gave him the pledge. Out of Vir-
ginia such servility, I presume, would
be impossible; certainly, it has never.
to my knowledge, been exhibited. Dur
ing the session of the Assembly Senator
Malone left his seat in Washington and
established himself at a drinking saloon
near the Capitol, where saw him sew
eral times, and he dictated legislation
from this rum shop. 1t was publicly
stated on the streets and in the Assem-
bly, that whenever any railroad measure
was proposed to the committee having
charge of considering such legislation
the draft of the bill was invariably sent
to Malone, whether here or in Washe
ington, and nothing was done or dared
about it until his pleasure was heard in
the matter. The nominee of his party
in the Second district think it is, that
formerly represented by Mr.. Goode for
several ysars-one Spalding-did not
suit Malone, and he ordered him to re-
tire and the Convention to re-asssemble
and elect another, which it forthwith
did. In another district the people of
his party nominated gentleman named
Winfield Scott, whom Malone for some
reason did not think available, and dis
daining even the formality of appealing
to the people he ordered the county
home in Washington, and there, outside
not only of the Congressional district,
but outside of the State. he deposed the
candidate nominated by the people and
ordered them to support another-one
Simms! And they are doing it. In
deed, the wonderful part of 1t is, that
the slaves do, with the patience of oxen,
whatever Their master orders.
RAILROADS SUBSEQUENT.
Terrified at the power which master
SO absolute, governing legislative slaves
SO abject, must possess in an assembly,
the railroad corporations of the State
knelt at his feet. He ordered them to
displace officers from the highest down,
and they obeyed. He ordered one to
take certain partisan whom he had
trained in the railroad he bankrupted
for their purchasing agent; and they
meekly obeyed. Others he ordered to
displace officers, attorneys, way agents,
even telegraph operators. and they
folk and Western the displacement of
it's vice president, man whose talent
gave Malone all the railroad reputation
of value which he enjoys, and to his flu.
rious amazement it refused. Straight
way he introduced bill putting the
absolute control of commission to be
appointed by the Governor, a facile tool
of Malone.
This corporation being governed by
Northern men unused to the servility of
Virginians, peremptorily insisted on its
refusal. Had Virginians been at its head
it would have got on its knees promptly.
Such things would have been impos-
sible in Virginia before 1861, and would
now be impossible in any State whose
citizens had not lost the marrow out of
their bones. The race of men in Vir-
ginia is extinct. Other people with in
stincts of manliDess and courage must
come here and take possession of the
business, the industries, the farms of the
State, or it will soon be unfit to raise
honest children in.
have seen efforts like Mahone's in
other States, but never methods like his.
Other bosses had some respect for their
slaves. He does not even profess any.
Others tried to disguise the letters they
put on their underlings. Malone makes
them parade them. He puts collars on
his cattle and brands them and requires
them to exhibit their collars and boast
their branding. And the wonder is the
creatures do it.
The secret of this universal degrada-
ton is the poverty and the inability or
unwillingness to work Of so many of
these people. A few days since / in
Quired whether an old friend, with
whom in ante-bellum days I had many
tilt in conversation, was still living,
and was told he was. then asked if he
was as much of a fire eating secessionist
as he used to be-for he was leader of the
Calhoun democracy when knew him in
1850 to 1860. My friend said, mo, he is
meek Mahoneite" This amazed me,
for he was as headstrong and self-re
speeding gentleman when knew him
as ever lived. I asked, "How is that ?"
well, he was very poor, and be holds
a little sinecure Office under the govern
ment with which Malone bought him
body and SOUL"
Such is the story of many--of most of
his adherents.
MAKING REPUBLICANS
So abject are Mahone's slaves that he
has now undertaken to convert them by
his mere will into republicans. OF
course if some honest republican leader
ship shall hereafter control his cattle I
shall rejoice; but such things are not fit
to govern State nor are they fit ma.
terial to make patriotic party.
Of course he has no political principles
of his own. Indeed, he has few
phrases and the greed ofarbitrary power
which such adulation as he encounters
feed. He, however, is not such a phe-
nomenon as is this people who endure
anab ho mn opd vlorxv .1,,...