Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-06-27
lGOMMI1NlNATEH
Caution No. 2.-"Let Massey Alone"

Caution No. 2.--"Let Massey Alone"
1t was stated when referring to the sixty
odd thousand voters who failed to go to the
polls last fall, thatthe chief cause was re-
moved of course this ullusiou was to the
State debt" That question is now howev-
er as politically dead, as an extincrvolcano,
but it has left on the surface of this COM
monweath lava so blighting in its efforts,
that it will long be felt and remembered
both within and without the borders of the
State. Who ofthe Malone party more than
any other brought this thing to pass the
present dark rule and consequent darker
ruin
Massey was unknown and only came into
notice by the talent he developed for de-
bauching the public mind, unsettlng the
foundations Of society, stimulating greed
for Office and plumber, unknown; flashing in
to frenzy the passions and prejudices Of the
vicious and ignorant, and worse, exciting and
melting class against class and race against
race.
He has undoubtedly u genius for such
work; all demagogue have it was so well
suited to his taste and congenial to his ma
ture, that it would have been remarkable
if he had failed in playing such role.
Because he quarreled with Malone "a pure
ly personal one at that)-and was deposed
and reduced to the ranks of that party, and
further because he has the evil gifts of fight
ing against the good order of society-its
virtue, intelligence and property. is no rca-
son or claim for making him leader of a
people struggling to do right and to avert
wrong.
fit be true, after this sudden quarrel, he
is SO changed, as to be disintereSted patri-
OF, Il lover of order and wholesome views,
let him prove his sincerity by working in a
subordinate capacity, to repair the injuries
and allay the bitter strife he has so actively
and wrecklessly stirred up. No one wishes
to deprive him of such work. a fool NAV
destroy but it takes wise man to rebuild II
was perhaps naturali in the democratic MEM
bers of the last Legislature whose richly de-
serve the thanks and gratitude of all good
persons, for much that they did in staying the
foul torrent and the Press too, in their zeal
to defeat the abhorrent schemes of Malone
which, let it not be forgotten were largely
the fruit of Massey's work-to have Welded
to an impulse favoring such party strategy.
| hope sober second thought will now enable
them to look with cooler judgment on the
come Of so dangerous an experiment. We
are within the throes of great crisis, social
and political, and it's issue stenry demands
the attention Of the grave and of the
thoughtful.
Before we take up Massey, or he takes us up let
us see what sort of democrat he really is. When
Malone was elected Senator it was apparent to
none more than Massey-if he possesses half the
political sagacty that is accorded to him-that
go into the republican fold. There was no other
place for him and his party. And, further, when
he had his famous contest on the floor of the T. S.
Senate in his vain cndcavor to elect Riddlcberger
Sergeant alarms, twas still more apparent-it was
in fact an open decaration-of his allegiance
to the republican party. Did Massey halt
or hesitate for moment? On the con-
trary, he left his Office in Richmond and
during the heated canvass that succeeded, fol-
lowed this party leader with, if possible, increased
devotion and unfalterng step Not word was
brcathcd by him or any one that his sympathics
and feelings were not in full accord with Malone
and his party in national well rs State politics
Is it not, then, a fair presumption, and this is
putting it too mildly. had Massey been chosen |
Senator instead of Riddlebergcr by the late Gen.
era Assembly that he would at this moment he II; |
cordial supporter Of the republican party as Ma
hone himself? Then in what does he differ from |
Malone except in personal antagonism CAUSED by
thwarted ambition! Such seems to BE- the sort of |
slack-twlsted democratic stuff Of which Massey is
made Massey, then, as our leader either directly
or indirectly, will distract, distress and disiute-
CRATE, II not utterly destroy the democratic party
within the State and bring just reproach and con-
domination upon it from without. He is failure
With his own party; Why should he be success