Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-07
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT MALONE
OF WEST VIRGINIA

We should think that those ''progres-
Sive politicians who we notice from
time To time casting furtive glances
over the West Virginia horoscope, with
u view OfdiscOvering the conditions and
appliances for MahOneizing this State,
would have very vivid recollectiOns of
the occasion, dating back not farther
than the last State campaign, when u
committee of distinguished statesmen
representing the progressive elements"
of home politics, took tour to the pros
pCctive Permanent Seat TO confer with
the supposed conGenial, progressive
clements Ofthat section, with view
of uniting their fortunes under the BAN
ncr Of the MALONE of West Virginia,
Mr.. GEO. 4. STURGISS, and clevating
him over the moss covered ruins Of
RuURBONISM, to the GOYernOrShip and
To the work of inaugurating a new era
and a new deal in our local government,
which should begin with Il redistribu-
ton of the offices.
The secret history Of that conference
has never been fully written. But the
pantOmime speeches which marked the
return OF that distinguished delegation
the biting of the lips, the beating of
the air, the facial cOntOrtiOns, were SO
Vividly expressive OF the result
of the mission, that it is under
stood an official report was never called
for, and il is believed that to this day,
the subject has never been referred TO
between the members of that delega-
ton, nor has the most privileged person
Of the inner circle had the hardihOOd to
inquire or require of that commission a
detailed statement of that celebrated
conference.
But the NIahOneizing programme was
not abandoned, for all that. 1t was
prosecuted to the bitter end, rs we all
know. The progressive elements"
never lost faith in the old proverb that
"birdS of q feather will flock together"
They never lost heart in the conviction
that the cohesive power of congenial
spirits in a cOngenial cause would ut the
right moment, when the political forces
of the State were drawn up in battle ar
ray, act with magnet-like precision in
dividing the sheep from the goats, and
putting this voter on the sideof "B0Ir-
bOnism" and that voter on the side of
Progress"
Ii seems to us that looking back at
that campaign, after its excitements and
prejudices have sufficiently subsidized to
enable the historian to Ia Ike an impair
tial view of the contest, that the predic-
tons of the anti-BourbOn element were
abundantly verified in the results of
that campaign. The cOngenial elements
did stick together; the lines between
BOurbOnism and Progress were distinct
~ defined; the campaign was fought on
that distinct issue; the records of these
two elements i'm our politics We're vigor-
ouSly oyerhauied; the character of the
administrations under the one and the
other were closely cOntrasted; the State
was thoroughly canvaSsed; every voter
was carefully instructed upon the situa-
ton; and the result was not, strictly
speaking, that West Virginia was Ma
hOneiZsd, but that there was a very fun
and faithful division effected between
the clements Of BOuThonism and Pro-
greSS. The former were etfectually sat
down upon, with the gratifying result
that the State is growing in population,
wealth, railroads aud in all the evil
denceS of prosperity rs never before in
her history; while the administration of
her affairs for honesty and efficiency is
unimpCachCd from any source.
In this respect the progress of Ma
hOnizing West Virginia has been SALT
tary, and = subject for general congrat-
ulatiOn. Now, who will he the next
MAHONE of West Virginia?