National Republican., 1883-12-17
Malone and tho Republican Party.
The Now York Tribune says:


The Now York Tribune says:
But what had the republicans in the south to
gain from the success Of the Malone readiusters?
How could It be said that their success would have
given the republican party a chance and that
tn cir failure next year would take its last chance
away7
The readiusters have constantly shown
their desire to act with all republicans who
wcre not holding illicit intercourse with the
bourbon democracy. The band of morce-
naries north and south calling themselves
republicans, while serving as the cheap pup
pets of tho democrats, have nothing to gain
by the success of any genuine republican
candidate for the presidency, and, therefore,
had nothing to gain by the success of Malone
in Virginia.
The Tribune says further.
Can It be said that republican principles are in
harmony with the aims of the readjusters, or
can in any way be promoted by their successi 1t
must be confessed that this is not quito clear.
The readjusers do not claim to accept republican
principles. They arc at war with the republican
party on one vital matter-tho maintenance Of
public faith. Four-flths Of the republicans in the
country consider tho course OF Gen. Malone and
his associates Objectionable. 1t is hard to SEQ how
republican convictions as to financial questions
can bo reconclled with the position taken hitherto
by the Malone party.
The aims of tho readjusters, on all matters
with which any outside of Virginia have any
business, are identical with all honest repub-
licans. As to the charge that the readjusters
"are at war with the republican party on one
vital matter--the public fsith"---it is without
foundation in truth. Virginia does not owe
the debts of two states. The ''debt payers"
bill "repudiated" one-third of the debt of old
Virginia on the ground that West Virginia
owed that much of it. As to tho remaining
tpo-thirds the reddjuStcrs hare not repudiatcd
cent Of IL. They have merely ascertained
what the amount of 1t was and made pro-
vision for funding it. To their settlement
the bourbons now stand pledged. "Tho re-
publican convictions as to financial questions"
are not invaded by the Riddlebergor law.
The Tribune goes on to discourage any and
ell efforts for southern electoral votes 1t
says:
At the north the republican party would inev-
itably be weakened by such dependence upon
readjusters at the south. And the republican
party must look for its votes to the north. Its
chance of getting any electoral votes from the
southern states is small at the best, and would be
improved by the Malone party only If 1t should
openly espouso the cause OF republican can
didates which 1t has not yet done. Nor is it at
all sure that the Malone party could keep itself
together political force in the southern states
II 1t should openly espousc the cause of repub-
lican candidates. At the utmost, few electoral
votes at the south might possibly be gained by
depending upon this sort of aid, but 1t would be
at the risk oflosing many more at the north.
The Tribune should know that tho road
justers of Virginia only await the oppor-
tunity afforded them by state convention
of their party to heartily declare for the re-
publican cause.
Gen. Malone and his readjuster friends
have just emerged from a fierce conflict. His
address TO the country is the most exalted re-
publicanism. He and his colleague now
mako tho senate republican, as lie did
alone in 1881. But for Mahones vote
the republicans could not have elected
Mr.. Edmunds as acting vice presi-
dent. But for the vote of himself and
his colleague o republican successor to Mr..
Edmunds could not now be chosen. But for
readjuster votes in the last house of repre-
sentatives the republicans could not have
elected speaker without tho vote of the
candidate himself. In all this no terms have
ever been proposed or accepted. Is it just or
wise then on the threshold of long session
of congress for tho Tribune to endeaver
to mako it uncomfortable for the
readjusters to act with their republican
friends? Is it done in the interest of a presi-
dental candidate? If SO, who is he? If we
have q leader who would strike down the
backbone of the republican cause in Virginia
in the hope that handful of renegades under
democratic control might figure as delegates
for him at the expense of twelve probable
electoral votes, let us know who he is. No
higher question can or will come before the
national republican convention than this
very one of choosing between recruits and
deserters.