National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-15

In yesterdays REruBLIcAN We repro
duced the admirable letter of General
Malone to certain eminent citizens of
Massachusetts, who sought his views
upon the present and Future of Nir-
ginia.' II was fitting theme Of discus
sion by the Virginia statesman, and in
handling it he formulates platform
upon which the friends Of the present
Administration and all who seek to pro-
mote the unfication of our whole country
can secure and retain power for q score
Of years.
The ringing sentences of Mahone's let
ter are speeches in themselves, and will
resound through the land as did his in
dignant defiance of the lash of the Bour-
bon caucus last spring. The striking
feature of the letter is the bold and
statesmanlikc treatment Of the status
Of the colored man, as provided
by the triumphant Liberal party
in Virginia. Without apology for
The fair and honorable treatment
extended to race so long prosecuted and
despised and yet always inoflensiye, Ma
hone frankly declares that the colored
man yindicates by his conduct rs citi-
zen all the claims made for him by his
iudicious friends. The Northern people,
who long ago resolved that the negro
should have political equality-who have
deCreed in four presidential contests since
he became freedman that he should
also he u citizen, and not political out
,,,l -v.;n Nt,i ith r,lnu pn
General Mahono's assurance that the
colored man is at last in the "full pano-
ply of acknowledged citizenship" so far
as Virginia is concerned.
There is no division of sentiment upon
this subject at the North, and even at the
South the plea of the Bourbons for the
maintenance of race prejudice us a means
of retaining political power daily loses
potency. Malone merely gives another
proof Of his remarkable prescience as Il
statesman in taking position abreast of
enlightened sentimcntevcrywhcre, while
the Bourbon leaders give renewed proof
of their title to the generic designation
by which they are known, People at the
North who have at times felt that the
Southern Democracy were becoming lib
eralzed in feeling toward the negro as Il
political factor will note that there is Il
wide difference between the liberalism
of Malone and that of the faction against
which he revolted last spring and
which Virginia forever dsowned at her
November election While Malone
fearlessly declares that the conduct of the
colored man is the best justification OF
his citizenship, other Southern Senators
vote with Northern Senator against the
Chinese with the expressed hope that
at some early day they shall have reci-
proCity as against the negro. In other
words, the Bourbon still fears, or pre-
tends to fear the negro rs u political
power He still feels, or affects to feel
that the negro needs political repression,
despite all no has done TO commend him
self as q citizen. As between Nah on,
and those who cherish such feelings oI
pretended feelings the country will know
whom to trust in the charge of thai
ACE to which American faith is forever
pledged in security of the political right
guaranteed by the Constitution and ar
Armed at four national elections, and
which even Bourbon national COnven-
dons every four years hypocritically
affirm