Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-09-20
The Decay OF BOssism i'm Vir'
gfnia.

gfnla.
| 1t cannot be denied that Senator Ma =
hone has exhibited lndomtable pluck
and perseverance in the construction OF
the complicated political fabric Of which
he Is at once the builder and the chief
cornerstone. Beginning with a snail
personal following Of young men of the
democratic party, upon whom from one
cause or another he could safely depend,
he increased his number of suppOrtersby
aggressive measures until they counted
some 10000 voters. With these as a
capital to trade on, he pursued IN poll-
tics the policy of consolidation he had
found so successful IN railroadlng, and
secured an arrangement with the repub-
llclns of Virginia by which he cOntroll-
ed their votes, got himself elected
Senator aud other readjusters chosen
to Congress. Having attained this
point in the development of the plans,
the next step was easy. The position
of the republicans in the Senate Of the
United States made him the opporlu-
uity he desired. The smalluess also Of
the republican majority in the House OF
Representatives increased the value of
services he could render. President
Arthur was aware that he could not
count upon ha7ing the administration
republican in all its branches unless he
avalled himselfof Mahone's services in
organizing the Senate. All the chance
he had for securing the passage OF his
tavorte measures aud so or giving posi-
tive character to his term OF occupancy
of the presidency lay in forming a
coalition with the Virginia boss. Mr..
Arthur undertook TO surrender 10 Ma
hone the costrol of all federal patron.
age to which the Senate Of Virginia was
entitled, aud Malone undertook to yo te
with the republicans. TIE bargain has
been well kept on both sides, with re-
suits beneficial, it would at first sight
appear to both Of the bargainers.
Senator Malone has had added tc his
neutrality-suspicious. bosship the
commandiug inf 1uence of the federal
worship, so tar as it could be deputed
by the possessor Of all federal patron.
age. In return he did good service at
the last session of Congress, both per-
sonally and through the votes Of his
readjuster supporters, in sustaining
measures dear to Mr. Arthur. But the
in eonyenences OF working two coali-
tions at once are manifold. AS long as
tue problem vas simply to keep the
colored republican vote secure for 10
tending readjuster officeholders OF
democratic proclyities, all went we'll
enough. But when this ring was put
within the larger ring Of the federal
allisnce. and federal offices began to be
taken away from the white republican
leaders of the .olored republicans aad
given to the white readjlsters, trouble
began. The pafties TO the inner ring
fell apart, and the whole intricate ma
chine built up with so much care aud
ingenuity by Senator Malone seems 10
be falling to pieces. All over the
State of Virginia come notes oil combat.
The white or ofliceVholding element ot
the republican party declare against an
arrangement which depriyes them OF
their daily bread, and even the colored
people 90 to the length Of nominating
candidates OF their own race. On the
other hand, the readjusters proper are
divided, large traction splitting of
because unwilling 10 be taken into the
republican party, and another not in
considerable fraction, running as inde-
pendents in opposition TO Mahone's
nominees. A survey of the whole po-
htical field disclDses a violent centrifugal
movement in The acknowledgements
tive-r eadjuster-liberal- administration
republican party. Moral dynamite
seems to have fallen upon ii, and the
consequent explosion promises 10 rend
it into atoms that can only be welded
together again by thorough reform
within the party or without it. Boss
ism iu Virginia seems to promise an
early demise, just as it must die ln
Maryland, despite the paid protests-
tions Of the hirellng press Baltimore
| SIM