Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-06-27
Gen. Mah0ne's Administration Parity"
and the Administration Policy In South
Carolina.


The Baltimore San says that the ad-
mirers of Mahoneism-the emporium
ism of waiting demagogue-cannot fe-
licitate themselves upon the present col
or of the political sky. The readjuster
leader has at length, it would seem,
reached the turning point of his for
tunes, and passed it without capturing
for himself and his party the strategic
positions in possession of which he might
perhaps have hoped to conquer in future
campaigns. He has suffered three sew
eral defeats in the Legislature of Viz
ginia-upon the commissioners of land
sales bill, the bill for the creation of new
Judicial circuits, and the congressional
reapportionmentbil bill. OF the demorali-
cation and disintegration of his coali-
ton evident signs already appear as the
first fruits of disaster. His supporters
waver in their allegiance, and his oppo-
nents, headed by the redoubtable and
energetic ex-Auditor Massey, are em-
boldened to increased activity. Those
members of the readjuster party who,
along with Mr.. Massey, still profess to
be Virginians and democrats, will, in
view of the only feature of President
Arthur's policy yet developed-the pros
ecution of South Carolinians for alleged
ofenses such as escape prosecution in
New York-begin to inquire what Gen.
Malone means by asking them to be-
come an administration party" Are
Virginians to be expected" they will
ask, ito join in prosecuting with invid-
ious determinations a people bound to
them by ties of common suffering by
ties the strongest the human heart can
know? Will the democrats of Virgin
ia, who see in readjusterism no more
than financial issue, support an ad-
ministration whose only strong charac-
teristio thus far displayed is stalwart
antipathy to the democrats of South
| Carolina ~ Nor can it be denied that
in converting his party into an admin
istration party Gen. Malone subjects it
to the necessity of supporting any meas
ure which may happen to be dictated
| by the more pitiless faction of the dOmi.
nant national party. 1t is Gen. Ma
homes peculiarly bad fortune to have
allied himself with just that wing of the
REPUBLICAN party which makes fierce de
nunciations of Southern people-Vir-
ginians included-the sole rallying cry
with which to stir the Northern heart
and carry elections. It might perhaps,
with a view wholly to the acquisition
of the spoils of federal office, have been
| eXpedient to form an alliance with the
stalwarts if they were the larger and
controlling faction of the republican
party. But in point of fact the stal.
warts are in decreasing minority, and
they and their policy are as fully repu-
dated by the country at large as is the
tax receivable quality of the Virgins
consol coupon at the present moment
under readjuster law. 1t cannot be de-
MED that most embarrassing alliance
has been made. tits doubtless destined
to have wider consequences than was
intended when it was ratified in Wash.
ingtOn. The obligations it imposes on
the administration" readjusteIs and
their leaders remain in force even now
when its ratification has failed to secure
the success Of the gerrymandering re-
superintendent bill. A great load has
been taken up by the new allies of Pres
ident Arthur, and must continue to be
borne, although the benefit hoped fol
from the assumption of the burden has
not been obtained. The price has been
paid but the goods are not delivered.